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ANDREW B. MCCONNELL, Justice of the Peace, residing at No. 115 North Sixth Street, Springfield, has long been identified with the interests of Sangamon County, of which he is an old and honored settler, ana he has been a prominent factor in its development. He was born in Madison County, N.Y., five miles south of Morrisville, January 28, 1821. His parents were James and Sarah (Smith) McConnell. He received his education in his native town, and during his youth lived near Eaton, in the same county.

At the age of twenty our subject came westward to seek his fortune in company with his father and in the fall of 1841, located in Woodside Township, taking up a tract of wile land. The father returned to New York State. He actively entered upon the work of evolving a farm, and a year later was joined by his father and other members of the family, he having made preparations for them during the summer of 1842. In the years that followed our subject met with more than ordinary prosperity in the pursuit of his calling as a farmer and stock raiser. He was prominently engaged in raising sheep and in the wool business for a long term of years, and he gathered together a valuable property. He had a fine farm of six hundred and forty acres, which he finally sold for a round sum of money. He also engaged extensively in trading in the fine sheep of Texas, and was one of the most enterprising and active stock-men of the county while he was in the business. He finally sold out in 1878, and in 1879 moved to town.

Our subject did not remain in single blessedness very long after coming to this State, but as soon as he could arrange it and had his affairs in a flourishing condition, he returned to New York to celebrate his marriage with Miss Augusta Rogers, and there they were wedded September 20, 1843. He brought his bride to his new home and life passed for them pleasantly on the farm in Woodside till he was deprived of her companionship by death in 1878. They reared a family of eight children, all of whom are still living, as follows: Mrs. D. W. Smith; F. R. McConnell, of Cuero, Tex.; F. O. McConnell, of Chicago; Sarah, wife of W. S. Merriman, of Marshalltown, Iowa; John D., an attorney; Will and Mrs. W. R. Webster, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and A. D. of Little Rock, Ark.

Our subject has long mingled in the public life of Sangamon County, and has done good service in various official capacities. He was Deputy Sheriff for eight years and was Sheriff of the county for one term. He was a member of the County Board of Supervisors during his residence in Woodside, representing that township, and for four years he ably served as Chairman of the Board. He was a member of the School Board and held other minor local offices. In 1886 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the office of Justice of the Peace and in 1888 he was elected to the same office for the full term of four years, and is ably and satisfactorily discharging the duties devolving upon him. He has done much to forward the farming interests of this county and for eighteen years was one of the most earnest and active members of the old State Agricultural Society, of which he was President for two terms of two years each. In his political views he is decidedly a Democrat and always has the cordial support of his party.