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Submitted to the Ohio USGenWeb Archives by:

Sharon McConnell
mcconnell@nispro.lacoe.edu

Obituary for Rufus S. McCONNELL who died 3-7-1886 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga
Co., OH.  He was born in Warren, Trumbull Co., OH on 7-24-1842.

                                   "MAJOR M'CONNELL
                 Death of a Popular Naval Officer at His Home in This
City

"After a long and painful illness, Major Rufus McConnell, paymaster
United States navy, died at 3 p.m. yesterday at his residence, No. 249
Woodland avenue.  Eighteen months ago, while serving on the Quinnebaugh,
then on the European station, he was taken sick and went home on sick
leave.  His malady, spinal paralysis, grew on him and latterly he was
wholly deprived of the use of his limbs.  To him, death was a welcome
relief from untold agony.

"Major McConnell was born in Trumbull county, and until he arrived at
man's estate, lived in Warren.  In 1864, at the age of 21, he was
commissioned assistant paymaster in the navy and was assigned to duty on
the Nipsic, then blockading Charleston harbor.  He remained with the
blockading squadron until the close of the siege and was afterward
detailed for shore duty in Boston.  In 1866 he sailed in the Nipsic for
a three-years' cruise on the South Atlantic station, and after a short
rest was assigned to the Asiatic squadron, visiting every port in India,
China and Japan.  Later he served at the New Orleans navy yard and on
the receiving ship in Portsmouth, N.H.  A detail with the reserve
squadron in Hampton roads followed.  In the spring of 1884 he joined the
Quinnebaugh at Lisbon, Portugal, and served until June 10, 1885, when he
was detached at Alexandria, Egypt, and turned his face homeward.  Last
January he appeared before the naval retiring board and was retired from
active service for disabilities contracted in the line of duty.

"The death of Major McConnell is mourned by a very large number of
friends.  He was a confirmed bachelor, but had none of the misanthropic
traits of the bachelor.  No one ever saw him angry; no one ever heard
him use a harsh word.  He was a kindly-disposed, whole-souled man,
generous to a fault, and a warm friend.  He was conscious to the last,
and grim death had no terror for him.  His life ebbed away gradually
until the last spark was extinguished.  The funeral will be held
Wednesday at 1 o'clock."

On January 1, 1875 Rufus was commissioned Paymaster.  He retired January
27, 1886.