John Oldham Connally
From Find A Grave |
| Born: | September 7, 1783, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Died: | March 11, 1845 |
| Buried: | Maple Hill Cemetery, Huntsville, AL |
Notes:
• "Green Bottom Inn, famous old hostelry erected by John Connelly in 1815. The inn had a private race track, where President Andrew Jackson raced his horses without success against Innkeeper Colnnelly's famous Gray Gander, once rated the world's fastest horse and winner of a $20,000 purse. Many notables, including president James Monroe and President James K. Polk, gathered here for rest and diversion. A monument marks the location of the inn, which was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1930." - Alabama Guide
• The Inn's tavern and grounds was a "mecca of sporting men from all parts of the South". Connally was a race horse breeder "of no mean renown." At his "Old Green Bottom Race Track," he raised and trained "Gray Gander," the fastest horse then known to the racing world." Andrew Jackson was a frequent visitor to Connally's Inn and there he raced his horses and fought his cocks. - Betts
• "Court records in Madison County indicate John Connally died about 1845, leaving an estate that included 2,073 acres. He left a wife Rachel O. Beal Connally who served as administrator of his estate along with John R.B. Eldridge. It took 15 years for the estate to reach a final settlement." - Betts
• "One of Huntsville's earliest hostelries, was located on Meridian Pike on site now occupied by Alabama A & M. Built in 1815 by John Connelly, the inn attained widespread fame for its adjoining race track, over which many of the outstanding race horses of the period completed. Gen. Andrew Jackson, an avid follower of the sport, often stopped here to race his horses and fight his cocks. For many years the table where he dined was preserved." - Card Cow
• "The Green Bottom Inn was one of Huntsville's earliest hostelries. The inn and tavern were built in 1815 by John Connely... The Inn was located on Meridian Street where Alabama A&M University now stands. It was favorite haunt of General Andrew Jackson where he 'raced his horses and fought his cocks.' The Inn burned in 1931." - Huntsville Madison County Public Library
• "It would be in 1815 when the Green Bottom Inn would be built by John Connally near what is now Normal. Here (Andrew) Jackson and (John) Coffee and other early sportsmen came to witness horse races and practice their own skill at horsemanship." - Record
• Married: (1.) Mary Kavanaugh (born 1787, Madison county, AL - died 1834, Madison County, AL) on November 28 1807 in Huntsville, AL. Their children are: Preston Connally, Margaret Oldham Connally Blevins, Catherine Connally (married twice: William Lewis and Cortez D. Kavanaugh), John Larkin Connally. (2.) Rachel O. Beal Ellett (born 1813, Huntsville, AL - died 1878, Huntsville, AL)on October 1824 in Madison county, AL. Their children are Sally Polk Connally Sale, Andrew Jackson Connally, Mary Connally Kelley. - OneWorldTree
• He bred many famous horses, among them being the world renowned "John Bascomb," named by consent after Rev, Henry Bascomb; "Bill Austin," "Red Mariah," "Longfellow," " Mollie Long," and many others.
• John Oldham Connally and John William Connally (both settling in Madison County) were born in the same place. They do not appear to be brothers. They might be cousins.
• Early Settler in North Alabama
• Some of them say the year of birth is 1788 and others say 1783. The tallies on each date are approximately equal. Since 8 and 3 could be easily confused in old documents, it is hard to say which date is correct. - Editor's Note
• Son of John Connally (born 1751, Virginia - died 1807, Georgia) and Sicily Moore (born 1759, Virginia) - OneWorldTree
Related Links:
• Alabama Guide - Alabama: a Guide to the Deep South By Writer's Program, © 1941, p. 329.
• Ancestry.com - Page owned by wise1ok and requires Ancestry.com membership to view. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/1449961/person/-1082750777.)
• Betts - Historic Huntsville 1804 - 1870, by Edward Chambers Betts, 1909, p. 33-4.
• Card Cow - Description on the back of a post card. (Originally found at http://www.cardcow.com/search4.php?section=all&substring=Huntsville%2C+AL&x=18&y=22.)
• Find a Grave - Paged created by Frank Brown with photos.
• Huntsville Madison County Public Library - Photo of the Green Bottom Inn with a caption (Originally found at http://digitalarchives.hmcpl.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15431coll1&CISOPTR=63&CISOBOX=1&REC=1.)
• OneWorldTree - Genealogical information
• Record - A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States, Volume One, by James R. Record, © 1970, p. 49.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Betts
• Record