Birth recorded as 16 July in Northampton Vital Records

George P O'Donnell Dead
Prominent Northampton Lawyer and Former District Attorney
George P O'Donnell, 45, one of the most prominent and popular of the younger Northampton citizens and a highly-esteemed member of the Hampshire county bar, died Monday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the Dickinson hospital after an illness of one week with pneumonia. He was a native of Northampton, a son of Judge John B O'Donnell, ex-mayor of the city. Mr O'Donnell was a member of the high school class of 1890, but left the school before graduation to enter Holy Cross college where he was graduated in 1892. He studied law in his father's office and at the Boston university law school, graduation from the school in 1895. Admitted to the Hampshire county bar the same year, he had ever since practiced in Northampton, being in partnership with his father most of the time. His rise in his profession was rapid and he soon gained recognition and a large practice. Mr O'Donnell was city solicitor five years and his direction of the law department of the city was marked by rare good judgment and legal ability.
Mr O'Donnell was appointed in November, 1911, by Gov Foss to complete the unexpired term of RW Irwin in the office of district attorney. Mr Irwin having been appointed a justice of the superior court. When a district attorney was to be elected for a full term, beginning in January, 1913, Mr O'Donnell was a candidate on the democratic ticket, and made a strong run, but a democrat rarely is elected in this district and he was defeated y John H Schoonmaker. In September, 1913, Mr O'Donnell was appointed by Gov Foss a member of the board of trustees of the state agricultural college at Amherst. Mr O'Donnell united with the ability that large success in his profession, a strong and upright character and an open and friendly disposition that gained for him popularity and loyal friends. He was often urged to become a candidate for mayor and there is no doubt that he could easily have been elected to that office, but he preferred to give his attention exclusively to his profession. He was one of the organizers of Northampton council of Knights of Columbus and a member of the Elks and Northampton club. Mr O'Donnell is survived by his widow, four daughters, Ella, Mary, Genevieve and Kathleen; two sons, George and William; his father, Judge J B O'Donnell; his stepmother and three brothers, John B Jr, Charles H and Edward J.
(Springfield Weekly Republican, Thursday, 14 March 1918, p11)