William Harrison Odor was born June 14, 1867 in Illinois to John Harrison Odor and Mariah Ann Cornelius Odor.  At any early age William moved with his parents and siblings to Plum Grove, Butler County, Kansas.  Record has been found from 1875, 1880 and 1885 with them still living in Plum Grove.  On May 13, 1891 William married Myra Eva Keeley in Augusta, Kansas at the home of her parents.  They rented a farm near Potwin, Kansas and it was here that their daughter, Hazel Alma was born and died.  She was buried in the Potwin cemetery.  In the spring of 1898 William Harrison Odor, members of his family and his neighbors starting building a unique structure in the green countryside of Oklahoma. Little did they know at the time that the barn they were building would become a landmark on one of the most celebrated highways in America. This was the beginning of what would become know as Arcadia’s Round Barn. The circular form of the barn presented special problems, Odor figured that each rafter would have to be green lumber and soaked in water. The rafter was then shaped in a special jig to form the exact curve of the roof. Odor’s critics said the barn couldn’t be built, but he persevered to create the architectural wonder seen today. When the barn was new the lower level was used to shelter cattle, mules and hay. The upper level or loft was used for barn dances and other social gatherings.  The year 1900 shows William and Myra with their children, Ralph and Hester.  By town history of Arcadia we know that in 1903 they donated land to have the town built on.  In 1910 the census shows that his father, John, had came to live with them at the age of 78.  Ralph married a girl named Rosalee Lupus who hailed from Pennsylvania and they were living with his parents and sister.  Hester married Ben Williams  but she and her 6 year old son, A. Clayton Williams are living with her parents in 1930.  William died on January 15, 1949 and was buried in the Arcadia 100 F cemetery, his wife Myra joined him in 1956.  Family records show that she died in Washington.  Thier first child Hazel Alma was born Feb. 24, 1893 and died June 2, 1894.  Ralph Keeley Odor was born April 5, 1895 at what is now known as Arcadia and died Feb. 10, 1987 at Ravena, Ohio.  Hester (Odor) Williams was born Nov. 6, 1899 and died Jan. 22, 1989 at Los Angeles, California.  Myra was the daughter of Isaac Keeley and Julia Fry in January 1871 in Cherryvale, Kansas, and according to the Washington death index she died on January 31, 1956 at Longview, Cowlitz County, Washington at the age of 86.

Misc Newspaper Aricles on W. H. Odor

W.H. Odor to Mary M. Nave, $25 lot 5 Block 4 Arcadia 4-18-07
W.H. Odor to S. L. Nave, $25 lot 6 Blk 4 Arcadia 4-18-07
source:  Daily Oklahoman Jul. 31, 1908 Page 14
For Sale Purebred Mammoth Bronze gobblers $3 each W.H. Odor, Arcadia
Source:  Daily Oklahoman Dec. 10, 1912 page 11
Pure bed Bronze turkeys for sale.  Good ones.  W. H. Odor, Arcadia
Source: Daily Oklahoman Feb. 2. 1914 Page 7

Oklahoma Brief:  Edmond--G.S. Baker of Britton has been made president of the Oklahoma Cotton Grower's Association.  W. H. Odor of Arcadia was elected vice president; C. A. Smith, Edmond, secretary; George Tiller, Choctaw, and C. M. Thomas, Jones, Directors.
Source;  The Oklahoman Jan. 19, 1921

Mrs. W. H. Odor, Arcadia, was elected president of the Oklahoma County Farm Women's Clubs federation Wednesday afternoon at a meeting of the advisory council at Chamber of Commerce headquarters.  Other officers are Mrs. E. Needham, Oklahoma City, vic-president; Mrs. H. L. Branson, Oklahoma City, secretary, and Mrs. Belle Champion, Oklahoma City, treasurer.  Major projects for the county's 27 clubs this winter will be canning and designing of women's clothing council members decided after a conference with Alice Carlson, Stillwater, district home demonstration agent.
Source:  The Oklahoman Oct. 31, 1932 Page 7

