John Leonard "Jack" Connell
Crawford County, Pennsylvania
World War I Hero
"J L Connell Dies, After Long Illness - County Commissioner And Former Sheriff Passes Away at Hospital - Born in Titusville - John Leonard Connell, aged 49, who was hardly ever referred to except as 'Jack,' died at 5 o'clock Thursday morning in the Titusville City hospital. Death followed an operation performed three weeks ago this morning. Mr Connell had not been well for a year and a half. In September, 1938, he underwent an operation in Pittsburgh for stomach ulcers and over a period of several months experienced a fair degree of recovery. However, a few weeks ago there was a recurrence of the old ailment and an operation was performed in the Titusville City hospital. His recovery was unsatisfactory from the first and numerous blood transfusions proved vain. Born in Titusville, Mr Connell spent virtually all of his life in this region. He was a son of John M and Lillian (McGinnett) Connell and was born March 10, 1891. He attended the public schools here and began working at an early age. In his early teens he started as an upholsterer in the old Elastic Chair Works. From there he went to the bakery of Dentler & Merker, who had a grocery and bakery on the present site of Coburn's. Following that, he became a messenger for the Adams Express Co and for two years was on the 'moonlight' run between Buffalo and Pittsburgh on the PRR. He was thus engaged when he entered the army service at the beginning of the World war. Served 16 Months Overseas - Mr Connell was a mechanic in Company A, 313th machine gun battalion, 80th Division, and was overseas for 16 months in 1917 and 1918. He was in several major engagements and was gassed, from the effects of which he never completely recovered. After his return to America, Mr Connell was variously engaged. He first conducted the Ideal Billiard Parlor, at the present site of the Dunn stationery store, and later was associated with his brother, James M Connell, in conducting 'Jim-Jacks Place' at Canadohta. Later he took up the painter's trade, which he followed for several years, and was thus engaged in the late summer of 1929, when he decided to seek the Republican nomination for Sheriff. Mr Connell had never before engaged seriously in politics and even some of his best friends had little confidence of his success, largely because of his inexperience. But he devoted himself assidiously to the task of being a candidate, as he did with nearly everything else in which he was engaged, and much to the surprise of almost everyone, particularly the politicians, he emerged a victor. He was one of 12 candidates, some of them experienced in politics, and won by a scant 46 votes. It was one of the most remarkable runs ever made in Crawford county, particularly by a novice. Mr Connell was elected at the following general election and served four years, starting January 2, 1930. He was generally recognized as one of the best Sheriffs Crawford county ever had. At the conclusion of his term he served for two years as chief deputy under the late Sheriff H A Nichols, who had been Mr Connell's chief deputy. Elected County Commissioner - In 1935, Mr Connell was successful in seeking the Republican nomination for County Commissioner and was elected in the succeeding election. He served four years from January 2, 1936, and last January began his second term, having been re-elected last November. Because of illness, he had been absent from his desk for much of the time since January, but maintained interest in his duties as long as he had the strength. For the past ten years, Mr Connell had been a resident of Meadville, four years of that time at the Sheriff's residence. The present home is at 726 Pine street. Mr Connell leaves a wife, who was Miss Edith Thomas, daughter of Mr and Mrs L Z Thomas, to whom he was married on March 9, 1920; his mother, who has been seriously ill for several years at her home here; two brothers, James M Connell of Titusville and Robert F Connell of Baltimore; three sisters, Mrs W R Parker of Butler and Misses Nellie H and Lillian V Connell of Titusville. There are also the following nephews and niece: Mrs Ed Mack and Thomas Parker of Butler and James Maguire Connell and Hugh M Connell of Titusville. Mr Connell's interests covered a wide scope. He was a member of Taylor Hose of Meadville, the Odd Fellows (No 304), the Elks, the Moose (No 84), the City club, Cleo Ross post of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Painter's Union, having retained his union card ever since he was an active painter. The body was removed from the hospital here to the Byham funeral home in Meadville, where services will be conducted at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon by Rev Albert Broadhurst of Titusville. Interment will be in Woodlawn cemetery in Titusville."

(Titusville Herald, May 31, 1940, pp.2,7)
 

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