At various times she was also known as Meddell, Madill, Medell and Maddel. Many of these spellings probably came from her strong Irish accent being misunderstood by census takers, etc.
She was born on December 25, 1847; on the ship from Ireland. She was also identified as being born between 1846 and 1848 at County Cavan, Ireland, in the 1870 and 1920 U.S. Census and records of the Little Sisters of the Poor. She was also identified as being born in 1849 at New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, in the 1860 U.S. Census.
She immigrated in 1848 to New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. As of 1860, her nickname was Dolle. She was enumerated with James Reilly, as "Dolle Reilly", on the 1860 U.S. Census at New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, she was listed as an 11-year-old white female born in Lousiana and had attended school during the year.
Margaret Reilly married William Henri Mädel, son of Henry Mädel and Anna (--?--), circa 1864 at New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Margaret and William Henri Mädel lived in 1866 at 163 Rampart Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Residing with them was their daughter Mary; he was working as a barber.
She was enumerated with William Henri Mädel, as "Margaret Madel", on the 1870 U.S. Census at Ward 3, Jefferson, Marion County, Texas, she was listed as a 24-year-old white female born in Ireland, both of her parents were foreign born.
Margaret and William Henri Mädel lived in 1870 at Jefferson, Marion County, Texas. Residing with them were their children Mary. She was widowed by the death of her husband, William Henri Mädel, in August, 1872 at Jefferson, Texas. She moved in 1875 after death of her husband from Jefferson, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri. Moving with Margaret were her children William Edward Madel and Mary Ellen Madel. I haven't found any reason why the family moved to St. Louis rather than back to New Orleans where they probably still had family. One possible reason is the unsettled conditions in the south after the Civil War made life in the north appear more attractive. There is no evidence of any family either on the Madel or Reilly side in St. Louis.
She lived from 1880 to 1883 at 2829 Penrose Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. Margaret Reilly is a head of household on the 1880 U. S. Census at St. Louis, Missouri, as "Margaret Meddell" she was listed as a 39-year-old widowed white female born in Ireland as were both of her parents and was doing washing and ironing in her home at 2829 Penrose Avenue, St. Louis. This was a corrected, second enumeration as the original census had many errors. In the first enumeration she was listed at 2810 Penrose and was 32-years-old. The children were they same ages however William was listed as "Wilbur". Enumerated with Margaret were Mary Ellen Madel and William Edward Madel. She was enumerated with William Edward Madel, as "Margaret Maddell", on the 1900 U.S. Census at St. Louis, Missouri, Margaret was listed as a widowed 52-year-old white female born at sea in December 1849 who could not read or write. She is listed a having one child and one still living, she actually had two children, one still living.
She lived with William Edward Madel in 1900 at 5703 Cote Brilliante Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. She lived in 1902 at 5739 rear Theodosia Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. She lived in 1904 at 2605 Gamble, St. Louis, Missouri.
Margaret Reilly is a head of household on the April 21, 1910 U. S. Census at St. Louis, Missouri, as "Margaret Medell" Margaret was a widowed 54 year old white female born in Ireland. She is list as having had six children only on of whom was still living. The one living would be her son William however evidence only exists for one other child, a daughter Mary Ellen who was deceased. Margaret was listed as immigrating to the United States in 1860. she rented a house at 2308 Biddle Street, St. Louis, Missouri.
She lived from February 5, 1912 to August 30, 1920 at 2209 Hebert Street, St. Louis, Missouri, Home For The Aged, Little Sisters of The Poor. She entered the home in 1912 and lived their until her death in 1920. Margaret Reilly is a head of household on the January 7, 1920 U. S. Census at St. Louis, Missouri, as "Margaret Maddel" she was listed as a widowed 72-year-old white female born in Ireland. She immigrated to the United States in 1848 and was residing in the Home for the Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor at 2209 Hebert Street, St. Louis, Missouri. She was employed as a laundry helper at Home for the Aged, Little Sisters of the Poor in 1920 at St. Louis, Missouri. The records of the Little Sister of the Poor identify her as:
| Name | Maddel, Margaret | |
| Profession | Menagére | |
| Where Born | Co. Caven, Ireland | |
| Date of Birth | 25 Dec 1847 | |
| Widow of | Veuve de William Maddel | |
| Parents names | James Reily A Agnes | |
| Date of Admission | 5 Ferrier 1912 | |
| Date of Death | 28 Arut 1920 | |
| Observations | 43 aus a St. Louis | 64 |
She died on August 28, 1920 at 2209 Hebert Street, St. Louis, Missouri, at age 72 in ward 20-B at 12 P.M. attended by Doctor Edward Evars, attested by Sister Marie of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Cause of death was listed as 'Chr. ulceration of intestine by Dysentery.' Her funeral service was held on August 30, 1920 at Home for the Aged, St. Louis, Missouri, at 2209 Hebert St. at 1:30 p.m. She was buried on August 30, 1920 at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri, in section 5, lot 000N, grave 620, depth R1. Undertaker was Donnally Funeral Home, 2039 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.