Connell Family
Also see Union Cemetery Records, aka Nelson Cemetery, aka Nelson-Connell-Union Cemetery
Background Information by Mike Reilly
October 17, 2004 Updated 06/06/2010
This family history resultsfrom a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Waukesha County section article,Sunday, October 3, 2004, “Detective work seeks tombstoneresolution”, and its’ follow-up story, “Cemetery mystery mostlylaid to rest”, Sunday, October 10, 2004.
The first reveals how JohnScott Pearce, Jr. finds a cemetery marker for a Eva May Connell in hisHuntington Beach, California garage. The well-preserved stone had EVA MAY inrelief along one edge. On a flat side was chiseled: “Dau. of J. F. & C.Connell Died Aug. 27, 1893. Aged 1 yr. 10 d’s”. After some internetresearch, and later discussion with Waukesha County and Menomonee FallsHistorical Societies, the headstone found its’ way back to Wisconsin.
In the second article,genealogist and Connell ancestor Jean Guthrie Linton shed some light on theheadstone mystery. Her grandfather was John A. Connell.John J. Connell was John A.’s first cousin, and thebaby girl was his. Jean believes that an old newspaper article mistakenlyattributed the dead girl to John J. A further mystery is why a later headstoneis marked MAY EVA, which she thinks resulted from a stone cutter’s error (thefirst stone) , and was never used. How the headstone got to California? Jeanreasons that a relative took it along as a remembrance.
The Connell family originallysettled in Washington County’s Town of Germantown, between 1843-1846, with ason, Francis, moving to the Town of Lisbon, sometimebefore 1860. His brother Samuel, moved there later as he’slisted in the 1870 Federal Census. A 1873 Plat map of the Town of Lisbonshows Francis and Samuel each owning approx 90 acres of the Northeast Quarter ofSection 1; apparently some additional acreage across the county may havebeen included (a quarter section is 160 acres). They also own 20 acreseach in the SE corner of the Northwest quarter of section 1. In addition, Samuelowns 20 acres in the Town of Menomonee’s most Section 6 area (the cemetery islocated south of this property in Section 6).The 1860 Federal Census also shows that their parents, Richardand Jane (nee Johnson) Connell lived in the Town of Lisbon for a while.
The 1891 Plat shows that thebrothers have sold the 20 acres each in Section 1, probably to Wm. Butler, Sr.For Samuel, it no longer shows a residence on his 90+ acres but across the roadin Washington County, nor does he own the 20 acres in the Town ofMenomonee. Samuel later moved to Waukesha where he died.
The 1891 Plat does showthat Frank Connell (possible son of Francis) does own property in the Town ofMenomonee; 86 acres in Section 6 and 121 acres in Section 5. There are noConnells listed as residing in the Town of Menomonee in 1880.
The 1930 Plat map of Lisbonshows that only 90 acres is still owned by Samuel (or his family), that ofFrancis is owned by a Gilbert Swanton. In the Town of Menomonee, the 86 acres isnow owned by Florence Connell (possible surviving spouse of Frank or ?. Note: aFlorence Connell was married to Wesley Francis Connell. She’s the only FlorenceConnell listed in the 1930 Federal Census), and the 121 acres by a Beverly Orth.