Biographical Sketch of Major William C. Connett, Center Township, 
Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Major William C. Connett was born in Mason County, Kentucky, June 3,
1797.  He removed from the place of his birth to Hardin County, KY.,
where he remained for several years and then enlisted in the War of
1812.  He for a time kept a hotel at May's Lick and then engaged in
farming in Fayette County.  He engaged extensively in the manufacture
of hemp in Lexington, Kentucky, operating a large factory which was
destroyed by fire and absorbed all his available means, but with the
energy characteristic of the man he set out for the west to retrieve
his losses, and on the 11th of March, 1839 he came to Buchanan County
and settled on the farm which for twenty six years was his home.  He
engaged in the raising of hemp and the manufacture of rope and was 
the first in the Platte Purchase to engage in this industry and one
great inducement in doing it was that the product of summer's labor
could be utilized by labor of winter, thus proving him a good politi-
cal economist.  This business proved very remunerative and was the
basis of the large estate he left at his death which occurred December
30, 1864.  He was a man of large frame, a strong mind, a powerful will
and untiring energy and industry, as an evidence of which he had acqui-
red as a farmer in a legitimate attention to that branch of industry a
large estate.  He was a man whose standard of morality was very high
and in the daily affairs of life attended strictly to his own affairs,
giving every man his due as punctually as he exacted from others.  His
theories were few and practical.  He was eminently a utilitarian and 
was slow to believe in innovations on good old law and customs.  In
every sense of the word he was a patriot and a lover of his country.
He had great respect for the laws of the land and could see no fault
in the form of our government, but deplored the ignorance among the
many for not learning the working of its beautiful machinery devised
in profound wisdom.  Although his educational advantages were limited
he was a man of general information, of vast experience and instructive
in his conversations.  He never obtruded his opinion and ever expressed
himself in decorous language with modest dignity.  He was a just minded
man and a most useful citizen.  He was married on June 7, 1817, to Miss
Matilda Thornberry, a native of Fauquier County, Virginia.  She was of
Scotch descent.  Their children were: Squire S.; Malvina A., who 
married Judge E. P. Duncan; Isabelle, wife of Columbus Roundtree;
Elzerie, wife of Samuel Wildbahn and Miranda, wife of Walker G. Reid.
After Mr. Connett's death his three sons, Squire S., William C. and
Horace T. formed a partnership under the firm name of S. S. Connett &
Bros.  They have purchased the estate left by their father from year
to year and are an exception among the leading farmers, stock raisers
and business men of Buchanan County as well as one of its largest tax
payers.  In connection with their farming interests they have continued
the packing business, which was first established by their father in
1851, and the reputation he attained in the curing of hams and bacon
has not suffered in the hands of his sons.  Their knowledge of the 
business and the demand for their product has led them to increase 
their facilities, and at this time they are erecting a most commodious
building for their business, size 165 x 84, three stories high, with
all modern improvements, with a capacity of 1,200 hogs per day. Squire
S. Connett was born in May's Lick, Kentucky, May 10, 1819, and in his
youth learned the hemp manufacturing trade.  He came to Buchanan County
in 1839 and spun the first thread of hemp and manufactured the first
rope in the Platte Purchase.  He married Miss Cilina A. Leonard in
February, 1857.  She was born in Platte County, Missouri.  William C.
Connett was born in Kentucky, December 14, 1830, and came to Buchanan
County in 1839.  He married Perilla L. Leonard, October 13, 1855. Their
family consists of seven children: Carroll S., Leanna M., Solomon L.,
Squire S., Cora L., Ada E., and William C.  Horace T. Connett was born
in Fayette County, Kentucky, November 10, 1832, and came with the 
family to Buchanan County in 1839.  He married May E. Leonard, April 
12, 1861.  She was born in Buchanan County.  Mrs. Connett died October
22, 1873, leaving four children: Celina E., Charles H., John A. and
Wesley L.

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