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FIRST GENERATION:  Benjamin Connell; Son of William & Nancy; Brother of James (1780)

 

1.  Benjamin Connell was born in 1790 in Maryland.  He was in Lancaster , Ohio by 1827.  Benjamin was the treasurer of Lancaster in 1827, prior to Lancaster 's incorporation in 1831.  He was also postmaster being number 6 of 14 on the list with the first in 1797 and the last in 1876. (History of Fairfield Co. 1795-1876).

  He married Catharine. Catharine was born in 1797.  She died on September 13, 1827.  She was buried in Old Methodist Cemetery & City, Lancaster, OH.  Tombstone reads:  Catharine Connell and infant, wife of Benjamin Connell died Sept. 13, 1827, age 30 yr.  Benjamin and Catharine Connell had the following children:

 

              2                      i.    infant Connell died on September 13, 1827.  He (or she) was born.  He (or she) was buried in Old Methodist Cemetery & City, Lancaster, OH.

            +3                     ii.    Elizabeth O. Connell (born on August 25, 1825).

 

Benjamin married Mariah McNeil who was born in Delaware.  Descent was of Scotch-Irish.  Benjamin Connell and Mariah McNeil had the following children:

 

              4                      i.    Benjamin Connell.

            +5                     ii.    Col. John M. Connell (born on November 7, 1828).

            +6                    iii.    Mattie Connell.

 

 

  SECOND GENERATION

3.  Elizabeth O. Connell (Benjamin-1) was born on August 25, 1825.  She died on September 22, 1845.  She was buried in Old Methodist Cemetery & City, Lancaster, OH.  Tombstone states Elizabeth O., wife of Rev. W. Maynard and daughter of B. Connell died Sept. 22, 1845 age 20 yr. 27 da.

  She was married to Rev. W. Maynard.  Elizabeth O. Connell and Rev. W. Maynard had the following children:

 

            15                      i.    Connell Maynard was born on September 14, 1844.  He died on February 20, 1846.  He was buried in Old Methodist Cemetery & City, Lancaster, OH.  Tombstone states Connell, son of Rev. W. Maynard died Feb. 20, 1846 age 18mo 6da.

 

5.  Col. John M. Connell (Benjamin-1) was born on November 7, 1828 in Lancaster, Fairfield Co OH.  He died on April 17, 1882.  His letter of 1880 states....During the war I was Col 17th Ohio Volunteers, resigning to take a seat in the Ohio Senate; was Lincoln 's Territorial--Elector Democratic candidate in 1867 for Atty. Gen of the State.  Have been practicing lawyer since 1850--first in Wabash, IN., then Wooster, OH.  Also found:  John M. Connell enlisted Apr. 27, 1861 at the age of 31 as Colonel; in 1876 J.M. Connell was a practicing lawyer in Lancaster, Ohio (History of Fairfield Co. 1795-1867). 

John attended Greenfield Academy in Fairfield County founded by John Williams.  It was in operation 1835-1846.  In 1860 he is listed in Lancaster as Connell, John M., attorney and counselor at law with his office located on the north side of Public Square.  In 1869 he was an assessor at Lancaster, Ohio.  {A Thomas J. Duncan in 1869 read law with Martin & McNeal and Connell & Fritter in Lancaster [History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio]}

  In the 1880 census he is living in the 3rd Ward, Lancaster, Fairfield Co. OH and occupation is lawyer.  His last name is listed as CONNEL.  According to his letter of 1880 he ran for governor against Serman.

  He was married to Jennie Cox (daughter of Rev. William Cox and Margaret Beall) on September 27, 1853 .  Jennie Cox was born in 1835 in Ohio.  In the 1880 census she is listed as Jane.  Col. John M. Connell and Jennie Cox had the following children:

 

              7                      i.    William Connell was born in 1855 in Ohio.  He is listed in the 1880 census living with his parents and listed as a teacher.

              8                     ii.    Frank Connell was born in 1858 in Ohio.  In the 1880 census he is living with his parents and occupation as printer.

              9                    iii.    Medill Connell. 

            10                   iv.    John Connell was born in 1860 in Ohio.  In the 1880 census he is living with his parents and a printer.

            11                     v.    Ellen Connell was born in 1862 in Ohio.

            12                    vi.    McNeill Connell was born in 1863 in Ohio.

            13                   vii.    Jane Connell was born in 1865 in Ohio.

            14                  viii.    Margaret Connell was born in 1867 in Ohio.

 

6.  Mattie Connell (Benjamin-1) 

  She was married to William Syke.  William Syke was from Springfield .


BIOGRAPHY

     CONNELL, COLONEL JOHN M., deceased.  He was born November 7, 1828, in Lancaster; son of Benjamin and Mariah (McNeil) Connell.  His paternal ancestry is Irish, his maternal Scotch-Irish.  Young Connell, having chosen the law as a profession, on completing his reading, went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was admitted to practice there, in June 1870.  In 1851 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the eight Judicial District of Indiana.  In 1855 returned to this State and located, for a short time at Wooster, after which he returned to his native city.  In 1857 he was appointed chief clerk in the office of the Comptroller, at Washington, District of Columbian.  On his return he resumed  the practice of the law, which he followed until May 13, 1861, when enlisted and was elected Colonel of the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  At the close of the three months' service the Colonel reorganized the regiment and re-enlisted, in September, of the same year, and remained in the field until November, 1863, when he resigned to take a seat in the State Senate, to which he had been elected by his constituents of the Ninth Senatorial District.  The Colonel was married September 27, 1853, to Miss Jennie, daughter of Rev. William Cox and Margaret (daughter of General Reson Beall, of Wooster, Ohio.)  The Colonel was the father of eight children, viz:  William, Frank, Medill, John, McNeill, Ellen, Jane and Margaret.  In 1866 he was appointed United States Internal Revenue Assessor, which he held until 1869, since which time he followed his profession until his death, April 17, 1882.  (from 1883 History of Fairfield and Perry Counties; pg 288-289.)

 

Letter of John Connell ~ 1880

Lancaster 1880

     I have for many years ???? correspondence otherwise sought for some trace of the Connell descendants akin to me.  Your letter brought me the first intellegence ???? of a living male cousin of the C's.  I am the son of your uncle Benjamin born here Nov 7, 1829 and have had rather a exciting life much of it a public one.  During war I was Col 17th Ohio Vol. - resigning to take a seat in the Ohio Senate - was Lincolns Territorial - Elector Democrate candidate in 186 for Atty. General of the State.  Have been practicing lawyer since 1850 - first Wabash, Ind., then Wooster, Ohio.

     Now as to our ancestry and corrections.  Our grandfather William Connell a Irish Catholic married Nancy Herrington an English Episcopalian in Baltimore Co. Maryland about the time of the revolution.  They were poor, lived in the country a few mile from Baltimore.  Grandfather died in 1793 when my father, Benjamin, the youngest child was 3 years old.  Grandmother died in 1798.

They had children as follows:  1.  Mary - afterward Mrs. Stern;  2.  Sarah, born 1780;  3.  William - lost at sea;  4.  James;  5.  John born 1786;  6.  Benjamin - 1790;  a. Benjamin  b. John M. - 8 children  c. Mattie - married Wm. Syke of Springfield. 

     William O. Connell, Irish Catholic - fought in revolution married Harrington (English) Episcopolian

     James - great grandfather

[It continues with some information about Dr. Aaron Connell's family; the Myers family; and John Connell (b.1786) family.]