McCONNELL, James - 1914

MCCONNELL, HILTON, VANCE, DEAN, PHELPS, MILLS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/2/2009 at 04:32:11

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

JAMES McCONNELL.

James McConnell was well known in business circles in Cherokee for many years and the success which he won through persistent, earnest, honorable effort enabled him to live retired for several years prior to his demise. A native of Ireland, he was born on the 27th of August, 1837, h's parents being James and Margaret (Hilton) McConnell, both of whom were natives of the Green Isle of Erin. The father made farming his life work and in 1842 crossed the Atlantic to the new world, believing that he might have better and broader business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic. He settled first in Newburgh, New York, but afterward removed to Wisconsin, establishing his home near Wau kesha, where he owned and cultivated a farm. Later he removed to Delaware county, Iowa, where he also carried on farming to the time of his death. He had long survived his wife, her death occurring in Newburgh, New York. Their children were eight in number: Mary and Margaret, both now deceased; Nancy, who is the widow of John Vance and a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Belle, who is living in Hopkinton, Iowa; William and John, who have passed away; Alexander, living in Nebraska; and James.

The last named was educated in Iowa and took up the occupation of farming, following that pursuit until 1876, when he removed to Cherokee. Here he opened a meat market which he conducted until a few years prior to his demise. He closely applied himself to his business, secured a liberal patronage and by honorable dealing and unfaltering industry won a substantial measure of success that enabled him eventually to put aside business cares and spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.

On the 4th of July, 1865, Mr. McConnell was married to Miss Emily Dean, a daughter of Benjamin and Julia (Phelps) Dean of Benton county, Iowa. The father was a native of Vermont and was reared to the occupation of farming which he made his life work. In 1863 he removed to Benton county, where his death occurred in 1875. The family had resided in Ohio and it was in that state that Mrs. Dean, who was a native of Connecticut, passed away in 1842. In his political views Mr. Dean was an earnest republican, believing that the party platform contained the best elements of good government. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their fidelity to Christian teachings made them people of the highest respectability and worth. Their daughter, Mrs. McConnell, was born in Medina county, Ohio, on the 20th of January, 1842. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McConnell were born seven children: Fred, now living in Colorado; Charles, a resident of Cherokee; Margaret, the wife of Oscar P. Mills of Cherokee; Donald, whose home is in Cherokee; James and Glenn, both deceased; and Joseph, at home with his mother. The family circle has several times been broken by the hand of death.

It was on the 30th of May, 1897, that Mr. McConnell passed away when in the sixtieth year of his age. He was a soldier of the Civil war, doing active duty in defense of his country during the darkest hour in its history. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. His life was upright and honorable in all of its relations and he left to his family, not only a comfortable competence, but also the priceless heritage of a good name. He had no special advantages in his youth and the success he achieved was due entirely to his own labors. Those who knew him found him worthy of all trust and his circle of friends was almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances