John McConnell was probably born in Kirkinner, near Wigtown Scotland on the 1 January 1790. He married Jean Stewart Nish on the 4 August 1825 in Wigtown, Galloway Ihere, Scotland. Jean was born in Sorbie Scotland on the 5 August 1799 to James Nish (born 1760 in Scotland) and Jean Stewart (born 1760).

James was the Chief Steward for a large estate near Wigtown. John and Jean had eight children; 1) Agnes (1826), 2) Helen (Ellen) (1828), 3) James (1830), 4) John (1832), 5) William (1835), 6) Robert (1837), 7) Charles (1839) and 8)  Jane (1844).

John and Jean with their two daughters Agnes and Helen, immigrated to Upper Canada between 1828 and 1830 and lived in South Sherbrooke. Children spread from there to Minnesota, North Dakota, Winnipeg and west.

Jean Nish McConnell died on the 2 October 1859 at age 61 in Bathurst Township, Ontario. John died the 25 April 1872 in South Sherbrooke Township, Ontario at age 84. (James and Jean are buried in the St. Stephens Anglican Church, Bathurst Twp, on Highway 7 west of Perth, Ontario in section B, the old part west side of the gate in plot #51.)

1) Agnes McConnell was born in Wigtown, Scotland the 22 September 1826 to John and Jean McConnell. Agnes, her parents and sister Helen immigrated to Upper Canada between 1828 and 1830 and lived in South Sherbrooke. She married John Cameron on the 20 February 1854 in Perth, Ontario. John was born in 1820 probably in Bathurst, Ontario. They had two sons and one daughter. One of the sons had two sons who died without issue. The other son was William Cameron.

2) Helen (Ellen) McConnell was born in Wigtown, Scotland the 5 July 1928 to John and Jean McConnell.

3) James Alexander McConnell was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada the 21 March 1830 to John and Jean McConnell. He was a farmer. He married Elizabeth Ann McKerracher on the 9 March 1857 in Perth, Ontario to John and Mary McKerracher. Elizabeth was born in 1840 in Bathurst Township, Ontario. She was the 9th in a family of 17 children born of John and Mary McKerracher.  James and Elizabeth lived at Sharbot Lake, Maberly and Perth prior to moving to Nipissing Township in the late 1880's or early 1890's. This was the period when settlements were encouraged by free land grants and prospect that the National Railroad was to come to this area. They made their home along the south side of the Settlement Road from Nipissing to Restolle, northwest of McQuaby Lake, 1/4 mile east of Gurd Township and 2.5 miles east of Hotham.  They had twelve children; Mary Ann (1858), John (1860), Jane (1861), James (1864), twins who died at birth - Elizabeth and Margaret (1865 est), Benjamin (1866), Robert (1868), William (1870), Charles (1872), Joseph (1875) and Ephriam (1885).  John died of a heart attack on the 18 July 1901 in Nipissing Township, Ontario while picking berries with his family. He is buried in Nipissing, Ontario (no marker). Elizabeth died the 25 February 1909 in Haileybury, Ontario at her sons.

a) Mary Ann McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell in 1858 in Sharbot Lake, Ontario. She married John Gray. John was born in 1853 in Oso Township, Frontenac County, Ontario to Archibald and Mary Gray.  They had seven children; Mary (1880), Caroline (1882), John (1885), Percy (1888), Archibald (1891), William (1892) and Nora (1899). They were farmers.  John died the 19 September 1931 and Mary died in 1951, both in Mountain Grove, Ontario.

b) John McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell in 1860 in Sharbot Lake, Ontario. He married Mary Tysack Scott on the 22 June 1882 in Lanark County, Ontario. Mary was born in 1857. Her first marriage was to William Scott of Oso Township on the 12 April 1879. John and Mary have a son; James (1883). Mary died the 9 May 1883 at age 26 during childbirth. John later married Marion (Mirn) Gray. Marion was born in 1852 in Oso Township, Frontenac County, Ontario. Marion died in 1924. They have two children; Grace (1885) and Mabel (1887). John died the 23 March 1933 in Dexter, New York, USA.

c) Jane McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell in 1861 or 1862 in Sharbot Lake, Ontario. She married William James. They have three children; Elizabeth, Agnes and Herbert.

d) James S. McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell the 27 July 1864 in Maberly, Perth County, Ontario. He spent the early part of his life in Perth.  He married Christina (Tena) McGregor on the 1 October 1890 and moved to Nipissing where he engaged in the lumbering industry. Christina was born in 1863 in Burnstown, Ontario. James and Christina spent some years in Callander before coming north to Haileybury in 1905. From his arrival in town until the big fire of October 4th, 1922, James operated a wood yard in the south end of town. When their home and business were destroyed in the fire, he purchased a farm on the West Road, which he operated until retiring from active work in 1935. When he retired they moved back to Haileybury.   They had three children; Clara (1891), Carolyn (1904) and Harvey.   James died the 2 October 1938. Christina died the 8 May 1944.

e) Elizabeth McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell about 1865. She and her twin Margaret died at birth.

f) Margaret McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell about 1865. She and her twin Elizabeth died at birth.

g) Benjamin McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell in 1866 or 1867 in Sharbot Lake, Ontario. He married Ellen Brown from Nipissing. He lived at Silver Center. Ben and Ellen had three children; Pearl, Alma and Emerson.   Ellen died in Jan 1915. Ben died in 1943 in Ontario.

h) Robert McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell the 22 October 1868 in Sharbot Lake, Ontario. He married Katherine (Kate) Mullen from Alsale, Ontario. They had ten children; Robert , William, Robert, Ann, Mary, Ephriam, Tresa, Ernest, Olga and Catherine. They farmed and Robert was also employed in the logging industry. Katherine died the 16 December 1945 in Milton Lake, Golden Valley, Ontario. He died the 22 January 1946 in Milton Lake.

i) William Peter McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell the 25 December 1870 in Sharbot Lake, Ontario. He lived at North Cobalt. He married Louise Gerber. Louise was born in Switzerland to John and Maria Gerber. They had five children; Marie, Pauline, Maxwell, Elsie and Homer. They farmed for a few years, then moved away. William lived his senior years with daughter, Marie and Lloyd Childs. He enjoyed good health and was able to attend a McConnell Family Reunion at Vera Dobb’s cottage, Lake Nipissing in 1967. William died in November 1970 in Haileybury, Ontario.

j) Charles Alexander McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell on the 26 February 1872 in Lanark Township, Perth, Ontario. He married Ellen Ann Swalwell on the 10 December 1900 at Commanda, Ontario. Ellen was born the 27 August 1882 in Locksley, Ontario to Anthony and Susan Swalwell. They lived at Nipissing. 

They had thirteen children; Alexander, Harvey , Edith,  Milton , a baby who died, Ida , Vera , Laura , Charles , Merville , Myrtle , Clarence and Bernice.

Charles died of a stroke at age 82 on the 5 or 7 February 1955 in Powassan, Ontario. Ellen died of heart disease on the 5 May 1963 in Powassan. They are buried at Nipissing.

k) Joseph McConnell was born to James and Elizabeth McConnell in 1875 in Ontario. He married Ida Swalwell. They lived at Nipissing. They had nine children; Queenie, Agnes, Eva, Mabel, Susan, Truman, Mary, Manson and Gertrude. Joseph died in 1939. Queenie remarried to Jim Duggan.

l) Ephriam McConnell was born in 1885 to James and Elizabeth McConnell. He died the 16 February 1902 (age 17).

4)     John McConnell was born the 12 March 1832 in Perth, Ontario to John and Jean McConnell. His birth is recorded in the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church records for 1830-1881 in Perth, Ontario. He married Jane Buchanan.

5)    William Nish McConnell was born the 6 July 1835 in Perth, Ontario to John and Jean (Nish) McConnell. He married Mary Ann Dowdell. She was born in Ontario in the year 1852. His family is from Scotland.  William was a farmer. They had six children; John (1871), William (1873), Thomas (1876), Charles (1878), Isabella (1880) and Margaret.  William died the 4 August 1905 in Perth Ontario. He is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Perth, Ontario in plot #c2-444. The August 11, 1905 issue of the Perth Courier has his obituary; "He was one of South Sherbrooke’s most prominent men, a successful farmer and obliging neighbor." Authors Note:   Thomas (born 1876) is my husband's grandfather.

a) John Stuart McConnell was born in 1871 in Ontario to William and Mary McConnell. He died at age 33 on the 2 January 1905 in Saranac Lake, New York.

b) William Nish McConnell was born in 1873 in Ontario to William and Mary McConnell. He remained a bachelor. He and his brother Charlie went to the Klondike Gold Rush, living in Bonanza, Yukon. He made his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba and lived beyond 80 years of age.  He is registered as a miner in Dawson City, Yukon in the Sept/Oct 1996 issue of the Family Chronicle.

c)       Thomas Ewen McConnell was born in Perth, Ontario the 9 April 1876 to Mary Ann (nee Dowdell) and William Nish McConnell.  In Ontario, Tom married Anna Edith Johnson who was born the 30 March 1892 in Keewatin, Ontario, the fourth daughter of Breata and John Johnson (last name was Smedjebacka in Finland).  Tom and Anna had eight children: John (1911-1994), Lloyd (1913-1986), Clarence - called Tib (1914), Breta McLean - called Bea (1917), Edith Mary Hvidston - called by her second name (1922), Fred (1925-1998), Ruth Bryan (1927-1958) and Beatrice Ellen Philip.  Tom died New Years Day 1935. Anna died 28 October 1959. 

