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389:, "The farmers had no further trouble with horse thieves." McConnell later published a history of the period, which included a lengthy account of the vigilantes' work. He offered no apologies and asked for no forgiveness ... but simply described what he saw as the necessity for what was done. Although, or perhaps because, McConnell was the recognized leader of the vigilantes, in 1865 he was appointed a Deputy
534:– the Federal government was no longer required to purchase a set monthly amount of silver. The resulting crash in prices squeezed the mining companies, leading to layoffs and moves to cut wages. The subsequent unrest, and flare-ups of violence, led McConnell to threaten the use of troops to keep the peace.
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candidate polled about 1.3%. When he ran for re-election, he won in a similar manner, polling 41.5% of the votes with the
Democrats and Populists splitting most of the remaining votes. After his first gubernatorial election, McConnell ended his involvement with the store in Moscow and moved to
530:, when several major railroads and over 500 banks failed. The economic crisis naturally exacerbated the conflict between labor unions and companies, especially in the silver mines in the Coeur d'Alene region of North Idaho. The crisis in Idaho deepened with the repeal of the
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After Idaho became at state on July 3, 1890, McConnell was one of its first U.S. Senators. He served only a short term, which was meant to get the state "in sync" with a normal election cycle. For a time, the new state actually had three
Senators-elect: McConnell,
508:, resigned after serving just a few months before being elected for a full term as a U.S. Senator.) Having been so recently granted statehood, Idaho had to work out many details of how the state would be governed. Thus, many problems landed on his desk.
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McConnell's memorial service in Moscow was held at the auditorium (of the administration building) at the
University of Idaho, which included most of the states's dignitaries. He and his wife Louisa (1846–1930) are buried in the Moscow Cemetery.
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At the time, Idaho
Territory was about a year old and law enforcement was scant to non-existent. When he and other settlers along the Payette began to lose horses and mules to thieves, the youthful McConnell took the lead in organizing a
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In about 1867, McConnell married Louisa Brown and their first child was born in
California, where he owned (or worked in) a general store and raised cattle. About 1871, the family moved to
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consideration. Several years would pass before a complete and effective system could be put in place, but Idaho eventually became the single greatest success story under the Act.
425:, and in 1884 he moved his family there. The general store he opened with a partner in Moscow was for many years considered the finest in the region. McConnell represented
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McConnell did not run for a third term, perhaps realizing that his mainstream
Republican Party was going to lose badly. McConnell was himself a "
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Under McConnell's administrations, Idaho did away with a "test oath" whose effect was to disenfranchise the state's considerable body of
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Taking office in 1893 as a minority candidate did not smooth McConnell's task as Idaho's third governor. (The first governor,
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546:" supporter, but refused to abandon the Party over one divisive issue. As expected, a coalition of Democrats, Populists, and
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Perhaps based on his earlier experience in
California, McConnell spotted opportunity on the way to the gold fields around
565:, a position he held until 1901. Later, he served as an Immigration Service Inspector from 1909 until his death in 1925.
561:, the Democratic/Populist candidate for president. As a reward for his party loyalty, he received an appointment in the
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and began raising vegetables. The following year, McConnell led a pack train loaded with produce over the mountains to
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for the region. While it did not end crime in the area, the work of the committee did reduce it and, according to the
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During his tenure, the state suffered – along with the nation – through the severe depression called the
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457:. The Senate had to vote on which of the two besides McConnell they would seat – they chose Dubois.
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and educated in its public schools, McConnell headed west as a freight wagon driver and ended up in
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swept the 1896 state elections; mainstream
Republicans retained only one seat in the legislature.
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McConnell's term ended in March 1891, and he decided to run for governor as the candidate for the
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from 1893 until 1897. He had previously represented the new state as one of its first
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This article is about the U.S. Senator from Idaho. For others of the same name, see
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for Idaho
Territory. At the end of his two-year term, he returned to California.
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801:. Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1958. p. 274.
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722:. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 16, 1976. p. 7.
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Around 1879, McConnell had begun investing in the growing town of
815:. University of Idaho Library. Campus photograph collection. 1957
680:"Idaho Governor William John McConnell," Governor's Information,
492:, McConnell was at the forefront of the movement to locate the
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444:; it is open for tours by the Latah County Historical Society.
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in Moscow. A residence hall built in 1957 was named for him.
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322:(September 18, 1839 – March 30, 1925) was the
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voters. Also, the state was the fourth to grant women the
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631:, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago (1920).
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Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
1649:Republican Party United States senators from Idaho
740:. Idaho-Washington. November 17, 1994. p. 8C.
734:"Law professor provides provocative Idaho history"
413:, and was then selected as the senate president.
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911:. Spokane, Washington. April 7, 1925. p. 1.
597:. Spokane, Washington. April 3, 1925. p. 9.
646:, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago (1899).
1679:Members of the Idaho Constitutional Convention
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1034:December 18, 1890–March 3, 1891
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440:McConnell Mansion (1886) in Moscow is on the
644:An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho
611:Williams Printing, ( Richard J. Beck, 1989).
787:. Washington. January 25, 1957. p. a3.
