HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY  389

William Connely, who was an extensive landholder in Harrison township,
and for many years one of its most prominent and influential citizens.
A son of Gilmore Connely, he was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, of
substantial Scotch-Irish ancestry.
    A native of Kentucky, Gilmore Connely lived there during his early
life. Subsequently coming with his family to Indiana, he located in
Putnam county at an early period of its settlement. Purchasing a tract
of timbered land near Putnamville, he cleared and improved a home-
stead, and from that time until his death, at a good old age, he was
prosperously engaged in farming, stock raising and in real estate dealings.
    Very young when his parents came to this state, William Connely
took advantage of every offered opportunity for acquiring an education,
and later in life became a very successful business man and a most wise
and safe counsellor. Removing after his marriage to Missouri, he set-
tled in Bates county, where he purchased a large tract of land, on which
he began improvements. He was strongly opposed to slavery, and the
exponents of that cause made it so very unpleasant for him that he sold
out and returned to Vigo county. A few years later he came to Harrison
township, purchased large tracts of land in the Eel River valley, and was
a resident of Clay county until his death, which occurred in October,
1896, on his estate.
    Mr. Connely married Elizabeth Leavitt, who was born in Riley
township, Vigo county, a daughter of William Humphrey and Ann
(Halstead) Leavitt. She preceded him to the better world, dying in
1875, leaving three children, Rhoda, Anna Kate, and Frances. Anna K.
is the wife of William J. Hall, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this
volume. Mr. Connely always took an active and intelligent interest in
everything pertaining to the puhlic welfare, and in the state legislature
rendered excellent service two or more terms, representing Vigo county
in 1877 and Clay county in 1886.

    WILLIAM WALLACE McGregor.--A man of culture, keen intelli-
gence and high mental attainments, William Wallace McGregor, now
living retired from active pursuits in Harrison township, was for many
years actively identified with the legal profession, being engaged in the
practice of law at Clay City. A son of Samuel McGregor, he was born
May 17, 1835, in Harrison county, Ohio, of honored Scotch ancestry.
His grandfather McGregor, a native of the Scotch Highlands, emigrated
to America in colonial days, fought as a soldier in the Revolution, after-
wards lived for a short time in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and then settled
in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he, as far as known, spent
the remainder of his years.
    Samuel McGregor was born August 21, 1787, in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, and was there reared and married. Subsequently removing
to Ohio, he bought land in Jefferson township, and in addition to man-
aging his farm was engaged in mercantile business in the town of Jeffer-
son. Selling his holdings in that vicinity in 1837, he moved to Tuscara-
was county, and in Warren township, near New Cumberland, bought land
and for two years was engaged in farming. He then located with his
family in the village of New Cumberland, where a few months later his
wife died. He then went to visit a daughter living at Hollidays Cove,
West Virginia, but being in ill health did not enter into any business.
He subsequently returned to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and died in 1852,