Francis Connelly came to California in 1850 and is consequently one of the early settlers of the country who have acted their humble part in founding this great State. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, June 28, 1817. His parents, John and Nancy (Bard) Connelly, were intelligent and industrious Irish people, who came to the United States in 1821, settling at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where they resided and raised their children. Five of their nine children are still living. Mr. Connelly, the subject of this sketch and their eldest son, learned the trade of carpentry in Pennsylvania, worked there on a farm a few years, and removed to Iowa and purchased a farm of ninety-six acres, which he cleared and where he built a residence; at times he worked also at his trade. He sold his Iowa property and came to California in 1850, and mined on Scott River and at French Gulch. He had good claims, but was not an experienced miner and did not know how to make the best of it; yet did fairly well. Ten men of them in one afternoon on Scott’s Run took out $2,000. In 1852 he went back to Iowa and remained there eight years, and in 1860 returned to California and settled eighteen miles below Sacramento on a farm. Sickness drove him from that place and he went to Yolo County, purchased property, built a house and worked at his business there ten years, when he sold and went to Millville and took up 160 acres of Government land. After improving the claim he soon exchanged it for another place, and after making some improvements there, he sold it and moved into the town of Millville, purchased lots, built a house and shop and has resided there since, following the carperters’ wagon-making and undertakers’ trades.

In 1842 he was married to Miss Rebecca Bates, a native of the State of New Jersey and they have had seven children, six of whom are living, namely: Joseph, John, Jackson, Sarah Ann, Jefferson and Eliza.

Mr. Connelly is a Democrat and a strong temperance man, belonging to the Good Templars. He is an honest and reliable citizen and makes his money by his industry.

Source: Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler