John Durwood O'Connell ^{1 2 3 4}

   FamilySearch ID: LX3Y-VXM.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. He has conflicting birth information of 30 Aug 1893 and Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ¹

2. Newspaper: Lebanon Semi-Weekly News: Two Soldier Took War Brides At Mt. Gretna, 7 Jul 1916, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ² Two soldiers claimed "war" brides at Mt. Gretna on Saturday, both ceremonies being performed by Rev. H. N. Bassler, of Harrisburg, chaplain of the Eighth regiment. The couples made hurried trips to this city and lifted licenses after the usual Saturday noon closing hour. They were George E. Snyder, tinner, son of George E. Snyder, and Miss Millie B. Boyles, daughter of David Boyles, both of Carlisle, and John D. O'Connell, son of Daniel O'Connell, of 26 Arbor street, and Miss Francis L. Beecher, daughter of James R. Beecher, of 1875 Lincoln avenue, both of Pittsburgh. Snyder is an Eighth regiment solider, while O'Connell belongs to the ambulance company.

3. Newspaper: Evening Public Ledger: Another Wedding at Gretna, 8 Jul 1916, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ⁵ Another Wedding At Gretna
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Fifty Men Clamor to Be Best Man for Pittsburgh Ambulance Sergeant
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MT. GRETNA, Pa., July 8. -- Hail to the latest war bride!
More than fifty men in the 1st Ambulance Corps here clamored for the honor of being best man at the wedding of Sergeant J. D. O'Connell and Miss Leota Beecher, both of Pittsburgh, who were married with military honors this afternoon.
Miss Beecher will be the last war bridge here, according to all predictions. Confetti, tin cans and old shoes were thrown at the bashful and youthful couple. The bridgegroom leaves for El Paso tomorrow.

4. Occupation: soldier on 8 Jul 1916 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ¹

5. Residence: 26 Arbor Street, Pittsburgh, Pa on 8 Jul 1916 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ¹

6. Military from 9 May 1918 to 20 Aug 1919 in , , PA: MM 2nd CL USNRF 4th NAVL DIST. ⁴

7. Cause of Death: Durwood died at Veterans Administration Hospital from pachymenigitis, subscute internal hemorrhagic, operation for active peptic ulcers, 4 Dec 1940, O'Hara Township, Allegheny, PA. ³

8. Occupation: labor foreman on 4 Dec 1940 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ³

9. Residence: 308 Sheridan Ave., Pittsburgh, PA on 4 Dec 1940 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ³

John married Francis Leota Beecher, daughter of James R. Beecher and Sarah Bertha Kane, on 8 Jul 1916 in Mount Gretna, Lebanon, PA.^{1 2 3} The marriage ended in separation. (Francis Leota Beecher was born in Mar 1897 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA,⁶ died on 4 Mar 1942 in Upper Saint Clair, Allegheny, PA ⁷ and was buried on 6 Mar 1942 in Pittsburgh: Calvary Cemetery, Allegheny, PA ⁷.)