Cherokee County Sketches.
No. VIII

Among the first settlers of Cherokee county, we mention Maj. John McConnell, who lived in the neighborhood of Hickory Flatt; his sons, Gen’l Eli and Henry, who were engaged in trading with the Indians; John B. Garrison, who we believe was employed in a similar manner; the Evanses, Wm. H., Thos. J., and Phillip J.—the last two named are still living in the Little River neighborhood, where they settled when the Indians were in possession of the county; Noble P. Beall, who lived at the Sixes gold mine and sold goods; Wm. May, who lived at the same place; the Hillhouses, and others, whom we have not time to mention now.

There was a Jew, named Solomon, who, in those early times, sold goods in the wilds of the county, not far from the place which is now called Freeman’s Mills.  Some one went to his store early one morning and found him lying on the floor weltering in his own blood.  He had been brutally murdered on the previous night, and robbed of his money.  The horrible affair created a good deal of excitement, but no clue was ever found to the shocking deed.

[Article goes on describe the family of Maj. John McConnell (died soon after the Civil war) who had 8 sons, one son, Gen’l Eli, died before the war.  A brother of John McConnell, Joseph McConnell “was captured by the Yankees near his home, in 1864, carried to a Northern prison and literally starved to death.  He was released just before the surrender, an emaciated wreck of what he had been.  After reaching home, he lingered with his family and friends for a few days” and then died.]