Ed F. Connell, 1895
Texas Rangers To Sheriff
Ed Connell may have started a trend when he came to Deaf Smith County as a Texas Ranger and stayed to serve three terms as sheriff. He saw the promise of the country and eventually became a realtor and rancher.
Disclaiming any right to the title of "two-gun man," he declared he never wore a badge a minute in his life and always wore his gun concealed. But his boys knew he was a crack shot with that gun. It was the boys' job to chase down the while Leghorn fryers when the preacher or other guests were expected for Sunday dinner. Their mother would consent to having the chicken shot only when the boys gave up the chase. Ira Aten Connell (named for an early XIT boss) still liked to tell how "Papa usually shot the bird's head off the first time."
Douglas Connell, born while his parents still lived at La Plata, remembers his Papa as an inspector who was not too busy to take along his five-year-old son when he was inspecting cattle on an all-day trip to Bovina. A herd of 5,000 XIT calves bawling as they milled in the Panhandle dust are among his earliest recollections. He saw the first car brought into Hereford and ran beside it until he was out of breath.
Young Douglas' chest almost burst with pride when he saw the fleet of 10 shining two-cylinder Buicks his Papa bought to haul prospectors over the prairie after he had gone into the immigration business. The youth was allowed to ride up front with Harry Howard, the chauffeur. Ed Connell rode in the back seat with George Muse.
"This is perfection, boys," he beamed. "They will never make an improvement on these cars."
Lula Connell, who never quite lived down-at least with her brothers-the fact that she was born "in jail" while her Pape was sheriff, remembers him as "Santa Clause" at the Baptist Church on Christmas eve, although, he, himself, was a member of the Christian Church. In fact, discovering that Papa WAS Santa Claus (She saw him putting on the suit at home when she had reached a sophisticated six years old.) almost shattered her world and destroyed her faith in adults. She tried to pass it off as an accident when she said, "Give me some, Papa," as Santa started giving out candy and nuts from a big wooden bucket at the church that night.
George Muse Connell, youngest of the Connell boys, finds tragedy and humor in his memories of Mama Connell. With Douglas away in the Navy and other family members ill or too small, it fell his lot to help her feed the freezing, starving cattle during the blizzards of 1918. They rode horseback day after day the six miles north-west of town.
"Sometimes Mama went alone. She never complained about the long, cold ride-she never felt sorry for herself-just for the cattle. She was a a real pioneer woman," he relates.
He and Lulu gleaned a few days of respite from school by complaining to the teacher of feeling ill-all the children had been warned not to stay in school if they were sick because of the flu epidemic. Mama soon caught on, when the "patients' started playing and arguing while she attended those who really were ill.
She effected a permanent cure when she told the teacher, "I don't care what these kids tell you; even if they both have double pneumonia, don't let them come home."
Edward Fulton Connell was born May 17, 1863, in Milam County, Texas, and died at Corpus Christi in 1940. He married Sophia Stockton at Bartlett, Texas, and brought her to La Plata, county set of Deaf Smith County, in December 1896, after he had been elected Sheriff in November of that year. She was born Oct. 23, 1871, at Bartlett and died at Houston in 1944.
Douglas Hayden Connell, born at La Plata on Feb. 15, 1899 married Billie Hayslip of Hereford. He is a government inspector living at 8190 Harding, Houston, Tex.
Eddie Connell, (Mrs. Joe L. Trussell) was born in Hereford on Nov. 11, 1900 and lives in Brownwood, Tex. She is a state Baptist religious worker.
Ira Aten Connell, born at Hereford May 17, 1904 married Irene Turner of Canyon, and lives in Portland, Oregon.
George Muse Connell was born in Hereford on Aug. 8, 1907, and married Irene Leachman of Amarillo. He is a peace officer and lives at Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lulu Connell (Mrs. Lulu Bennett) was born at Hereford July 5, 1909. She is classified advertising supervisor for The Houston Press and lives in Houston.
