There is a John W. ODell that enlisted in the Christian and Greene County Home Guards on July 6th , 1861 at Springfield he would have been in the area for the Wilsons Creek Battle, there is also a notation on the enrollment card stating that he reenlisted for 6 months on August 20th 1861. A second enrollment card shows a John W. ODell enlisting in the 24th Missouri Volunteers on August 20th 1861 at Rolla both of these John W. O'dells were ewnrolled by Capt. Benis.