John O'Connell

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

John O'Connell

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

John O’CONNELL, who owns and conducts an up-to-date plumbing establishment at No. 21 South Warren street, Dover, holds prestige as one of the enterprising business men of this section. He was born at Mine Hill, Morris county, New Jersey, in September, 1869, son of Bernard and Mary (QUINN) O’CONNELL. The father was born and reared in Ireland, whence he immigrated to America in the year 1865. During the last twenty-five or thirty years of his life he was engaged in business at Mine Hill as a tea merchant. He died in July, 1911, and he is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Dover. The mother was born in the State of Indiana and she survives her honored husband, her home being in Dover. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard O’CONNELL: John, Jennie, Mary, Margaret, Bernard, Robert. Of the above, Margaret is the wife of John QUINN, of Sacramento, California, and Robert is deceased.

To St. Mary’s Parochial School at Dover, John O’CONNELL is indebted for his preliminary educational training. At the age of sixteen years he entered the office of Mahlon Pitney, in Dover, and under the gentleman’s able preceptorship studied law for three years. In 1888 he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of plumber and during the past seventeen years he has given his undivided attention to that line of business. Since 1897 he has owned a fine plumbing establishment at No. 21 South Warren street and in the same he employs a force of six men. He owns the property on which his business is located and also owns a beautiful residence at No. 402 West Blackwell street.

In January, 1900, Mr. O’CONNELL married Isabell PURCELL, a native of Morris county, daughter of James and Mary (DEGNAN) PURCELL, who were residents of the neighborhood of Succasunna, this county, for about fifty years. Mr. PURCELL was noted in this section for his skill as a landscape gardener and to that line of work he devoted his entire active career. He died in 1901 and his cherished and devoted wife is still living. The PURCELL family consisted of the following children: Mary, wife of John SMITH; Susan, wife of Thomas RYAN; James; William; Isabell, now Mrs. O’CONNELL, as already noted. Mr. and Mrs. O’CONNELL have three children: Robert, Marie, Edwin.

In politics Mr. O’CONNELL gives his unswerving support to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and while he does not take an active part in municipal affairs he is greatly interested in all that affects the good of the general welfare. He and his family are zealous communicants of the Catholic church in their religious faith.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)