CONNER, Dr. Warren Hamilton - 1912 Bio (1855-1943)

CONNER, MOREHOUSE, VANDERVEEN, MCELDERY, MCELDERRY

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2005 at 17:42:40

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 335-337

WARREN H. CONNER, M. D.

“Dr. Warren H. CONNER, engaged in the practice of medicine in Fairfield, for which thorough preliminary training well qualified him, and constant study and research have kept him in touch with the advanced thought and progress of the profession, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, July 30, 1855, his parents being David and Caroline (MOREHOUSE) CONNER, both of whom were natives of New York, the father born in Ulster county, and the mother in Chautauqua county. In the winter of 1864-5 they removed westward to Rock Island county, Illinois, and Mrs. CONNER passed away in that state when about forty-eight years of age. The death of David CONNER occurred in St. Joseph, Missouri, when he was seventy-nine years of age. He was born in 1814 and in early manhood engaged in farming but after his removal westward followed the lumber business in Illinois. Subsequently he made his home with his son, Dr. CONNER, until 1890, and then went to live with another son at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he died in 1893. The CONNER family numbered nine children, of whom the eldest, Alexander, died in infancy. Volney, the second son, was an engineer on the New York & Erie Railroad, now a part of the Lake Shore system, and had the notable record of being made an engineer when but sixteen years of age – the youngest in the service of the company. He was killed, however, in a railroad accident in 1855. Rodney, of St. Joseph, Missouri, enlisted when twenty-one years of age for service in the Civil war and was wounded and taken prisoner on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, but was recaptured by the Union troops on the 2d. His injuries were so serious that for one year he remained in the hospital at Washington, D. C. He afterward went to the front, participating in the Virginia campaign but in the battle of the Wilderness he was again wounded and taken prisoner, being incarcerated at Andersonville, where he was paroled, this freedom being granted to all soldiers who were likely to live through the winter, thus saving to the Confederate army the cost of their maintenance. In 1877 he went to Nebraska, where he entered land, was married, and there resided until about 1889, when he went to St. Joseph, Missouri. Adaline, the fourth member of the family, died when twenty-five years of age. Gilbert enlisted at the age of sixteen, serving throughout the entire period of the Civil war. He was wounded on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg but did not retire from duty, although the wound continued to trouble him throughout his after life. He became a contractor and builder at Springfield, Ohio, and met death by falling from a scaffold when engaged in the construction of a building. Florence Ayres, the next of the family, is also deceased. Alison, who had charge of all carpenter work for the St. Louis division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, was killed by falling from a scaffold two months after his brother met death in a similar manner. Dr. CONNER was the eighth of the family. Herman, the youngest, died of diptheria (sic - diphtheria) when five years of age.

When a lad of five years Dr. W. H. CONNER was taken by his parents from New York to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where the family lived for five years and thence removed westward to Rock Island county, Illinois, where they remained until 1878. In that year they became residents of Polk county, Nebraska, where they continued until 1890. In the meantime Dr. CONNER went upon the Mississippi river as an engineer, having been granted a license when but twenty-one years of age. He had previously been employed on the river in different capacities from the age of thirteen years. Subsequent to the removal to Nebraska, he engaged in farming and also followed engineering and the painting trade, but thinking to fine a professional career more congenial and also hoping to fine it more profitable, he took up the study of medicine in 1890 in the Iowa State University at Iowa City, from which he was graduated on the 6th of March, 1893, receiving his M. D. degree. He then located for practice at Blue Grass, Scott county, Iowa, where he remained until 1894, since which time he has been a resident and practitioner of Fairfield. While he continues in the practice of medicine with good success he also makes a study of the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and displays marked skill in that department of professional service. His ability as a general practitioner is also marked and he has long been numbered among the leading and successful representatives of the medical profession in Fairfield. He has always been a student of advanced medical literature and he further keeps in touch with the advanced work of the profession through his membership in the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Hahnemann Medical Association, the Illinois and the American Institute of Homeopathy.

On the 4th of June, 1877, Dr. CONNER was united in marriage to Miss Mary VANDERVEEN, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1853, and in 1861 was taken to Rock Island county, Illinois, by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John VANDERVEEN. Dr. and Mrs. CONNER now have an interesting family of eight children: Harry W., a veterinary surgeon of Bloomfield, Iowa; Chauncey, a musician, of Kahoka, Missouri; Jessie, the wife of J. F. McELDERY [sic - McELDERRY], a farmer of this county; John V., a dealer in pianos in Kahoka, Missouri; Gertrude, a teacher of vocal music; Gladys, at home; Clyde C., a piano salesman, of Alexandria, Minnesota; and Helen. Nearly all of the children are musicians and their musical talent adds to the enjoyment of a happy home. Dr. CONNER holds membership with the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of the York Rite and also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Commercial Club. He served as pension examiner under President Cleveland’s second administration and has always been a democrat in politics. While in Nebraska he filled the office of county commissioner for two terms. He belongs to the Congregational church, in which he is a trustee and is always loyal to his professions. In every relation of life he measures up to a high standard of manhood and citizenship and in his chosen life work displays an unfaltering fidelity to the most advanced professional ethics.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.