J. Kelley O’Neall was born near Waynesville on February 15, 1829, being of Irish descent, his paternal ancestors having come from County Antrim, Ireland. His parents were William and Martha Smith O’Neall. After attending the district school, whenever his duties as a farmer’s son permitted him, he entered Miami University at Oxford, where he received his literary education. He read law with Judge George J. Smith and in 1845, a year after making Lebanon his premanent [sic] home, he was admitted to practice.
He became in time one of the leading attorneys of the county, having an excellent and lucrative practice. From 1851 to 1855, from 1870 to 1873 and again from 1883 to 1886 he faithfully served his fellow citizens as prosecuting attorney. For a number of years preceding his death he has been a justice of the peace. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1864 and later became a thirty-second degree Mason. He was Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and Past Right Emminent Grand Commander of the Knights Templars of Ohio. His interest never flagged in this order and he was very high authority on the laws of Masonry. He was much interested in geology and at one time had perhaps the best collection of specimens in the county.
In July, 1848, he was married to Miss Anna M. Skinner. To them were born
six children, of whom three are living. Mrs. O’Neall died several
years ago.