PROF. M. C. CONNELLY, Principal of the Petersburg Public Schools, Petersburg; was born in the city of New Orleans May 9, 1846, where he lived until 1854, at which time his parents died with the yellow fever, and he was taken by relatives to Sangamon Co., Ill., where he was raised and schooled, attending Auburn High School, from which he graduated in 1865. During the late war, he enlisted with the 114th I. V.I., and participated in many of the most severe battles of the Western army, serving three years, and escaped without injury. After the war, he studied law under Hon. J. W. Patton, of Springfield, continuing one year; in 1871, he removed to Petersburg, and shortly after was appointed Principal of the public schools of Petersburg, serving in that capacity five consecutive years; he then resigned, and, in 1878, was again appointed, and re-appointed in 1879. He is largely a self-made man, well adapted to managing the affairs of public school. He married Miss Emma Stoker, of Springfield, Ill., July 29, 1874; she was born in Springfield July 4, 1855; they have one child - Louis S.