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James Patterson McConnell James
Patterson McConnell, Founder of Grayson, Georgia, was born in 1854.
During his lifetime, he contributed greatly to the civic, economic,
religious, and educational development of the Grayson Community. Mr.
McConnell was not only the first postmaster of Grayson, but also represented
the area in the Georgia General Assembly. A prosperous cotton farmer,
he owned much of the land which now comprises the town of Grayson. Mr.
McConnell encouraged the town's growth and development by selling some of his
acreage at very reasonable prices. He also served as one of the area's
religious leaders. Mr.
McConnell and his wife, Susan Arendell McConnell, were the parents of a
daughter and two sons. Following the War Between the States, the
Grayson area had no schools for children to attend. Mr. McConnell
believed learning to be essential to a fruitful life and a building block for
the future, so he founded a school for the children of Grayson. Since
the War had preempted his formal education, Mr. McConnell accompanied
his children to class and continued his education at the school he
founded.
J.P. McConnell would be proud that the Gwinnett County Board of Education has
designated a middle school to bear his name. He also would be pleased
that educators, parents, and other members of this community are working to
instill an appreciation of education in the students of the Grayson area,
just as he fostered a love of learning in his own children.
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