The following biography is a collaboration between Bill Martin, John Prather Odell's 5th great grandson (WM R Martin 47290830) and Beth Golden, John's 4th great granddaughter. Many thanks to Cousin Bill for establishing the original memorial!

John was born c. 1753 in Frederick County, MD (now Montgomery County), the Colony of Maryland, British America, to James and Martha Prather Odell, on the family's plantation, Ballchrist, in the vicinity of Bladensburg and Colesville, MD. John died after 9 February 1836 (on this day he sold the last of his land to his son William) and before 1840 (he does not appear in the US 1840 Census) Pickens County, SC.

Marriage 1: Mary Prather _?_ born unknown; marriage date unknown; died 1803 likely in Pendleton District, SC (now Pickens County).

Marriage 2: Mary Bourland McCrary born about 1755 in Ninety-Six District, SC (now Laurens County); married between 31 December, 1803 and 5 January 1804 in Pendleton District; died unknown. No FAG memorial found

Children identified so far:
James ODELL (c. 1773 MD - 1856 Hall County, GA) No FAG memorial found
Speculative: may have not have been biological son, but was considered part of this family, m. Elizabeth JEANS

Martha (Odell) BELL (c. 1785 SC - 1813 Cherokee County, GA) No FAG memorial found
m. James Bell, brother of John mentioned below

Rignal ODELL Sr. (1788 SC - aft 1858 likely Cherokee County, AL) No FAG memorial found
m. Elizabeth BOGGS

Elizabeth (Odell) BELL (March 1790 Pendleton District, SC – 25 May 1867 Forney, Cherokee, AL)
m. John N. Bell, brother of the James Bell mentioned above

"Dau" ODELL (c. 1793 Pendleton District, SC - )

John M. ODELL (1796 Pendleton District, SC - 1860-1865 GA) No FAG memorial found
m. Elizabeth MULLINAX, sister of Martha mentioned below

Thomas Joseph ODELL (1797 Pendleton District, SC - 7 October 1836 Hall County, GA) No FAG memorial found
m. Mary Margaret Evans

William W. ODELL Sr (1798 Pendleton, SC - 1883)
m. Martha MULLINAX, sister of Elizabeth mentioned above

Residences:
Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Colony of Maryland, British America
c. 1788 - about 1790 Ninety-Six District, Colony of South Carolina (now Laurens County, SC); owned 200 acres more or less along Duncan's Creek near Clinton, SC
c. 1790 - 1836 Pendleton District/Pickens County, SC; owned over 1000 acres more or less along 12 Mile Creek, 18 Mile River, and Rice's Creek near Liberty, SC

John was a wealthy farmer with slaves and active in civic affairs. He may have served in the Little River Regiment out of Ninety-Six District, SC during the American Revolutionary War. A John Odell made and sold liquor while living in Laurens County. However, this may have been John Prather Odell's cousin.

John and his family were originally Presbyterian. They may have become Baptist in later years. They would have worshipped in the following churches:
Bladensburg Presbyterian Church (now Hyattsville Presbyterian Church), Montgomery County, MD
Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church, Clinton, Laurens, SC
Old Stone Church and/or Pickens Chapel, or Oolenoy Baptist Church, Pickens County, SC

Because John's parents were wealthy, he likely had a childhood education. He could sign his name and likely read.

Please see https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Odell-446 and/or contact beegolden if you're kin, you have additional sourced information, and also for further research done by beegolden, which includes sources and images.