Texas Rangers To Sheriff
Ed Connell may have started a trend when he came to Deaf Smith County as a Texas Ranger and stayed to serve three terms as sheriff. He saw the promise of the country and eventually became a realtor and rancher.
Disclaiming any right to the title of "two-gun man," he declared he never wore a badge a minute in his life and always wore his gun concealed. But his boys knew he was a crack shot with that gun. It was the boys' job to chase down the while Leghorn fryers when the preacher or other guests were expected for Sunday dinner. Their mother would consent to having the chicken shot only when the boys gave up the chase. Ira Aten Connell (named for an early XIT boss) still liked to tell how "Papa usually shot the bird's head off the first time."
Douglas Connell, born while his parents still lived at La Plata, remembers his Papa as an inspector who was not too busy to take along his five-year-old son when he was inspecting cattle on an all-day trip to Bovina. A herd of 5,000 XIT calves bawling as they milled in the Panhandle dust are among his earliest recollections. He saw the first car brought into Hereford and ran beside it until he was out of breath.
Young Douglas' chest almost burst with pride when he saw the fleet of 10 shining two-cylinder Buicks his Papa bought to haul prospectors over the prairie after he had gone into the immigration business. The youth was allowed to ride up front with Harry Howard, the chauffeur. Ed Connell rode in the back seat with George Muse.
"This is perfection, boys," he beamed. "They will never make an improvement on these cars."
Lula Connell, who never quite lived down-at least with her brothers-the fact that she was born "in jail" while her Pape was sheriff, remembers him as "Santa Clause" at the Baptist Church on Christmas eve, although, he, himself, was a member of the Christian Church. In fact, discovering that Papa WAS Santa Claus (She saw him putting on the suit at home when she had reached a sophisticated six years old.) almost shattered her world and destroyed her faith in adults. She tried to pass it off as an accident when she said, "Give me some, Papa," as Santa started giving out candy and nuts from a big wooden bucket at the church that night.
George Muse Connell, youngest of the Connell boys, finds tragedy and humor in his memories of Mama Connell. With Douglas away in the Navy and other family members ill or too small, it fell his lot to help her feed the freezing, starving cattle during the blizzards of 1918. They rode horseback day after day the six miles north-west of town.
"Sometimes Mama went alone. She never complained about the long, cold ride-she never felt sorry for herself-just for the cattle. She was a a real pioneer woman," he relates.
He and Lulu gleaned a few days of respite from school by complaining to the teacher of feeling ill-all the children had been warned not to stay in school if they were sick because of the flu epidemic. Mama soon caught on, when the "patients' started playing and arguing while she attended those who really were ill.
She effected a permanent cure when she told the teacher, "I don't care what these kids tell you; even if they both have double pneumonia, don't let them come home."
Edward Fulton Connell was born May 17, 1863, in Milam County, Texas, and died at Corpus Christi in 1940. He married Sophia Stockton at Bartlett, Texas, and brought her to La Plata, county set of Deaf Smith County, in December 1896, after he had been elected Sheriff in November of that year. She was born Oct. 23, 1871, at Bartlett and died at Houston in 1944.
Douglas Hayden Connell, born at La Plata on Feb. 15, 1899 married Billie Hayslip of Hereford. He is a government inspector living at 8190 Harding, Houston, Tex.
Eddie Connell, (Mrs. Joe L. Trussell) was born in Hereford on Nov. 11, 1900 and lives in Brownwood, Tex. She is a state Baptist religious worker.
Ira Aten Connell, born at Hereford May 17, 1904 married Irene Turner of Canyon, and lives in Portland, Oregon.
George Muse Connell was born in Hereford on Aug. 8, 1907, and married Irene Leachman of Amarillo. He is a peace officer and lives at Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lulu Connell (Mrs. Lulu Bennett) was born at Hereford July 5, 1909. She is classified advertising supervisor for The Houston Press and lives in Houston.
Ed F. Connell, 1895
Texas Rangers To Sheriff
Ed Connell may have started a trend when he came to Deaf Smith County as a Texas Ranger and stayed to serve three terms as sheriff. He saw the promise of the country and eventually became a realtor and rancher.
