Biography of J. L. Connella , Ouachita & Rapides Parish Louisiana

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker



**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 

J. L. CONNELLA.  Personal popularity, it can not be denied, results largely
from industry, perseverance and close attention to business, which a person
displays in the management of any particular branch of trade, and in the
case of Mr. Connella this is certainly true, for whatever work he had to do
he did with all his heart.  He was born in Montgomery County, Ala., on
February 14, 1840, to Levin M. and Sarah A. (McQueen) Connella, who were
born in Maryland and South Carolina in 1800 and 1815, respectively.  The
father was born in Chestertown, Md., on February 20, 1800, and the mother
in Montgomery County, Ala., on September 23,1815.  He was left an orphan in
his early boyhood, and when about fifteen years of age he removed to South
Carolina, in which State he received the most of his education, marrying
there, on March 19, 1818, Miss Sarah A. Cooper, of South Carolina, who died
on February 15, 1834.  That year he moved, with his three children, to
Montgomery County, Ala.  On July 25, 1837, he married Miss Sarah A.
McQueen, and in 1847 came to Ouachita Parish, La., where he raised a large
family, and died on November 7, 1871, his widow passing from life in
Ouachita Parish on September 13, 1876, both being members of the Baptist
Church.  While a resident of South Carolina his attention was given
exclusively to farming, but after his removal to Alabama he conducted a
mercantile establishment in connection with his agricultural pursuits.  J.
L. Connella obtained the greater part of his education in this State, and
completed his knowledge of books in Howard College, Marion, Ala.  After
leaving college he began pedagoguing in Louisiana, and, in June, 1861, he
enlisted in Company A, Third Texas Cavalry, Confederate State Army, and
served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, taking part in the battles of
Wilson'' Creek (Mo.), August 10, 1861, and Chustahnahlah (Ind. Ty.), on
December 26, 1861, being wounded by a gunshot, and being unable to
participate in the battle of Pea Ridge, which occurred a few weeks later.
He was so seriously disabled that he was discharged.  He had recovered
sufficiently, however, by 1864 to re-enlist in the service, and was
assigned to duty in the quartermaster's department, in which he served
until the war was over.  He was at Marshall, Tex., at the time of the
surrender, and was paroled at Alexandria.  After his return home he resumed
teaching, which he continued until 1869, when he was married to Mrs. Jessie
B. Jones, a daughter of Alexander Edgar.  At the time of his marriage he
was a professor in Soule's Commercial College at New Orleans.  Mr. Connella
is a well-known man throughout this section, for he has taken a deep
interest in public affairs, and is ever ready to help in a deserving cause.
He has, several times, declined a nomination to the State Legislature, at
the hands of the Democratic party; is one of the foremost and active
leaders of that party in Rapides Parish, and is considered a splendid
orator by those who have heard him on the stump.  He was an enviable
reputation as a moral, straightforward man, and he may well be proud of the
position he occupies in the estimation of the citizens in this locality.
THOMAS CRAWLEY, mayor of Alexandria, La.  The above name is familiar to the
people of Rapides Parish, for it is borne by a man who has taken a
prominent interest in her affairs, who has been honest and upright and
whose life has been without reproach in his intercourse with his fellowmen.
He was born in the parish of Drogheda, August 28, 1849, and is a son of
James and Anne (Boylan) Crawley, who emigrated from their native land of
Ireland to America about 1850, the father dying while en route.  The
widowed mother finally drifted to Rapides Parish, La., and here the subject
of this sketch grew to mature years, his early educational advantages being
not of the best.  While still a lad he entered the office of the Red River
American and began learning the printer's trade, completing his knowledge
of the work in the office of the Constitutional, afterward becoming
identified with the Democrat.  His ability, intelligence and executive
ability soon began to be recognized, and in 1870 he was elected to the
office of city marshal and collector, a position he held about eight years,
discharging his duties in a manner that showed that the people's confidence
in him was not misplaced.  Between 1880 and 1884 he conducted the We, the
People for some time, but in January, 1885, was elected to the position of
mayor of Alexandria and has held the office continuously since, a fact that
speaks louder than words can do as to his popularity and executive ability.
He served as chief of the fire department for some time, and was a
delegate to the last gubernatorial convention at Baton Rouge.  At present
he is a member of the executive committee of the parish, and it can with
truth be said that no man takes a deeper interest in the progress and
development of the same than he.

#  #  #