Born in New York City, O'Connell attended public schools as a child.

He worked in the publishing business in New York City, eventually becoming a sales manager for Funk & Wagnalls.

He also served as president of the Booksellers' League of New York, as well as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1920.

[1] O'Connell was interred in St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village, Brooklyn, New York.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress