Connor, J. W.

CONNOR

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 7/30/2008 at 13:45:49

J. W. Connor

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.100, Grove Twp.)
J. W. Connor, farmer, P. O. Wheeler's Grove, born in Middlebury, Summit Co., Ohio, July 11, 1847, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Thompson) Connor; he born in County Kildare, Ireland in 1810; came to America in 1842, settling in the Western Reserve, Ohio, where he followed his avocation of woolen manufacturing, moving to Iowa in 1854, and settling on the farm where he now lives in this township (Grove), having retired from active business; she born in Yorkshire, England, in 1809, came to America in 1843, just one year later than her husband; is still living, and is the mother of three children, subject being the oldest son. Subject received a limited common school education; he is a fine conversationalist, being well read, very public-spirited, encouraging any enterprise which is for the public good, and commenced life as a farmer, working on his father's farm for several years after his marriage, generally controlling its affairs, but now he owns a farm of 110 acres adjoining the old homestead, keeping him happily near his aged parents. Subject is a Republican, though not a noisy politician; and married Miss Laura Peckenpaugh in this county on October 1, 1871, born in Warren County, Ill., on July 8, 1850, daughter of Louis B. and Aurilla (Sellers) Peckenpaugh, he born in Crawford County, Ind., on August 6, 1826, emigrated to this State about 1854, settled at or near Logan, Harrison County, this State, where he lived till his death, which occurred December 6, 1856, leaving a wife and four small children, which were cast upon the charity of the world; she, born in Crawford County, Ind., May 19, 1826, is still living in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Connor have two bright girls, viz., Minnie, born August 22, 1872; and Kate, born august 21, 1874. Subject's farm is pleasantly located, being five and a half miles southeast of Macedonia, and two miles southwest of Wheeler's Grove Post Office, just east of Farm Creek, the principal stream running through the township; has forty-five acres of very beautiful, healthy grove of natural young timber, consisting of hickory, oak, walnut, elm and ash. The farm coust about $1,500 and is now valued at about $4,000.