In 1846, he moved with his parents, James and Mary (Grose) McConnell, to Michigan, remaining there until the spring of 1847, and then moved to Elkhart, Indiana, and on September 13, 1855, with his parents emigrated West with an ox team, landing at Bowman Grove, Shelby County, October 22, 1855. He was united in marriage to Catharine Longcor in 1857. To this union three children were born. She died in the spring of 1871.

In the fall of 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Poling, and to this union were born four children, all of which survive him except two, Eliza Beth and James Arthur.

Mr. McConnell was one of the oldest settlers in Shelby County, and was permitted to see it develop from its wild state to one of the richest sections in the land. Although in failing health for the last five years, brought on by a rattlesnake bite received over thirty years ago, yet he would not give up to go to bed until a week before his death.

He united with the Christian faith in 1867 has lived in that faith ever was a member of the United Brethren Church at the time of his death.

He leaves to mourn his departure wife, five children, twenty-five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, two sisters, living in Harlan, Iowa; two brothers, James, of Botna, Iowa; Henry, of Oklahoma.

The funeral was conducted at Irwin by his pastor, Rev: A. Pruitt, of the United Brethren Church, which was attended by a large concourse of friends and relatives. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of the county.
May 28, 1908, Manning Monitor