E. R. Connely, farmer; P. O. Westfield; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., March 6, 1829; his parents, Joel and Effie Connely, came to this county in the spring of 1832, and were among its earliest pioneers; having raised one crop, they returned to Indiana, and, in the fall of same year, brought out their family, consisting of six boys and five girls accompanied also by their grandfather and grandmother Pennington; they made the journey the whole distance in wagons, driving their stock, composed both of sheep and cattle, with them. His grandfather Pennington was a Baptist minister, and among the first in this township. The subject of this sketch was the youngest of the boys, being only 4 years of age at the time of their removal to this county; he continued to reside with his parents up to the time of their death, his father dying June 8, 1853, and his mother, Oct. 14, 1875, at the ripe old age of 88; Mr. Connely has resided upon the homestead ever since, containing at the present time 380 acres; his father’s estate consisted of 1,500 acres, and was divided among his children prior to his decease. Mr. Connely has held the position of Supervisor of this county and is at the present time School Director, and has been such since 1856. He has been married twice, his first wife being Miss Rebecca Platt, daughter of John Platt; they were married near Salisbury (now Hutton P. O.), Hutton Tp., Oct. 24, 1850; she died Sept. 29, 1875; they had eleven children, six boys, all living – Emory P., Malden T., Oscar V., Ellis J. and Willis J. (twins) and Eddie A., and five girls, four living -Addie B. (now Mrs. W. Pentzer, of Iroquois Co., Ill.), Iona and Beppie; his second wife was Miss Susan Rebecca McConnell, daughter of Michael McConnell, of Harrison Co., Ohio; they were married at Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio, Aug. 24. 1876; they have one child-Sarah. His parents were both zealous members of the Baptist Church, having connected themselves with that Church shortly after their marriage; his mother, however, embraced religion at the early age of 11, and lived the exemplary life of a Christian to the day of her death. His father held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, in Lawrence Co., Ind., and continued the same in Coles Co. for a number of years after his removal here.
