Dr. John William C. McConnell 1855-1906 Source: Arkansas, Northwestern Counties History, 1889 Dr. John W. McConnell, physician and surgeon for the Kansas & Texas Coal Company, at Huntington, and senior member of the drug firm of McConnell & Brewster, was born in Lawrence County, mo., in 1855, and is a son of Samuel C. and Catherine (Miller) McConnell, natives of Blount County, East Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala., respectively. The father was born in 1826, and when twenty-eight years of age went to Missouri. The mother was born in 1828, and when young accompanied her parents to Missouri. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McConnell lived in Lawrence County until 1858,, when they located near Fort Smith, in Sebastian county, Ark., where they are now successfully engaged in farming. During the war Mr. McConnell served in the confederate army some time as a forage master. his father, John McConnell, came to the United States from Ireland or Scotland after the Revolution, and served in the War of 1812. He was a farmer and hunter, and died in East Tennessee. Our subject is the eldest of three living children, and after receiving a common-school education attended Cane Hill College. At the age of twenty he began the study of medicine, and at the expiration of eighteen months he practiced for two or three years. He then attended the medical department of the Arkansas Industrial Institute, at Little Rock, one year. After practicing two years more he returned to that institution, from which he graduated, in 1884, in a class of fifteen, receiving the first prize for general proficiency. Since that time he has had two students who have graduated from the same college with highest honors. After graduating he lived in Hackett City until 1887, when he came to Huntington, where he enjoys a good town practice. Since November, 1887, he has been engaged in the drug business in connection with his practice. He is a member of the Sebastian County medical Association at Fort Smith, and is secretary of the Greenwood medical Association, besides being a member of the State Medical Association. In 1872 he married Sarah, daughter of the Rev. N.B. and Belle McNabb, formerly of Tennessee, where Mrs. McConnel was born. About 1872 the family came to this county. Since the age of eighteen Mr. McNabb has been a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Doctor has a family of two living children, and himself and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Hancock in 1880. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, American Legion of Honor, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.