WILLIAM McCONNELL has been a successful farmer of Cecil township, and, being retired from active business, is now living in Hickory. He is a son of James McConnell, who was born in Cecil township. James McConnell was married to Sarah Phillips, who was born here in 1800, and passed their lives farming in the township. In politics he was originally a Whig, afterward becoming a Republican. He and his wife were members of the U. P. Church at Robinson's Run, in which he was a ruling elder. He died about 1872, having been preceded by his wife several years. James and Sarah McConnell were the parents of the following children: Mary (Mrs. Hugh McDowell, of Peters township), Martha (widow of Samuel Vaneman, of North Strabane township, who died in 1891), John (living on the old homestead in Cecil township), William (subject of this sketch), James (residing in Peters township, a widower), Sarah (wife of Samuel McPeak, of Canonsburg), Jane (living on the old home farm), Elizabeth (wife of Mark Kelso, of North Strabane township) and David (living in Cecil township). William McConnell was born March 29, 1831, on the farm in Cecil township, Washington county, and received his education in the subscription schools. He chose a life companion in the person of Rachel P. May, a native of Cecil township, and daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Berry) May, January 8, 1857. Alexander May was born in Cecil township, and his wife was a native of Mt. Pleasant township, this county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. May settled in Cecil township. They were members of the Associate Church until the union, and in politics he was active in the Republican party. Mr. May died at Venice, this county, in 1872, being followed by his wife in 1884. William and Rachel (May) McConnell passed the first years of married life on a farm in Peters township, this county, but in 1862 he bought and moved upon a farm in Cecil township, remaining there until 1882. He then sold the place, and buying eight acres in Hickory, has since led a retired life in that village. His wife died in 1887, leaving one daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, wife of John H. McCalmont, of Mt. Pleasant township.

Text taken from page 1176 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Julie Jolly of Knob Noster, MO as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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