ALEXANDER McCONNELL represents one of the earliest pioneers of Washington county, his grandfather, Alexander McConnell, who was a native of Virginia, coming to Washington county in 1787, with a brother Matthew. The brothers each took a farm, and Alexander afterward bought 200 acres of the "Black Woods" tract, of one Mr. Black. Alexander married in Cecil township, this county, to Elizabeth McCrory, and they settled on a farm adjoining that of his grandson and namesake. He took an active part in the Whiskey Insurrection. In church he and his wife were members of the Seceder denomination. He died many years ago, being followed several years later by his wife. She was the mother of six children, viz: Alexander, who resided in Cecil township; David, whose sketch follows; Prudence, wife of James Oram; Jane; Nancy; and Matthew, of Chartiers township, all now deceased. David McConnell, son of Alexander and Elizabeth (McCrory) McConnell, was born in 1791, on the home farm in Cecil township, where he grew to manhood. In 1828 he was united in marriage with Sarah Campbell, who was born in 1805 in Cecil township, and to their union was born the following children: Alexander (who died at the age of fourteen years), Mary Margaret (Mrs. James Johnston, of Helena, Mont.), John C. (a widower, living in Washington, Iowa near Ainsworth), Elizabeth (deceased, first married to James Giffin, then to Frank Collins, of Peters township, this county), David (who died at the age of four years), Jane (deceased in youth), Alexander (whose name opens this sketch), Isabella (Mrs. John Skiles, of Dallas county, Iowa), and Sarah (wife of J. R. Gladden, of Cecil township). After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McConnell settled on the homestead in Cecil township. In politics he was formerly a Whig, then a Democrat, and served some years as supervisor. He and his wife were first connected with the U. P. church at Robinson's Run, afterward uniting with the same society at Venice, he having been one of the organizers of the church in the latter place. David McConnell died in 1873, and was followed by his wife in 1881. Alexander McConnell was born in 1840, on the old place in Cecil township, this county, attending during his boyhood the district schools of the vicinity. In 1881 he was married to Mary Jane, daughter of John and Mary (Spence) Matthews, natives of Cecil township; they moved to Jefferson county, Kans., where the father died in 1887, the mother following him to the grave in 1889. Alexander and Mary Jane McConnell settled on the place where they are now living, and which contains 109 well-cultivated acres. The barn, yet in a good condition, was erected in 1794, and the house was built in 1805. In politics he is a Democrat, but votes independently in county elections. He has served tow or three terms as supervisor, and in religion he and his wife are members of the U. P. Church at Venice. The have three children: Esther, Mary, Sarah Eveline and John Walter.

Text taken from page 1209 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Sharon McConnell of Fontana, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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