[p. 924] who passed into the unknown beyond August 11, 1905, was one of Lawrence County's well known and venerated citizens, nearly all of his long and useful life being spent within its borders. His life record is one of honor and achievement, whether as soldier, public servant, or in the realms of private business. He was a veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars, served as sheriff of Lawrence County from 1864 until 1867, and during the most of his active career was engaged in the milling business, a part of the time in partnership with his son, James. The firm of T. McConnell & Son has long been a prominent one, and the Forest Mills, located on Slippery Creek and conducted by this firm, enjoy a wide prestige.
Captain McConnell was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1822, and was a son of James and Rachel (Lytell) McConnell. His grandfather, Hugh McConnell, was a native of Ireland, and upon coming to America served as a soldier in the Colonial Army during the Revolutionary War. He engaged in milling in Center County, Pennsylvania, and later with his son, James, moved to Crawford County. They erected a mill on the Shenango Creek, at West Middlesex, being the founders of that town.
Thomas McConnell received very little schooling, as his services were required in the mill, but by dint of hard study after his day's work was done he managed to acquire a very good education. Shortly after his marriage the Mexican War broke out, and, imbued with a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted in a volunteer cavalry company, which was under arms but was not called into the regular service. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, he was engaged in the oil business in the vicinity of Titusville, but with Lincoln's first call for troops he left his business to enter the army. He enlisted April 23, 1861, as a member of Company B, Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, and was mustered in as captain of his company the following June. In July of that year, his division was transferred into the United States regular army, and his regiment designated the 39th regular volunteers. He saw much hard fighting and participated in the battles at Drainesville, Second Bull Run and Mechanicsville. In the latter engagement, June 26, 1862, he had the misfortune of being wounded by the explosion of a shell; he was struck upon the back of the neck and injured to such an extent he never fully recovered. After some months in the hospital he attempted to continue in the service, but was finally discharged in December, 1862, on account of disability. During his service he served on detached duty a part of the time, and was a member of the General Court Martial Board. He then returned to his home in Lawrence county and resumed the milling business, at which he continued during the remainder of his business life except for the time he spent in the sheriff's office and in the oil fields in Butler County.
Thomas McConnell was married April 16, 1846, to Miss Jane Sarah McComb, and after a half century of wedded happiness he was called upon to mourn her loss through death, in July, 1896. Captain McConnell's death resulted from the infirmities of age, although his old wound had been bothering him considerably; then too, he had not been the same after the death of his son, Hon. Malcolm McConnell, which occurred August 16, 1904. Captain and Mrs. McConnell became parents of seven children, of whom but three survived his death: Mary A., wife of George W. Hartman; Arethusa, who has since died, her demise occurring in January, 1908; and James McConnell of McConnell's Mills. Thomas McConnell was a Republican in politics, and although he was interested in the success of the party was not a politician. He held the office of sheriff and that was the only office he ever sought. From early manhood he was a consistent member of the First United Presbyterian Church of New Castle.
James McConnell, son of Capt. Thomas and Jane S. (McComb) McConnell, was born in the old Holstein Mills, at Neshannock Falls, the house in which his parents had lived having been destroyed by fire a short time previously. He was born in 1855, and from early life has been engaged in the milling business, except for three or four years spent in the oil fields. He is one of the proprietors of the Forest Mills, operated under the name and style of T. McConnell & Son, and is one of the substantial business men of Slippery Rock Township. The mill is of modern equipment, and is run by never failing water power. Mr. McConnell was married in 1879, to Miss Jennie W. Stewart, a daughter of John W. Stewart of Portersville; her maternal grandfather was the founder of the Forest Mills which have been in almost continuous operation for nearly a century. Religiously, they are members of the Portersville Church of which he has been an elder for some years.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 4 Feb 2002