Yolo-San Joaquin-Sonoma County CA Archives Biographies.....McConnell, J. I. 1845 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 19, 2005, 1:11 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) J. I. McCONNELL,of Woodland. The father of the subject of this sketch, George M. McConnell, was born December 24, 1817, in McMinn County, East Tennessee, and in 1850 came with his family, consisting of wife and two sons, to California, by way of Salt Lake, arriving at the mines at Colotna in September. After working in the mines for two years, he came down to Sacramento city with the intention of returning East by water; but, as the floods were high and no steamers going, he was persuaded by friends to go into Yolo County and pre-empt a claim about a mile east of the city of Woodland. He followed farming there until 1858; then he moved to Sonoma County, where he remained until 1868, and finally settled in Hollister, San Benito County, where he still resides. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Jane Adams, was a native of Tennessee, and died at Hollister in 1871, at the age of fifty-three years. They were the parents of three children, all of whom are now living, viz.: William E., who resides in Santa Rosa; James I., the subject of this sketch, and George W., who was born in Yolo County, and resides at, Hollister. James I. was born in Tennessee, December 18, 1845, and was therefore five years old when he was brought to this State. He was educated at different places, but mostly at Sonoma, at a Presbyterian school, as his father was a Cumberland Presbyterian. From 1868 to 1871 he taught school in San Joaquin County; then two years in the department of mathematics in Hesperian College at Woodland; next, 1880-'85, he was Principal of the public school of Woodland, and then, 1885-'87, he had editorial charge of the Daily Democrat; and finally, in 1888, he was appointed Postmaster of Woodland. He is president of the Woodland Building and Loan Association, which was organized about four years ago; and while he was a teacher he was also a member of the Educational Board of this county for six years. In all his public positions he has given satisfaction, being social, pleasant-mannered and accommodating. He is a member of the orders of the United Workmen and Knights of Pythias, and has filled all the offices in the lodges of both societies in Woodland. Mr. McConnell was married in 1871 to Miss Lillian Swain, a native of Marshall, Michigan, and they have one daughter, named Gertrude L. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/mcconnel147gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb