George & Sarah (Kennedy) McConnell

Greenwood, Clark Co., Wisconsin

 

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George McConnell was born in Ireland 4 Jun 1839.  He took Sarah E. Kennedy as his bride in 1866.  She was born in Ontario, Canada 10 Dec 1846.  They came to the United States and resided in the east until moving to Calwell, Missouri and their son, George Kennedy was born 3 Feb 1868 in Hamilton.  Their closest post office was at Mirabile.  A second son, James, was born in October, 1869, but apparently died before reaching adulthood.  Lanta, "Lanty", was born 22 Nov 1871.  Another daughter, Mary, was born while they were living in Iowa during 1875 and their son John was born in 1877.  Latter that same year the family moved to Greenwood, Wisconsin.  James Q. McConnell was born, 19 Jun 1879.  Their youngest son, Robert John., was born in April, 1882 and their two youngest daughters were also born in Greenwood: Isabell (b. Aug. 1885) and Elizabeth (b. Jan. 1888).  George Jr. married Ethel Tracy, 16 Aug 1897 and just a few years later she married Frank Wheeler 2 Apr 1903; Robert John first married Clara May Vetter 1 Jul 1902 and then wed Isabella Peterson, 12 Jun 1907.  Robert and Isabelle farmed in the Greenwood area until their retirement in 1943 when they moved to the into town.  Lanty apparently never married.  Isabelle married Fran P. Farning and they lived in Tacoma, Washington.  Elizabeth married Free Christie; James first married Ann Seder and after her death in Montana, he wed Martha Cox, 17 Mar 1921.  Martha was the former wife of Stanley Stoneburg.  Soon after Martha and James married, they moved to Marshfield where he worked in a brewery, but after fracturing his leg he returned to the McConnell farm near Greenwood.  Mary married Fred Brown and resided in Glen Flora, Wis.

 

Miller Brothers owned a mill on Gile Creek where they sawed lumber several years 'but when a dam was to be built at Hatfield they moved the machinery there. Ed Miller, father of Harry J. Miller, looked after the saws, belting, etc., as he was the mill-wright, and while cleaning the boiler, was badly scalded. He was brought to his home north of Greenwood but lived only a short time. This same mill was later moved back to Eaton Center where lumber was sawed, and in 1887 an emery wheel, used for filing saws, burst, a piece striking Lou Rufinot in the chest, killing him. Ben Hyslip also was killed in this mill, being wound upon a shaft when his clothing became caught. Then in 1891 George McConnell Sr., working there, was killed. The water in the boiler got low and when the fireman noticed it, he grabbed a bucket of water and threw it into the firebox which caused an explosion, killing Mr. McConnell instantly. The mill was never repaired and later the ruins burned.  Greenwood-The Hub of Clark County, Wisconsin.

 

Hercules Lodge, No. 181, I. O. O. F., was organized in August, 1870 at Staffordville, where it worked until 1876, when its removal to Greenwood was accomplished.  At that time the officers were: W. H. Mead, N. G.; Robert Schofield, V. G.; Henry Peck, secretary; and John Hoyt, treasurer.  In 1879, the lodge erected a building nearly opposite the Methodist Church, where meetings, which are convened regularly every Saturday evening, are held.  The present officers are: Elias Peterson, N. G.; George McConnell, V. G.; W. J. Armstrong, secretary; John Stewart, treasurer.  The present roster has sixty members, and lodge property is represented at $800. Greenwood-The Hub of Clark County, Wisconsin.