Notes for: William Alexander McConnell

William was the founder of Richmond, Illinois. His biography is included in "History of McHenry County, Illinois" (1994).

From: Rommy Lopat [weedpatch at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2013
Subject: photo of William A McConnell, 1810-1887

..of Richmond, McHenry, IL

--
Rommy Lopat
weedpatchgazette.com
Phone: 847-922-0437
Facsimile: 847-295-1986



William A. McConnell



And from Findagrave:

"To Hon. William A. McConnell belongs the distinction of having been the first pioneer to invade the prairie wilds of Richmond township. He located here in 1837 and built a log cabin 16x18 feet." p 446, History of McHenry County, 1872

From Ronny Bodine:

Marriage Announcement, Lycoming Chronicle (Williamsport, Penn.) of Wed., 24 Jan 1838.
On Thursday last, by the Rev. John Thomas, Mr. William O. McConnell of Wisconsin Territory, to Miss Elizabeth Bodine, daughter of Abraham Bodine, Esq. of Wall township, Lycoming Co.

From History of McHenry County, Illinois, Vol. II, Chicago, 1922, p. 731
WILLIAM A. McCONNELL.
William A. McConnell, now deceased, was one of the pioneers of McHenry County, became a heavy landowner of Richmond Township, and was intimately associated with its progress. He was born in Pennsylvania, was there reared, and came to McHenry County in 1837. The first settler to locate a claim in Richmond Township, he secured one on section 8, on which he erected a log cabin, 10x18 feet. Having thus provided a home for his bride, Mr. McConnell returned to Pennsylvania, and was married there in 1838, to Elizabeth Bodine. Returning with his wife, Mr. McConnell began to improve his land. For fifteen years the primitive log cabin served as a home, but it was then replaced by a frame residence, located across the street from the cabin. In 1872, a more commodious residence was erected on the site of the cabin, and there William McConnell died October 9, 1887, his wife passing away six months later. They were survived by three sons, namely: Abraham B., John and George, sketches of whom appear elsewhere in this work. William A. McConnell was one of the most influential men of his generation. During the administration of President Van Buren, he was appointed postmaster of Richmond, and served for six years, the post office being in the log cabin on his farm. He was associate judge of McHenry County for sixteen years and in 1844, he was elected county commissioner and served in that office until the adoption of township organization, when he was made a justice of the peace for Richmond Township and held that office for thirty-five years. He was appointed a judge of election in 1840 and served as such for several years. Mr. McConnell was a member of the first state legislature convened under the new constitution, and served as a member of the board of equalization one term, and as supervisor of Richmond Township for several years, and for one term was chairman of the board. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was one of the organizers of the church of that denomination in Richmond. Not only did he serve faithfully and well in every office, but he reared his three sons to be as upright and capable as he, and they, too, have made their influence felt in the history of McHenry County, so that today the name of McConnell stands for the highest standards of American manhood and good citizenship.

From Biographical Directory of the Tax-Payers and Voters of McHenry County, Chicago, 1877, p. 311-312:
McCONNELL, WM. A., Farmer, Sec. 8; Richmond P. 0.; born in Williamsport, Lycoming Co., Pa.; came to Michigan in 1836, and to Richmond in 1837; owns 1,300 acres of land; value of property, $50,000; held the offices of Postmaster six years, Justice of the Peace thirty-five years, County Commissioner two terms, Associate Judge sixteen years, member of State Board of Equalization one term and Member of General Assembly one term. Married Elizabeth Bodine, of Muncy, Lycoming Co., Pa., January 18, 1838; has three boys.

Children: Abraham Bodine (3 Feb 1839), John (8 July 1842), George (3 March 1845).