When Caleb O'Dell was born in 1781, in Shenandoah, Virginia, United States, his father, Isaac Odell, was 31 and his mother, Abigail Mansfield, was 32. He married Rachel Clevenger about 1797, in Cocke, Tennessee, United States. They were the parents of at least 14 sons and 10 daughters. He lived in Cocke, Tennessee, United States in 1798 and Franklin, Indiana, United States in 1817. He registered for military service in 1812. He died on 9 October 1864, in Coffey, Daviess, Missouri, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in New Garden, Ray, Missouri, United States.