James McConnell and Rachel Lytell

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Husband James McConnell ^{1 2}

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           Born: 7 Nov 1777 - Centre Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 1877 3
         Buried: 

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         Father: Hugh McConnell (      -      ) 1 2
         Mother: Jane Ferguson (      -1779) 1

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       Marriage: 7 Nov 1809 1

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Wife Rachel Lytell ^{1 2}

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           Born: 12 Feb 1783 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 1859 3
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Margaret McConnell ³

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           Born: 16 Nov 1810 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1897
         Buried: 

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2 M Hugh McConnell ³

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           Born: 4 Jun 1812 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1897
         Buried: 

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3 M John C. McConnell ³

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           Born: 13 Mar 1813 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1897
         Buried: 

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4 F Mary McConnell ³

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           Born: 29 Mar 1816 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1897
         Buried: 

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5 M James F. McConnell ³

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           Born: 27 Mar 1818 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1897
         Buried: 

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6 F Elizabeth McConnell ³

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           Born: 28 Feb 1820 3
     Christened: 
           Died: while young
         Buried: 

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7 M Capt. Thomas McConnell ^{3 4}

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           Born: 12 Aug 1822 - Crawford Co, PA 3 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 11 Aug 1905 4
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Jane Sarah McComb (      -1896) 2 3
           Marr: 16 Apr 1846 5

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8 F Rachel McConnell ³

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           Born: 27 Sep 1824 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1897
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - James McConnell

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He was reared a farmer, and settled on a farm on Piper's Run, but being a natural born mechanic, he in 1824 exchanged his property for the William Edeburn property on the Shenango River, where there was situated a small log mill, which he refitted upon becoming its owner, and carried on a milling business, being located in Shenango township (Mercer, later Lawrence County, Pennsylvania). The mill possessed only one set of stones, which were operated on the Short System, and with this simple equipment he ground all kinds of grain for the few settlers in his vicinity, the nearest trading point being Allegheny. It was with such surroundings he reared a family of eight children, and became a leading and influential citizen. As the population increased, necessitating an increase in his facilities to meet the increased demands, he built new and larger mills, and as he desired more power from the small stream, he set out to invent a water-wheel. These were the circumstances that led him to contrive what is to-day known as the McConnell turbine water wheel; as is often the case, his ingenuity did not receive its reward, for others, seeing the value of the wheel, fooled him out of it. This unfortunate occurrence wore on his mind, and embittered much of his later life. After a while, to secure better water power, he bought a site for his mill farther down the stream, and rafted his buildings down the river, and at his new location built up a large and thriving business, putting in elevators, etc., so as to assist in the proper development of the industry. In middle life he was made a cripple, lamed in his leg by typhoid fever, and his sons practically conducted the business thereafter. Commencing a poor man in a new and sparsely settled country, he lived to see that country develop into a rich farming, manufacturing and mining district. His own interests also grew apace, his log structure, where he first engaged in milling, being succeeded by a large and well-appointed mill. Owning oxen and horses in large numbers, he carried on an extensive business in teaming, exchanging the product of his mill for general merchandise and grain. Bears and other large game abounded, furnishing to the one skilled in hunting a plentiful supply of fresh meat for the larder; he was thus enabled to recount to his children and grandchildren many exciting tales of encounters, that lost not a whit of their interest in the relating.
He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was stationed on the Niagara Frontier.

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General Notes: Wife - Rachel Lytell

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She was left an orphan when a child.

1 —, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 217.

2 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 925.

3 —, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 218.

4 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 924.

5 —, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 219.