W. A. McConnell and his wife Elizabeth are in the 1880 Census of Richmond, McHenry Co., IL. She is 68 and born in PA. Her father was born in NJ and her mother in PA. William was a retired farmer, age 70, born in PA. Both his parents were born in Prussia. There is a John McConnell in the next house on this census. He is this couple's son. He is a farmer, age 37, and born in IL. Both his parents were born in PA. His father-in-law, S. Frothingham, is also in their household. He is 72 and born in NH. Both his parents were born in NH.

From Ronny Bodine:

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).

***End of info from Ronny.

From: Rommy Lopat [weedpatch at gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013
Subject: Re: photo of William A McConnell, 1810-1887

The McConnells built and lived in my house since the 1830's. Look for a genealogy I did called McConnell Family of McHenry County, IL (maybe this link will work: . I realize in looking at it that stories from history books are missing--can't say I'm right on it, but I'll post stuff over the next months and try try try to send it to you.

There are photos there if you can copy them. Virtually all the McConnells are buried in Richmond, IL Cemetery (findagrave.com ) in McHenry County, IL except for AB McConnells who are in Woodstock, McHenry, IL.

I like your Bodine European history... Impressive! rommy