JOHN CONNER

Iowa, rich in its natural resources and its opportunities, is the home of many who claim the state as the place of their nativity and who recognize the fact that along agricultural lines especially the advantages here offered are equal if not superior to any furnished elsewhere in this broad land. Perhaps no other district can count among its population a greater number of native sons than can Cedar county. This class includes John Conner, who was born October 2, 1863, on the farm which is now his home and which embraces one hundred and sixty acres of rich prairie land on section 27, Pioneer township. As the name indicates, he is of Irish lineage. His grandfather, Edward Conner, was born on the Emerald isle and became one of the early settlers of Pennsylvania. He afterward removed with his family to the west, entering from the government a tract of land in Cedar county and casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers whose labors were proving a potent force in the reclamation of this region for the purpose of civilization. His son, Joseph Conner, had been born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Some time after coming to Iowa he took charge of the home farm, which his father had entered from the government. He built a home on Clear creek, broke the sod and developed the place according to the progressive ideas of that period. He was married in this county to Miss Nancy McKinzie, a native of Ohio and a daughter of John McKinzie, who came from the Buckeye state to Iowa during the pioneer epoch in the history of Cedar county. Joseph Conner reared his family upon the farm and continued to make it his place of abode until he was called to his final home in 1880. His widow still survives him and is now sixty-eight years of age.

John Conner is the only surviving son in a family of five children. He had one brother, Charles, who died when but two years of age. His sisters were: Rosella, the wife of John Ruble, of Mechanicsville; Emma S., the wife of Harry Cole, of Pioneer township; and Oceana, the wife of William Longabean. John Conner was reared upon the old home farm and at the usual age entered the district schools wherein he mastered the common branches of learning. He remained with his father until the latter’s death and assisted in carrying on the farm. Following the demise of Joseph Conner Mr. McKinzie, the maternal grandfather of our subject, carried on the place for three years, and then John Conner assumed the management of the farm and business. Wide awake and enterprising, he is alert in the interest of the business and has fenced the place with woven wire and to some extent hasdivided his land intofields of convenient size. The work of repair is never neglected and the task of general improvement is carried steadily forward until field and meadow land yield rich returns ingrain and cereal. Cattle, hogs and sheep fatten on his pastures and he annually sells a goodly amount of stock. He is resolute and determined, allowing no obstacles to bar his path when they can be overcome by honorable and persistent effort.

His political endorsement is given to the democratic party but he has never sought nor desired the reward of office as a recognition of party fealty. He has preferred to concentrate his energies and attention upon his business affairs and gradual progress has brought him to a position among the well-to-do farmers and stock-raisers of Pioneer township.