W. K. McConnell was born in Talladega County, March 25, 1841, and was reared from the time he was eight years of age by an uncle in Tennessee. At the outbreak of the late war he was a student at LaGrange College, and from there, in May, 1861, joined Company B, Sixteenth Alabama Regiment, as a private. He was soon afterward made color-bearer of his company, and was subsequently detailed as drill master of volunteers. He participated in the battles of Wild Cat (Ky.), Mill Springs or Fishing Creek, Shiloh. Farmington, Corinth, Boonsville, etc. He was promoted to lieutenant of engineers after the battle of Fishing Creek, and later on given command of his company. Before the final surrender, he was made adjutant, and held that position until the close. He also took part in the battles of Chattanooga, Munfordville, Perryville, and at Vicksburg was transferred to the Thirtieth Alabama. With this regiment he was at Chickasaw Bayou, Warrenton, Baker's Creek - where he was placed in command of his company by order of Gen. Stephen D. Lee - Big Black River Bridge, and afterward at Lookout Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro. At Jonesboro he was made adjutant-general of Shelley's Brigade, and was afterward at Dalton, Franklin and Nashville. After the war he returned home and proceeded at once to Mexico, where he remained two years. From Mexico he came back to Alabama, located at Selma, and was there when appointed Commandant of the State University. He remained at the University something over a year, and in 1871 engaged in railroad business. He was subsequently appointed tax collector of Dallas County, and held that office seven years. In August, 1884, he came to Talladega, where he has been since employed as railroad and express agent. He was married May 7, 1868, to Miss Ellen Smith, of Columbia, Tenn., and has had born to him four children. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Honor. Source: Northern Alabama - Historical and Biographical by Smith & De Land, Birmingham, Ala 1888

Bio by Bham85