My Genealogy Hound

JOHN O’CONNELL. Among the natives of other countries who have come to America hoping to gain here the independence denied them in their own land, may be mentioned the name of John O’Connell, who has made his home in Seneca County for nearly a quarter of a century. He is a native of Ireland, and was there reared to manhood, without, however, having any educational advantages, as his parents were poor and he was obliged to support himself from an early age.

Having decided to seek a home in the New World, Mr. O’Connell crossed the Atlantic in 1854, taking passage on a sailing-vessel that landed him in New York after an uneventful voyage. For a number of years he resided in various places, wherever he could find honest employment. In 1872 he settled in Seneca County, where he has since resided. Two years after coming hither, he purchased a farm in the town of Romulus, and upon this place he has since engaged as a tiller of the soil.

The marriage of Mr. O’Conuell united him with Miss Ellen Burns, who, like himself, was a native of the Emerald Isle. On emigrating to the United States she took passage on a sailing-vessel, and after a voyage of nine weeks and three days landed in this country. Nine children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. O’Connell, of whom six are living: John, Patrick, Matthew, Thomas, Edward and Mary. Since becoming a naturalized American citizen, our subject has allied himself with the Democratic party, and its principles he always upholds.