1891 Biography - Walter A. O'Niell

WALTER A. O'NIELL, BALDWIN. – Walter A. O'Niell was born in the city of New York, September 22, 1855. His father, John A. O'Niell, is a native of Ireland and came to New York when quite young. He married Isabella Burnham, who at an early age emigrated from England to New York. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are now living; viz; Walter A., the subject of this sketch ; R. Emmett, Florence, wife of Judge Smith; Annie, wife of David Todd, of Iberia; Bella, wife of C. E. Schrenk; John, Charles and George. Of these, Bella and Annie are twins. When Walter O'Niell was two years of age his parents removed to Louisiana, stopping first at Morgan City, from whence they removed to Franklin, where his father engaged in the mercantile business, in which he is still interested, his store being the largest establishment in Franklin. He was formerly sheriff, and now hold the position of treasurer of St. Mary parish. During the war he served four years in the Confederate States army. The subject of this sketch received his education in the schools of Franklin, and, after completing his studies, engaged for several years in business with his father. He was married, January 1, 1880, to Miss Carrie Lienicke, a native of New Orleans. She is the daughter of Conrad Lienicke, a retired manufacturer, of New Orleans. In 1882, Mr. O'Niell retired from his mercantile business, purchased Linwood plantation and engaged in sugar raising. His place is situated on the east side of Bayou Teche and consists of one thousand acres; three hundred of which are under cultivation in cane and corn. He averages about twenty-five hundred pounds of sugar per acre and twenty bushels net corn per acre. In addition to his own plantation he leases Oxford plantation, nineteen hundred acres, on the east bank of Bayou Teche, upon which he cultivates eight hundred acres of rice and corn, and makes an average of twelve barrels of rice per acre. The sugar house at Linwood is open kettle process, he makes only syrup, which is shipped on barges down the Teche to the Baldwin refinery, where it is granulated. Mr. O'Niell gives employment to from forty to seventy-five hands at different periods of the year, and is the largest producer of rice in St. Mary parish.

He is the father of three children, viz: Laura Isabelle, Herbert Edwin and Conrad Lienicke. Mr. O'Niell is an enterprising planter and is fully alive to the interests of his section of the country. He gives his assistance in furthering any worthy project.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, published in 1891, Biographical Section, pages 377-378.