MATTHEW F. McCONNELL (deceased), son of Matthew and Ann (Merchant) McConnell ( a record of whom appears on page 1022, this volume), was born September 4, 1827, in Hanover township, this county, on the old McConnell homestead, situated near Raccoon creek. He remained on his father's farm during boyhood, and received his first education at the country schools, which was supplemented by several terms at Florence Academy. After leaving school he successfully followed the profession of school teaching in Washington, Beaver and Allegheny counties, Penn., working on his father's farm during the summer. He finally abandoned school teaching, and gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. On April 4, 1873, he was married to Sarah Ann Hutton, who was born August 1, 1851, a daughter of C. D. and Mary Jane (Pugh) Hutton, of near Pughtown, W. Va. The grandfather of Mrs. Hutton was the founder of Pughtown, and was an early settler of Hancock county, in the same state. Two children were born to the union of Matthew F. and Sarah Ann McConnell; Samuel F. F., born December 30, 1875; and William A., born July 3, 1877, both of whom are assisting their widowed mother in the management of the farm. Mr. McConnell passed his whole life on his birthplace, and followed general farming until the time of his sudden demise, March 8, 1891, which was caused by heart failure; he was buried at Cross Roads cemetery, at Florence, Penn. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, and in religion a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church at Florence, of which he was a trustee. Since his death Mrs. McConnell has been living on the old place, which she conducts with the assistance of her two sons. Before her marriage she was a member of the Robinson United Presbyterian Church, since which time she has been identified with the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 1273 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Sharon McConnell of Fontana, CA 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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