Page 539

EDWARD F. MCCONNELL - It was a maxim of the philosopher Young, that "any man can do what any other man has done". To the young people of today, the life of our subject, whose portrait is presented on the opposite page, affords an excellent example of industry and perseverance and the rewards of unflagging zeal and enterprise. He owns and operates a fine farm of eleven hundred acres, comprising all of section 23, and a part of sections 22 and 24, Chatham Township. The residence, a commodious and elegant frame structure, is pleasantly situated on section 24.

The proprietor of this large and valuable farm is of substantial Scotch-Irish descent, and is the son of James McConnell, a native of County Downs, Ireland. Grandfather Andrew McConnel was born in Ireland where after a long life he died. James McConnell learned the trade of a weaver in Ireland, and in 1811, when less than twenty-one years of age, came to America, locating in New Jersey. He was in a company in the War of 1812, but not in active service. In 1812 he went to Madison County, N.Y., and engaged in farming near Eaton, where he resided until 1842.

Coming to Sangamon County at the above mentioned date, James McConnell purchased land in Woodside Township, three miles from Springfield, and here remained until his death in 1867. He was a member of the Universalist Church, and a Republican in politics after the late war. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Smith, and was born in Ireland whence, after her marriage, she removed to the United States. She bore her husband eight children, namely: Mary, Mrs. Buck, of New York; Sarah, the widow of F. B. Hoppin, and a resident of Chicago; Edward F., our subject; Andrew B., who is in Springfield; Eliza C. Hoppin, who died in Talkington; John, now a resident of Springfield; Jane, Mrs. Fasset who died in Texas; and James who died when young. John served in the late war in the Third Illinois Cavalry, and was later appointed Colonel of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry.

In Madison County, N.Y., where our subject was born April 30, 1816, he passed his youth, aiding his father on the home farm and gaining a limited education. However, he made good use of his time while attending the Clinton Liberal Institute one year, and later increased his fund of knowledge by careful perusal of our most prominent papers and magazines, and in this way he has become a well read and thoroughly posted man. He was united in marriage September 9, 1840, in Madison County, N.Y., with Miss Ann Hoppin, a native of Madison County, and the daughter of Curtis Hoppin. The latter, a native of Connecticut, was a farmer by occupation and followed his calling in New York, where he purchased a small place.

In the fall of 1842 our subject sold his property and came overland to Illinois. The trip was made with two horses and wagons, via Cleveland, Terre Haute, to Springfield. The winter was spent in Woodside Township, and there he purchased four hundred acres in the spring of 1843. The place was wholly unimproved, and Mr. McConnell erected a house of hardwood and in various ways improved the estate. After improving the land he went into the sheep business, starting with only forty-five head which he brought from New York and raising the Merino breed principally. He kept as many as three thousand head and sold wool from his sheep for $115,000, besides the mutton. When he first came here he was compelled to corral his sheep, as the wolves were very troublesome.

Finding that the Merino sheep were troubled with foot-rot, Mr. McConnell sold them and bought some of coarser wool, beginning with five hundred head of Oxford and Shropshire breed. The sheep of this estate are of the best quality and Mr. McConnell frequently received premiums on his Merinos. His father brought the first Berkshire hogs ever in this county, and our subject is considerably interested in this business, raising about one hundred head each year. He had twenty head of draft horses, and keeps some cattle, his farm affording excellent pasturage for stock. The McConnell and Hoppin families had at one time over one-hundred thousand sheep between them.

The large extent of land which Mr. McConnell now owns he purchased at the price of from $3 to $32 per acre. Much of it is now rented, and he employs one man to assist in the work. The place is neatly fenced and subdivided into lots and pastures. The Chicago & Alton Railroad extends three fourths of a mile through the farm, the right of way being given to that road by our subject. One of the noticeable features of the farm is the grove near by and the fine orchard whose trees are in good bearing conditions.

Mr. McConnell has been married three times, his first wife dying June 4, 1853, and leaving one child, James, who received a splendid education in Galesburg College. Later he studied law in Springfield, was admitted to the bar, and now is an attorney in Chicago. Mr. McConnell was again married in New York in 1855 to Miss Mary Hoppin, a sister of the first wife and a native of the State of New York. He was married the last time in Des Moines, Iowa, in January, 1879, to Mrs. Sarah Morse, the daughter of Archibald Storrs. Mrs. McConnell was born in Cortland County, N.Y., and was reared to womanhood in Madison County. She is a most estimable woman and has many warm friends throughout the community.

Mr. McConnell was a Democrat prior to the late war, since which time he has voted the Republican ticket. He has served his township and county in various capacities, has been a delegate to township and county conventions, served on the grand jury, etc. He is now School Trustee, in which office he has served to the satisfaction of the people for thirty years. He has represented his township on the Board of Supervisors for one year and is a prominent member of the Grange. Religiously he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and aid that cause both with their time and money.