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Hon. Asa McConnell was born in Orange Co., N. Y., 

 Feb. 4, 1801. His father, Charles McConnell, was also a 

 native of the same county ; was married to Sally Sammons, 

 and was a farmer by occupation. In the year 1808 he 

 moved with his family and settled in the town of Howard, 

 this county, then an almost unbroken wilderness tract. 

 His journey with a lumber wagon the entire distance, and 

 from Bath by only a wagon-road cut through the timber, 

 is in strong contrast with the same distance traveled by 

 means of railway at the present time. 



His purchase in the town of Howard was one hundred 

 and sixty acres of timber land, which he at once began to 

 clear of its heavy forest, and prepare for raising cereals. 

 His house was always open to the new settler, and many a 

 prospecting one made it a welcome rendezvous until he had 

 selected and located for himself He was a soldier of the 

 war of 1812. His father died in the year 1827, at the 

 age of fifty-one, leaving a wife and family of seven sons 

 and four daughters. His mother died at the age of seventy- 

 four, in the year 1856. 



Of these children, Asa was eldest, and upon the death 

 of his father took general charge of the affairs at home, 

 and carried on the farm. At the age of sixteen he had 

 been apprenticed to learn the carpenter's and joiner's trade, 

 which took his time until he reached his majority. 



For a few years he worked at his trade, and in the year 

 1825 married Elizabeth, daughter of Major Jones, of 

 Dansville. Her father was one of the early settlers of 

 that town, she being born in the town of Hornellsville, 



Sept. 18, 1805. He remained upon the farm, ranking 

 among the most industrious, thrifty, and judicious mana- 

 gers of agricultural matters in the town, until the year 

 1867, when he removed to Hornellsville, and soon after, in 

 partnership with his two sons, Benton and Philo F., pur- 

 chased the planing-mill property now owned by the sons, 

 and began the manufacture of sash, doors, and blinds. In 

 this business he continued until 1877, when he disposed of 

 his interest to his youngest son, Floyd T. 



The business of the firm has so increased that their 

 manufacturing interest is the largest in the county of the 

 kind, and one of the most extensive in the southern part 

 of the State, being carried on with that enterprising spirit 

 often found among self-made men. They are dealers, also, 

 in marbelized slate mantels, grates, and fenders, and French 

 and American window-glass. 



Mr. McConnell has given his attention mostly to business 

 operations during his life, yet while a resident of the town 

 of Howard he was elected by his fellow- townsmen to the 

 office of justice of the peace for some four terms, and for 

 one term was supervisor of the town, and in the year 1844 

 represented his Assembly district in the State Legislature. 

 During his earlier and middle life he was somewhat active 

 in the interests of questions affecting our local and State 

 political history, and ever stood a staunch member of the 

 Democratic party. His remaining children are Mrs. A. J. 

 Ward, of Madison, Wis. ; Mrs. Warren P Cook, of Genesee, 

 111.; Mrs. Edward T. Young; and Miss Jennie, of 

 Hornellsville. 