Disclaiming any right to the title of "two-gun man," he declared he never wore a badge a minute in his life and always wore his gun concealed. But his boys knew he was a crack shot with that gun. It was the boys' job to chase down the while Leghorn fryers when the preacher or other guests were expected for Sunday dinner. Their mother would consent to having the chicken shot only when the boys gave up the chase. Ira Aten Connell (named for an early XIT boss) still liked to tell how "Papa usually shot the bird's head off the first time."
Douglas Connell, born while his parents still lived at La Plata, remembers his Papa as an inspector who was not too busy to take along his five-year-old son when he was inspecting cattle on an all-day trip to Bovina. A herd of 5,000 XIT calves bawling as they milled in the Panhandle dust are among his earliest recollections. He saw the first car brought into Hereford and ran beside it until he was out of breath.
Young Douglas' chest almost burst with pride when he saw the fleet of 10 shining two-cylinder Buicks his Papa bought to haul prospectors over the prairie after he had gone into the immigration business. The youth was allowed to ride up front with Harry Howard, the chauffeur. Ed Connell rode in the back seat with George Muse.
"This is perfection, boys," he beamed. "They will never make an improvement on these cars."
Lula Connell, who never quite lived down-at least with her brothers-the fact that she was born "in jail" while her Pape was sheriff, remembers him as "Santa Clause" at the Baptist Church on Christmas eve, although, he, himself, was a member of the Christian Church. In fact, discovering that Papa WAS Santa Claus (She saw him putting on the suit at home when she had reached a sophisticated six years old.) almost shattered her world and destroyed her faith in adults. She tried to pass it off as an accident when she said, "Give me some, Papa," as Santa started giving out candy and nuts from a big wooden bucket at the church that night.
George Muse Connell, youngest of the Connell boys, finds tragedy and humor in his memories of Mama Connell. With Douglas away in the Navy and other family members ill or too small, it fell his lot to help her feed the freezing, starving cattle during the blizzards of 1918. They rode horseback day after day the six miles north-west of town.
"Sometimes Mama went alone. She never complained about the long, cold ride-she never felt sorry for herself-just for the cattle. She was a a real pioneer woman," he relates.
He and Lulu gleaned a few days of respite from school by complaining to the teacher of feeling ill-all the children had been warned not to stay in school if they were sick because of the flu epidemic. Mama soon caught on, when the "patients' started playing and arguing while she attended those who really were ill.
She effected a permanent cure when she told the teacher, "I don't care what these kids tell you; even if they both have double pneumonia, don't let them come home."
Edward Fulton Connell was born May 17, 1863, in Milam County, Texas, and died at Corpus Christi in 1940. He married Sophia Stockton at Bartlett, Texas, and brought her to La Plata, county set of Deaf Smith County, in December 1896, after he had been elected Sheriff in November of that year. She was born Oct. 23, 1871, at Bartlett and died at Houston in 1944.
Douglas Hayden Connell, born at La Plata on Feb. 15, 1899 married Billie Hayslip of Hereford. He is a government inspector living at 8190 Harding, Houston, Tex.
Eddie Connell, (Mrs. Joe L. Trussell) was born in Hereford on Nov. 11, 1900 and lives in Brownwood, Tex. She is a state Baptist religious worker.
Ira Aten Connell, born at Hereford May 17, 1904 married Irene Turner of Canyon, and lives in Portland, Oregon.
George Muse Connell was born in Hereford on Aug. 8, 1907, and married Irene Leachman of Amarillo. He is a peace officer and lives at Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lulu Connell (Mrs. Lulu Bennett) was born at Hereford July 5, 1909. She is classified advertising supervisor for The Houston Press and lives in Houston.
Texas Rangers To Sheriff
Ed Connell may have started a trend when he came to Deaf Smith County as a Texas Ranger and stayed to serve three terms as sheriff. He saw the promise of the country and eventually became a realtor and rancher.