One of the most successful men in Oklahoma died Saturday.  He was little known outside his community, where he was known for his fine civic spirit, but perhaps more for the magnificent exposition of his own unconquerable soul.  William H. Odor of Arcadia came to the end of his journey at the age of 81, and the latter part of his life was one of the most remarkable chapters in the annals of Oklahoma.  He came to this area in pioneer days, not long after the run, and took a school land tract, a part of which became the present townsite of Arcadia.  He farmed this with an ox-team at first.  He and his wife worked hard and finally accumulated 1,240 acres, with a large herd of cattle and large cotton and wheat production.  There were years after the first World war when they grossed as much as $35,000 in one year, though receipts were usually about half that figure.  Came a time when he met grievous disaster, due to circumstances wholly beyond his control.  They arose because of his own great kindness of heart.  All he could salvage from his once large ranch was a quarter section back in the blackjack hills of the pasture land, not in the fertile alfalfa valley which the California-bound tourist sees from highway 55 around Arcadia--the land he once owned.  Here at the age of about 67-well past the traditional "retirement age" and near the Scriptural three-score and 10 allotted to the average man-he and his dauntless wife started life all over again.  "Under the bludgeonings of chance" they did not "wince nor cry aloud."  There were blackjack trees and red rocks on the place.  With all their might they chopped and hauled and lifted and pounded rock and sawed, sometimes with aid of a power saw to build the home of their dreams.  They decided it must be strictly modern.  With minor exceptions they built it with their own hands.  In the meantime they operated the farm on a different basis from that of the old, broad-acred rach.  They kept a few cows and a flock of turkeys.  They planted fruits, vegetables and berries.  It is an amazing fact, properly documented, that they cultivated only three acres of the 160.  The rest was in pasture.  The cows grazed there and the turkeys got much of their living from grasshoppers and other natural provender.  They sold produce from their garden and poultry yard, and always had plenty to eat from the varied and citamin-rich diet of a live-at-home farm.  Now comes a still more incredible part of the story.  Having heard that the cash income from this tiny project was large, the writer wrote to Mr. Odor to verify the figure.  He was then in the hospital from an illness from which he never recovered, and Mrs. Odor wrote:  "It is true that the net income from a few cows and turkeys, raising a part of our living, has been more than from the larger farm, and less worry."  Remember that the gross income from the larger farm sometimes reached $35,000 a year.  The writer has visited this farm house twice, and can testify that if it were in Oklahoma City, it would sell for anywhere from $20,000 to $25,000, being modern in every respect, well planned and beautiful.  Upon one occasion the writer asked this question:  "You seem to have fairly good sandy loam in this blackjack country, but how about the other parts of the state.  Perhaps not every farmer can raise gardens and keep poultry and livestock as you do."  There isn't a county in the state where gardens can't be grown," was Mr. Odor's decisive answer.  "Out in the extreme west they have to irrigate, but so do we, for that matter, when dry spells come."  Today there are peope everywhere who deman that the state or federal government give them pensions at the age of 60, or even 55 or 50.  A stock argument is that "they have contributed to the growth of the state and now deserve to take a rest, even if they are in good health."  William H. Odor has contributed golden treasure to the state, if his example be emulated by even a few.  He asked no odds, even when past 70.  He asked for no pension.  He wanted none.  He, a genuine pioneer, gave us a precious and heartening heritage in the proof that virility, hard work, self-reliance, courage and true independence are still alive.
Source:  The Oklahoman January 19, 1949 Page 18

Mrs. William H. Odor

Headstone located at Arcadia 100 F Cemetery

 Picture on left was tken about 1900, and Picture on the right about 1977

Knowing it would be no small feat, Luther "Luke" Robison (a retired building contractor) had long admired the Round Barn and decided that he would save it from utter ruin. He and the Over the Hill Gang, (a group of retirees) volunteered their time, money and skill to the task. Together, they were able to restore the barn over a period of four years for only $65,000 dollars! By recruiting lots of volunteers, selling inscribed commemorative bricks, setting up a roadside donation box and accepting donations of equipment and labor, the enormous undertaking was accomplished.

It was for this reason that in 1992, The National Preservation Honor Award was presented to Mr. Robison and Arcadia's Historical Society Members for their "Outstanding Craftsmanship and Perseverance" in the restoration of the historic 1898 Arcadia Round Barn. The National Preservation Honor Award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional accomplishment in the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of America's architectural and cultural heritage.

As the only truly "round" barn (most are actually hexagonal or octagonal), the Barn is 60' in diameter, 45' in height and is two stories high. The upstairs loft has a wooden floor and an architecturally impressive ceiling. The structure was designed with the notion that being round would help it withstand Oklahoma's tornadic conditions. Who knows if it is scientifically accurate, but the barn is still standing after more than 107 years!!

The Arcadia Historical Society is still actively recruiting members who would like to contribute their time and ideas to preserving the legacy of the Round Barn for future generations. We also are always grateful for any and all donations that we receive which goes entirely to the improvement and upkeep of the Barn.

Benjamin F. Newkirk (1849-1944) and Sarah Jane Ellington (1846-1925) 

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