WT

My Dad (Pa) had a father named William Thomas McConnell,Sr. (WT)
WT McConnell was married to Willie Kate Wells and lived on a farm outside of Mount Olivet (in Robertson Co) KY. This is in the foothills of the eastern Kentucky mountains. WT was the key Democrat in the county and held every elected position (but was most often Sheriff). He knew all the key Democrats in Kentucky. Pa used to tell us that when he went to Washington, DC to interview for a job with the IRS we took WT with us. WT was good friends with Alben Barkley (the Vice President under Harry Truman). When Pa went in to pick up WT, both men had their feet propped up on Barkley's desk, chewing tobacco (with a spittoon between them) swapping old stories.

Pa was the youngest of eight children, and for several years he was the only child in the home. Each morning WT would give Kate a “To Do List ” of chores he expected to have done by the time he got back that evening. Then he would go to downtown Mt. Olivet and talk politics with the town leaders. If the “To Do List” wasn't completed when he came home there was a price to pay.

As I remember, WT only visited us once (when we lived in Ten Broeck). This was after Kate had died. WT was tall (I thought about 6'-3”), medium build, with ramrod straight posture, and a stern face. He had cold blue eyes (similar to mine), and a long face with a square jaw. He looked important. He mainly talked to Pa, very little to Lady, and never to us kids. Lady had to prepare well in advance for his visit. She had to serve exactly what he wanted and when he wanted it. It was a stressful time when WT was around. The best word to describe WT was “Demanding”.