Disclaiming any right to the title of "two-gun man," he declared he never wore a badge a minute in his life and always wore his gun concealed. But his boys knew he was a crack shot with that gun. It was the boys' job to chase down the while Leghorn fryers when the preacher or other guests were expected for Sunday dinner. Their mother would consent to having the chicken shot only when the boys gave up the chase. Ira Aten Connell (named for an early XIT boss) still liked to tell how "Papa usually shot the bird's head off the first time."
Douglas Connell, born while his parents still lived at La Plata, remembers his Papa as an inspector who was not too busy to take along his five-year-old son when he was inspecting cattle on an all-day trip to Bovina. A herd of 5,000 XIT calves bawling as they milled in the Panhandle dust are among his earliest recollections. He saw the first car brought into Hereford and ran beside it until he was out of breath.
Young Douglas' chest almost burst with pride when he saw the fleet of 10 shining two-cylinder Buicks his Papa bought to haul prospectors over the prairie after he had gone into the immigration business. The youth was allowed to ride up front with Harry Howard, the chauffeur. Ed Connell rode in the back seat with George Muse.
"This is perfection, boys," he beamed. "They will never make an improvement on these cars."
Lula Connell, who never quite lived down-at least with her brothers-the fact that she was born "in jail" while her Pape was sheriff, remembers him as "Santa Clause" at the Baptist Church on Christmas eve, although, he, himself, was a member of the Christian Church. In fact, discovering that Papa WAS Santa Claus (She saw him putting on the suit at home when she had reached a sophisticated six years old.) almost shattered her world and destroyed her faith in adults. She tried to pass it off as an accident when she said, "Give me some, Papa," as Santa started giving out candy and nuts from a big wooden bucket at the church that night.
George Muse Connell, youngest of the Connell boys, finds tragedy and humor in his memories of Mama Connell. With Douglas away in the Navy and other family members ill or too small, it fell his lot to help her feed the freezing, starving cattle during the blizzards of 1918. They rode horseback day after day the six miles north-west of town.
"Sometimes Mama went alone. She never complained about the long, cold ride-she never felt sorry for herself-just for the cattle. She was a a real pioneer woman," he relates.
He and Lulu gleaned a few days of respite from school by complaining to the teacher of feeling ill-all the children had been warned not to stay in school if they were sick because of the flu epidemic. Mama soon caught on, when the "patients' started playing and arguing while she attended those who really were ill.
She effected a permanent cure when she told the teacher, "I don't care what these kids tell you; even if they both have double pneumonia, don't let them come home."
Edward Fulton Connell was born May 17, 1863, in Milam County, Texas, and died at Corpus Christi in 1940. He married Sophia Stockton at Bartlett, Texas, and brought her to La Plata, county set of Deaf Smith County, in December 1896, after he had been elected Sheriff in November of that year. She was born Oct. 23, 1871, at Bartlett and died at Houston in 1944.
Douglas Hayden Connell, born at La Plata on Feb. 15, 1899 married Billie Hayslip of Hereford. He is a government inspector living at 8190 Harding, Houston, Tex.
Eddie Connell, (Mrs. Joe L. Trussell) was born in Hereford on Nov. 11, 1900 and lives in Brownwood, Tex. She is a state Baptist religious worker.
Ira Aten Connell, born at Hereford May 17, 1904 married Irene Turner of Canyon, and lives in Portland, Oregon.
George Muse Connell was born in Hereford on Aug. 8, 1907, and married Irene Leachman of Amarillo. He is a peace officer and lives at Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lulu Connell (Mrs. Lulu Bennett) was born at Hereford July 5, 1909. She is classified advertising supervisor for The Houston Press and lives in Houston.
Family Members
Siblings
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William Nathan Connell Sr
1855–1935
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Sampson Connell III
1857–1915
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Sarah Elizabeth Connell
1859–1859
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John J Connell
1860–1915
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Annie Narcissa Connell Clement
1865–1948
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Emily Elizabeth "Bettie" Connell Holland
1867–1917
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Joel Beal Connell
1869–1929
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Ivy Elizabeth Connell Cox
1871–1945
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Julia Pearle Connell
1873–1878
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