d) Charles E. McConnell was born in 1878 in Ontario to William and Mary McConnell. He married Annie Warren in Ontario. He and brother William went to the Klondike Gold Rush, living in Bonanza, Yukon in 1905.  In the summer of 1911 he and Annie came to Elstow, Saskatchewan. He owned the grocery store at Elstow with Tom from 1911 to 1925. In 1913 they built a house in Elstow.  Charles was the first person in Elstow to have a radio. It was about 1925 that he made his own radio. He had a tower about 60 feet high. The first broadcast they picked up was the fight between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. Everyone left the Sunday School picnic to go and catch the fight. When the store sold the family moved to Brandon and later Winnipeg where Charles retired.   Charles and Annie had three sons, Warren, Gordon and Grant.

e) Isabelle (Belle) Jane McConnell’s was born in 1880 in Ontario to William and Mary McConnell in Bathurst. She married Dr. Andrew Robertson of Bathurst, Ontario in 1911 to James and Mary Ann Robertson. Andrew was a well-known veterinary. They had two children; William and Nadine Robertson. Andrew died the 18 May 1930 at the War Memorial Hospital in Perth at age 86. Isabelle died the 21 September 1962 in the Oakville-Trafalgar Hospital at age 84.

f) Margaret McConnell was born to William and Mary McConnell. She married Bert Robinson and lived in Winnipeg.  They had one son; Vernon. Margaret died in 1972.

6)     Robert McConnell was born the 12 July 1837 in Perth, Ontario to John and Jean McConnell. He married Isabella (Mary) Cline (or Kline) in Smith’s Falls, Canada on the 26 April 1868 and moved to Paisley, Bruce County, Ontario. Mary was born in 1848 in Perth, Ontario. Robert was a carpenter, Isabella was a housewife. They had seven children all born in Paisley; Mary (1870), Agnes (1872), Annabella (1873), Mary (Dolly) 1875), Peter (1876), Robert (1878 and Harvey (1881). Isabella died  the 7 July 1882 in Paisley, Ontario. They also had a daughter who died in 1882. They are buried near Paisley.  Robert took the family to Crookston, Minnesota to be near family. Robert died near Crookston the 4 November 1899 in Nesbit Minnesota.

a) Mary Jane McConnell was born to Robert and Isabella McConnell on the 27 October 1870 in Paisley, Ontario. She died the 22 August 1871 in Paisley.

b) Agnes McConnell born to Robert and Isabella McConnell on the 25 April 1872 in Paisley, Bruce County, Ontario. She married ? Robinson. He was born in 1870. They had a daughter; Effie (1900). Agnes died in 1913.

i) Effie McConnell was born in 1900. She was a student. Effie died in 1920.

c) Annabella (Anna) McConnell born to Robert and Isabella McConnell on the 16 November 1873 in Paisley. She married Irwin C. Johnston. Irwin was born in 1870.

d) Mary Cline (Dolly) McConnell born to Robert and Isabella McConnell the 21 February 1875. She married ? Britton. He was born in 1870. Dolly was a Music Teacher. They had a daughter; Ellie (1913). She died in 1964.

i) Ellie Britton was born in 1913 to Dolly and ? Britton. She died in 1951.

e) Peter M. McConnell was born to Robert and Isabella McConnell on the 19 October 1875 (another source said the 17 October 1876) in Paisley. He was not married.  He moved to Chiwawa County, Washington in 1912 after working construction and railroad. He was employed by Royal Development Company (copper mine) in the area from 1916 to 1946. He continued to live in the mountains in a small cabin. He worked as a forester finding and making roads for Forrest Service, U.S. Government. He moved into Leavenworth, Washington in 1958 and lived in a boarding house there until he died. He slipped and fell injuring himself (June 2), pneumonia set in. He died the 5 June 1968 at the age of 92 in the county of Chelan, Leavenworth. (Social Security No. 533-12-9319) He is buried in the Plain Cemetery in Plain, Washington.