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755:Moscow: Living and learning on the Palouse
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629:History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains
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108:January 2, 1893 – January 4, 1897
67:December 18, 1890 – March 3, 1891
836:Robert C. Sims, Hope A. Benedict (eds.),
668:U.S. Census, 1880, Yamhill County, Oregon
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334:; Idaho achieved statehood in July 1890.
875:. Washington. March 31, 1925. p. 3.
857:. Washington. March 30, 1925. p. 1.
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704:. Washington. April 3, 1925. p. 14.
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893:. Washington. April 6, 1925. p. 2.
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659:Caxton Printer, Caldwell, Idaho (1913).
1664:Republican Party Oregon state senators
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781:"New dorm at Idaho to honor McConnell"
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553:Fortunately for McConnell, Republican
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1659:Presidents of the Oregon State Senate
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927:"William J. McConnell (id: M000357)"
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377:and sold them at "fabulous" prices.
1634:Republican Party governors of Idaho
1073:January 1893–January 4, 1897
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405:, where they eventually settled in
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1669:People from Yamhill County, Oregon
759:. Arcadia Publishing. p. 64.
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21:William McConnell (disambiguation)
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1674:19th-century American politicians
1424:United States senators from Idaho
1030:U.S. senator (Class 3) from Idaho
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472:parties split 58% of the rest. A
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851:"Father-in-law of Borah is dead"
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957:Idaho State Historical Society:
951:Latah County Historical Society
698:"Mrs. Borah not able to attend"
431:Idaho Constitutional Convention
155:Idaho Constitutional Convention
1644:People from Commerce, Michigan
953:- The McConnell Mansion Museum
940:National Governors Association
869:"Delay funeral Gov. M'Connell"
840:Boise State University (1992).
682:National Governors Association
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905:"Bury pioneer Idaho governor"
591:"First senator of Idaho dies"
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785:Spokane Daily Chronicle
702:Spokane Daily Chronicle
657:Early History of Idaho,
397:Pacific Coast interlude
285:Nancy Coulter McConnell
1654:United States Marshals
1629:American Presbyterians
959:William John McConnell
947:- William J. McConnell
655:William J. McConnell,
559:William Jennings Bryan
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963:William J. McConnell
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387:Illustrated History
383:Vigilance committee
273:2 sons, 3 daughters
16:American politician
1118:Governors of Idaho
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716:"Mrs. Borah dies"
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223:(1925-03-30)
176:Latah County
172:Constituency
162:
142:Succeeded by
135:N. B. Willey
119:F. B. Willis
103:
83:Succeeded by
62:
1624:1925 deaths
1619:1839 births
1237:Steunenberg
1047:Fred Dubois
1016:U.S. Senate
544:Free Silver
488:Along with
451:Fred Dubois
375:Placerville
338:Early years
304:Agriculture
287:(1802–1859)
283:(1793–1880)
263:(1846–1930)
130:Preceded by
123:F. J. Mills
88:Fred Dubois
73:Preceded by
1613:Categories
1593:Kempthorne
1367:Kempthorne
1312:Bottolfsen
1302:Bottolfsen
990:Republican
573:References
538:Afterwards
466:Democratic
363:Idaho City
348:California
300:Profession
252:Republican
201:1839-09-18
114:Lieutenant
1518:McConnell
1342:Samuelson
1287:Baldridge
1272:Alexander
1232:McConnell
1187:Stevenson
521:Carey Act
278:Parent(s)
258:Spouse(s)
163:In office
104:In office
63:In office
1528:Heitfeld
1473:Dworshak
1463:Dworshak
1322:Williams
1307:C. Clark
1297:B. Clark
1247:Morrison
1162:Thompson
470:Populist
344:Michigan
342:Born in
270:Children
212:Michigan
208:Commerce
94:3rd
1553:Gooding
1533:Heyburn
1511:Class 3
1483:McClure
1458:Gossett
1431:Class 2
1317:Gossett
1252:Gooding
1167:Brayman
1157:Bennett
1147:Ballard
1137:Wallace
429:in the
1583:Church
1578:Welker
1573:Taylor
1558:Thomas
1548:Nugent
1523:Dubois
1478:Jordan
1468:Miller
1453:Thomas
1443:Dubois
1382:Little
1357:Andrus
1347:Andrus
1337:Smylie
1332:Jordan
1327:Robins
1267:Haines
1262:Hawley
1227:Willey
1211:State
1024:(none)
763:
513:Mormon
403:Oregon
352:Oregon
308:Mining
228:Moscow
77:(none)
1598:Crapo
1588:Symms
1568:Clark
1543:Brady
1538:Perky
1493:Risch
1488:Craig
1448:Borah
1438:Shoup
1377:Otter
1372:Risch
1352:Evans
1282:Moore
1277:Davis
1257:Brady
1222:Shoup
1192:Shoup
1177:Irwin
1152:Bowen
479:Boise
328:Idaho
232:Idaho
55:Idaho
53:from
1563:Pope
1362:Batt
1292:Ross
1242:Hunt
1182:Bunn
1172:Neil
1142:Lyon
1003:1894
999:1892
821:2015
761:ISBN
468:and
218:Died
191:Born
965:at
326:of
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