Rev. Samuel P. McConnell was born in Limestone County, Alabama, February 4, 1844, which was the thirty-fourth anniversary of our Church.

Brother McConnell professed religion on the 7th day of August, 1856, joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church October 15, 1857, and in 1861 was ordained a Ruling Elder.

He was received under the care of Richland Presbytery April 26, 1869, was licensed to preach September 23, 1872, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry April 6, 1878.

He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on the 4th day of December, 1880.

In August 20, 1872, he and Othella C. Daily were married. Brother McConnell has lived the Christian life for fifty-nine years and is still holding up a living Christ to a dying people. He has preached and held revivals all over the country round about him, and has been instrumental in turning many souls to Christ. He is now seventy-one years of age, and is serving four congregations.

As a preacher, Brother McConnell feels that four honors have been confered upon him. First his Presbytery (McGready) elected him Moderator for four successive times during the merger struggle. Second, at the close of this struggle he was elected commissioner to the General Assembly which met at Decatur, Ill., in 1906. Third and fourth, were calls from Hurricane Grove and Union Hill Congregations to be their pastor until his death. These two congregations are among the first Brother McConnell preached to, and the latter has always been his home church. His whole pastoral work is where he has been all of his life.

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 77-78]