There is a newspaper article dated Seattle Post 26 August 1956: MOUNTAIN WEATHER MAN SAYS HE WILL RETIRE:

Peter MacConnell took a long, reflective puff on his pipe and said with all the sagacity of his 81 years: "I won’t stay here another winter. No sir! Winter comes too early; it stays too long. And next winter I’d be along. My brother, Harvey (he’s only 75) went back to North Dakota to live. What if I got hurt here alone?" MacConnell was sitting in his cabin 20 miles up the Chiwawa River in the Wenatchee National Forest (Washington), close to a snow lined ridge of the Cascade Mountains. The warmth of the August sun came through the doors and MacConnell wiggled his fingers to show that the heat was good for two stiff digits. "Where would you go" he was asked, "To North Dakota?" "No, no! This is my kind of country. These trees, the hills, the river - they’re home. I wouldn’t go far, maybe to some little town. Even Harvey got to like this piece. He came to visit a few weeks and stayed 10 years. But he’ll be better off in the Mid-West. He’s pretty deaf. I was always afraid he’d get lost or hurt. He’d sleep all day and read or play solitaire all night. He talked about the old days, the things that happened 40 years ago. And I had a dickens of time making him hear me." You could tell that Peter MacConnell missed his younger brother. You could tell, not so much by what he said but how he said it. John Lightfoot of the Weather Bureau sat in a chair listening to the venerable man of the hills. Lightfoot had more than a casual interest in the little home in the mountains because the Weather Bureau has a rain gauge on the property. MacConnell takes the readings. "How long has the snow been gone?" Lightfoot asked. "Man, you should have seen that snow!" MacConnell said, "I got snowed in early in October and couldn’t get out until June 30. My grocer sent our winter supplies by jeep, and the driver barely made it in October, mind you. We had 88 inches of snow by the ???" MacConnell came to the Chiwawa country in 1912 after working with construction companies and doing some railroading. He had the prospecting fever. He was employed ..??.. the same fixtures found in the average city home. Then he escorted his visitors outside to see his rain gauge, a flower garden, a 1918 Maxwell truck (which runs fine) and a fire hose fed by gravity from a stream. "Can’t be too careful", he said. "I had two cabins burn down." MacConnell waved a hand and explained: "This is my own property. I staked out two mining claims long ago." Then he recalled a numbing temperature of 23 below zero last November and the necessity of melting snow bathing for nearly five months because the November cold froze his pipes. "Yes", he said slowly, almost painfully ...??

f) Robert John McConnell was born to Robert and Isabella McConnell on the 23 November 1878 in Paisley. He married Ethel Irene Barncard on the 21 June 1916 in Bitford, Alberta. Ethel was born the 2 May 1896 in Diluth, Minnesota to Stewart and Amelia Barncard. They had four children; Ronald (1917), Anna (1918), Iris (1920) and Ila (1925). Robert died the 17 November 1954 in Wickenburg, Arizona. Ethel died the 3 October 1988 in Wickenburg.

i) Ronald Robert McConnell was born to Robert and Ethel McConnell the 12 June 1917 in Alsask, Sask. He married Virginia Louise Pemberton in 1939 in Yuma, Arizona. Virginia was born the 12 July 1917 in Tempe, Arizona. Ronald was a Cook/Chef. They had one son; Robert. Ronald died the 31 January 1976 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Virginia died the 11 December 1985 in Wickenburg, Arizona.

g) Harvey McConnell was the youngest child of Robert and Isabella McConnell, born the 3 January 1881 in Paisley.  He married Anna Vivian Martin on the 15 February 1904 in Grand Forks and moved to North Dakota. She was born the 7 June 1879 in Fisher, Minnesota. Anna and Harvey settled in Kenmare, North Dakota and had seven children; Mildred, Francis, Warren, Joan, Russell, Berneice, Muriel and Kenneth. Anna died the 10 March 1945 in Kenmare. Harvey died the 14 April 1968 in Kenmare.

i) Mildred (Milly) H. McConnell was born to Harvey and Anna McConnell the 13 December 1906 in Leads, North Dakota. She married Jack Silvain.  He was born the 21 December 1912. Jack died in the 1970's.

ii) C. Warren McConnell was born to Harvey and Anna McConnell the 19 December 1908 in Leads, North Dakota. He married Edith Cecilia Sorenson on the 15 August 1943. They have three children; Sheila, Kathleen and Joan. Warren died the 25 July 1968 in Kenmare.

iii) Edward Russell (Russell) McConnell was born to Harvey and Anna McConnell. He married Dolores Coughlin.  They have a daughter; Maureen.

iv) Berniece M. McConnell was born to Harve and Anna McConnell . She married Ernest Arveson in Seattle, Washington. They have a daughter; Janiece.

v) Francis (Buddy) Harve McConnell was born to Harve and Anna McConnell. He married Doris Johnson. They have two children; Nancy and Jack. Francis and Doris divorced and then remarried after the death of Francis’ second wife.

vi) Muriel (Molly) McConnell was born to Harvey and Anna McConnell. She married Vernon L. (Bud) Hansen. They have a daughter, Susan.

vii) Kenneth Matthew McConnell was born to Harve and Anna McConnell.  He married Helen O. Vadnais. They have three children; Kerry Michael (Mike), Terri and Don.

7)     Charles McConnell was born the 1 August 1839 in Perth, Ontario to John and Jean McConnell.