Clinton McConnell

BAKER

Posted By: Ken Baker (email)
Date: 10/22/2011 at 18:29:46

July 17, 1927 Leon Reporter

Clinton McConnell

Clint McConnell, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs.Frank McConnell (Mrs. was Amanda McConnel, also her maiden name), was born March 2, 1877, in Decatur County (Iowa) near Westerville. Except for a year or so spent in Nebraska, all his life has been lived in practically the same community. Feb. 5, 1906, Mr. McConnell was married to Elizabeth Baker. Of the three children of this marriage, one Clint, Jr., died in earliest infancy, the other two James Clinton and Edith Dale survive their father. For the first two years after his marriage, Mr. McConnell farmed south of Grand River. He then established himself in the town of Grand River itself, where he has continued in business up to two years ago when after many years of local service as marshal, special deputy, etc. he accepted the office of Deputy Sheriff first under Sheriff Lorey, afterward under Sheriff Kendall. Mr. McConnell was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Grand River and always took an especially active interest in the work. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows holding membership at Kellerton and later Leon. He was a member of the Methodist Church by virtue of his conversion under the ministry of Mr. Seoggin and Miss Alta Nichols in a meeting held some twelve years ago. His life came to its tragic and heroic close Friday morning, July 8th, when but four months and a few days past his fifty years of age he must have seemed in the prime of his physical powers. Besides his sorrowing parents, his grief-stricken and heart-broken wife and children he is survived by three brothers, Clay, Lert, and Leo, all of Grand River, one brother and two sisters having preceded him in death.

Of the grim and tragic circumstances of his death early in the morning of July 8, 1927, it is not seemly that we speak at length. Sufficient it to say that Mr. McConnell died as perhaps he himself would have wished, as a brave officer at the post of duty. His character has been known as that of a man whose convictions were settled regarding law, and public and private righteousness, and whose own conduct squared with those convictions. He was not satisfied with a personal obedience, but long before he became a public officer was a zealous and dependable supporter of law observance. In the face of criticism, suspicion, apathy and misrepresentation, Clinton McConnell set the example of an official who was personally incorruptible. He was a good soldier in "the savage wars of peace" and who ran ahead to meet danger when it was to be faced. Our public life and the safety of our homes and of society is builded not upon personal courage, devotion, and sacrifice of the few among these few in the roll of that elect number called to pay the last full measure, we write today, with sorrow and yet with pride, the name Clinton McConnell.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon in the City Park at Grand River. A quartet composed of Mrs. R. B. Hawkins, Mrs. A. E. Blair, Mrs. Forest Cole, and Mr. Charles Robbins sang several beautiful numbers. Pastors Studebaker and Habliston, of the Brethren and Methodist churches of Leon, officiated. For an hour or more fifteen hundred people filed past the casket, paying the last tribute of respect of citizens to their loyal and courageous defender, of neighbors to a loved and trusted friend.

This article was found right beside the article detailing his death during a gun fight pursueing bootleggers.