THADDEUS C. McCONNELL

Sacramento County

Biographies

THADDEUS C. McCONNELL

THADDEUS C. McCONNELL, formerly a rancher of San Joaquin Township, who died April 27, 1863, was born in 1833, in Rutland County, Vermont. A sketch of his people is given in this work under the name of Thomas McConnell, a brother. At the age of nineteen years he came from Vermont to California with his brother Samuel, across Mexico, in 1849; followed mining for one year and then started a garden in the mining region at a place now called Garden Valley, and with his vegetables, so rare then, he furnished dollar dinners to the miners. In 1850, the next year, his brother Thomas joined him. (See sketch for further particulars.) Returning to Vermont in 1856, he bought the sheep mentioned in that sketch, in partnership with his brother Thomas. His brother-in-law, Emmett Curtis, bought out Thomas in 1858, the firm being McConnell & Curtis, and brought them to California by steamer, costing them $85 a head for freight for transportation. These sheep were the first ever imported to this coast from the East; and from these they began to raise high grade and thoroughbred sheep. He had a perfect title to two quarter-sections of land, besides a title to other large tracts, on which they could range their sheep. Curtis died in 1861 and the property was so divided that each party had 700 sheep, those belonging to Mr. Curtis going to his heirs, and Mr. McConnell continued the business to the end of his life in 1863. His widow then came in possession of the 700 sheep and 320 acres of land paid for and 500 acres not paid for. She kept all this property in her possession, finally liquidating all indebtedness. She personally took the management of her husband’s business, increased the number of sheep, keeping about 2,000 head for a number of years, until she found her land was of more value for farming, when she had the band of sheep diminished in number to 1,200; but the extent of her lands she has even increased until she has 7,000 acres, the greater portion of which is in Sacramento County. The soil is rich and very productive. At present she is raising a great deal of grain, farming a portion herself and renting the remainder. Besides managing all her household work she also superintends all the out-door business, even participating in the manual labor, such as pumping water when a windmill fails to work. She was left with only 320 acres of land and 700 sheep and no money, and all these immense possessions she has made out of the business left her by her husband. How few women in the world have so great courage and endurance! Her maiden name was Ellen Flanegan. She was born April 7, 1837, in Claredon, Vermont; her father, James Flanegan, was a native of Ireland, and married in Ireland Mary Quillan, and about 1834 settled in the city of Clarendon, Rutland County, Vermont. He died in 1850, and his wife in 1882, the parents of nine children, of whom one died when a little girl; the others, five sons and three daughters grew up to years of maturity. The sons were: Patrick, Martin, Daniel, John and James, all of whom are dead except John, who now resides in Michigan. The daughters are: Jane, wife of M. B. Doolittle of Cresco, Howard County, Iowa; Hannah, the wife of George Hart, Rutland County, Vermont; and Ellen the subject of this sketch. The last mentioned married Mr. McConnell March 2, 1861, and they came by sail from New York, by way of the Isthmus to San Francisco, landing there in November, that year; but before two years had passed she was left a widow. Her only son, Thaddues C. McConnell, was born November 10, 1864, after his father’s death.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 684-685. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.