WILLIAM S. MCCONNAUGHY was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1836, where he attended school and learned the machinist's trade until he was twenty years of age; he then went to work as stoker, or third engineer, on steamboats of the Pittsburg and Cincinnati Union Line, worked at this business eight or nine years, when he enlisted in Company I, Sixth United States Cavalry, this was in the spring of 1861. He fought the Indians on the plains under General Connor; was mustered out in October, 1866, when he came to Jersey county, Illinois, and followed farming some eight or nine years. He is now running a grocery and provision store for H. C. Cooper, at Lowder. Mr. McConnaughy was married to Sarah A. Cooper, July 26, 1868; she was born in Carrollton, Greene County, Illinois, in November, 1850, and was a daughter of Thomas Cooper, born in Yorkshire, England, July 3, 1811, and came to the United States when quite young. He was married to Mary Colwell, a native of Kentucky, and is now living in Lowder. Thomas McConnaughy, father of William, was born in Pennsylvania; he was a stock dealer. His wife, Mary A. Richardson, was born in Canada, was a member of the Methodist Church, and the mother of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. McConnaughy have four children, viz.: John F., William T., Francis E. and Maude D. In politics, Mr. McConnaughy is a Republican.