Samuel Elonzo Connell

Samuel Elonzo Connell was born June 14, 1866 in Shelby County, Texas, the son of John William Connell and his first wife, Mary Elizabeth (Hickerson) Connell. John William Connell was born May 1, 1821, in Pike County, Georgia. He moved to Shelby County, Texas in 1848 and died there September 1907. His grandfather emigrated to America from Ireland, the name being originally "O’Connell". Mary Elizabeth Hickerson was born in Pike County, Georgia July 23, 1828. She died in Shelby County, Texas, August 1869.

Samuel Elonzo Connell came to Nevada County, Arkansas, November 16, 1885. He was married near Prescott, December 24, 1891, to Docia Ward (b. Sept 2, 1869) daughter of John W. Ward and his wife, Amedis (Stone) Ward. The Wards came to Arkansas from Minden, Louisiana and the Stones refugeed here from Kentucky sometime during the Civil War.

S.E. Connell was a successful farmer and always been actively interested in the politics of his county. He was a member of the Populist (or People's) Party, casting his first vote with that organization. After the dismemberment of that party, he affiliated with the Socialists for several years. In 1929, he was elected by the Democrats to represent Nevada County in the Arkansas state Legislature.

Mr. Connell was been a member of the Church of Christ along with his wife.

Nine children were born to Samuel Connell and his wife, Docia (Ward) Connell:

Mattie who married J.H. Ellis

Allen who married Winnie Butcher

Tommie Marie who married Jesse Smith

Carl – marital status unknown

John who was killed in Terra Rouge Bottom by a falling tree in 1917.

The remaining four children died in infancy.

Information provided Oct. 1939 by Samuel right before his death on November 24, 1939, at his home in the Hickory Grove Community. He was buried At Midway on the Blevins Pike.