CUYAHOGA COUNTY OHIO - Rufus S. McCONNELL, Obit, 7 March 1886 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sharon McConnell mcconnell@nispro.lacoe.edu November 20, 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Obituary for Rufus S. McCONNELL who died 3-7-1886 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH. He was born in Warren, Trumbull Co., OH on 7-24-1842. "MAJOR M'CONNELL Death of a Popular Naval Officer at His Home in This City "After a long and painful illness, Major Rufus McConnell, paymaster United States navy, died at 3 p.m. yesterday at his residence, No. 249 Woodland avenue. Eighteen months ago, while serving on the Quinnebaugh, then on the European station, he was taken sick and went home on sick leave. His malady, spinal paralysis, grew on him and latterly he was wholly deprived of the use of his limbs. To him, death was a welcome relief from untold agony. "Major McConnell was born in Trumbull county, and until he arrived at man's estate, lived in Warren. In 1864, at the age of 21, he was commissioned assistant paymaster in the navy and was assigned to duty on the Nipsic, then blockading Charleston harbor. He remained with the blockading squadron until the close of the siege and was afterward detailed for shore duty in Boston. In 1866 he sailed in the Nipsic for a three-years' cruise on the South Atlantic station, and after a short rest was assigned to the Asiatic squadron, visiting every port in India, China and Japan. Later he served at the New Orleans navy yard and on the receiving ship in Portsmouth, N.H. A detail with the reserve squadron in Hampton roads followed. In the spring of 1884 he joined the Quinnebaugh at Lisbon, Portugal, and served until June 10, 1885, when he was detached at Alexandria, Egypt, and turned his face homeward. Last January he appeared before the naval retiring board and was retired from active service for disabilities contracted in the line of duty. "The death of Major McConnell is mourned by a very large number of friends. He was a confirmed bachelor, but had none of the misanthropic traits of the bachelor. No one ever saw him angry; no one ever heard him use a harsh word. He was a kindly-disposed, whole-souled man, generous to a fault, and a warm friend. He was conscious to the last, and grim death had no terror for him. His life ebbed away gradually until the last spark was extinguished. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 1 o'clock." On January 1, 1875 Rufus was commissioned Paymaster. He retired January 27, 1886.