McDonell, Augustus Oswald.

Augustus Oswald McDonell (a.k.a. MacDonell and McDonnell) was born on April 10, 1839, in Savannah, Georgia. He came to Florida in 1854 where he was educated and worked as a merchant in Archer, Florida, until the start of the Civil War in 1861. In 1860 he joined the Gainesville Minute Men, which laid the groundwork for his entrance into the military in 1861. He served as a private in Pensacola, Florida, then was promoted to lieutenant in command of Company K, First Florida Infantry, and was soon made captain. He served until his capture on August 7, 1864, during battle in Atlanta, and was held at Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, until the close of the war in 1865. He returned to Florida and married Eliza Allen, daughter of Charles Henry Allen of Abbeveille, South Carolina, on October 9, 1867. They had nine children. In 1871 McDonell became chief clerk to the general superintendent of the Florida Railroad under the Seaboard Air Line system. He was promoted several times, ultimately becoming general passenger agent of the Seaboard Air Line system in Jacksonville, Florida, in July of 1900.