My Great Great Grandfather:
1860 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents - age 1.
1870 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, Joseph and George; he was attending school - age 10.
1880 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, John, George and Frank; his occupation was give as farmer.
From the Chariton Harold, 4-20-1893 Edition:
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
1900 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora and children: Hubert, Eunice and Fred; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that had a mortgage on it; he could read and write. Their next door neighbors were Robert and Elizabeth Palmer.
1910 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, son Herbert and his wife Hattie; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that was now free of mortgage; he could read and write.
1920 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson's Theodore and Marion (Fred's sons), and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that now has a mortgage back on it; he could read and write.
1930 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson Theodore (Fred's son) and mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm (mortgage status not listed on this census); the family did not own a radio.
From the Chariton Patriot, 6-4-1931 Edition:
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Marion began as a teacher and then tried his hand in business for a short time. From the "Derby Diary 1872-1972"
written for Derby's Centennial, under Business Men 1897-98 Population 300: we find "M.S. Connor - Grain and Stock." Also listed was "Connor and Pulley General Store." This Conner was William Conner, Alfred's brother.
Marion was not in business long, possibly for financial reasons. He and Flora sold their farm in 1893 to pay off their mortgage. Their second farm was purchased in 1900 by Flora and kept in her name.
They were never free from debt, mortgaging their farms over and over until they finally lost everything in the great depression of the 1930's and moved to Derby.
1940 US Federal Census
Marion lived in Derby, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, brother-in-law Charles Shuck and grandson Marion (Fred's son); his home was rented with a monthly rent of $8, the highest grade in school that he completed was 1st year of college; he had no income in 1939.
Marion died in Derby after falling, fracturing ribs which caused a pneumonia that was fatal. Marian is buried in Goshen Cemetery, Lucas County, Iowa.
From my family book 'A Pilgrimage into My Past' - Marian Sylvester Conner's Story
Marion's father, Alfred Conner was one of the earliest pioneers in Lucas County, Iowa. Alfred's grandfather probably emigrated from Ireland and his grandmother's family arrived in the American Colonies from England as far back as the early 1600s. Marion's mother, Harriet Wade's family arrived in the colonies almost as far back with some of her ancestors coming from England and others from Wales.
The first born child of his parents, Marion was born and raised in Derby, Lucas County, Iowa. His father had only arrived in Iowa four years before his birth and with the exception of a little trading point at Eddyville and a station at Chariton, the rest of the county was practically all unbroken prairie.
As Marion grew older he joined his father in working the family farm. He was a handsome, strong young man and was raised by parents strong in the Christian faith, his father a deacon of Goshen Church where they attended services. When he was just eighteen, in 1878, Marion suffered a crisis in both his faith and his relationship with his father. I have read two slightly different versions of the story, but what they both have in common are the facts that on a Sunday morning Marion remained home from church to care for his seriously ill three-year-old sister Martha and that while his parents were away the little girl died. This story was told by both Marion's granddaughter Fern Palmer Johnson and one of his grandson's (whose name, I apologize, I never wrote in my records). Both said that Marion was so distraught that his resentment was not only aimed at his father for leaving (to either attend church or to drive a visiting preacher to another church - depending on which story you go by), but also at God. They say that he fell away from the church and according to the grandson he never attended again.
It is impossible to know if Marion and his father were able to settle their differences, Alfred Conner was a bit of a larger then life figure, extremely prominent in the community and heavily involved in both community and church affairs. And so it is possible that their relationship never warmed again, but then again I have no idea what the relationship was like prior to this incident so it is possible that they were never close. No matter what their relationship, Marion continued to live on his family's farm and work with his father until his marriage in 1883 to neighbor Flora Belle Shuck.
On 8 August of 1885 the couple bought a farm for $1484.80 that was located on the NE 1/4 of Sect 1 Twp 71 Rng 23. Their first mortgage was for $1234.80, they paid that off on 24 June 1887, took another mortgage out on 16 May 1887 for two separate amounts of $68.01 and $1150, with the $68.01 paid off on 2 July 1892. At this time Marion and Flora's neighbors were the Robert and Elizabeth Palmer family.
On 5 September 1891 Marion purchased additional land in Lucas County:
"J.A. Robinson and Mary A. Robinson, husband and wife, in the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $120 convey to Marion S. Conner a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, Twp 71, Range 23."
By 20 January 1893 the farm was not doing well and Marion made the decision to sell off a large amount of his land with the exception of the house and the immediate land it stood on.
"M.S. Conner and Flora Connor, husband and wife, of the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $2500 convey to R.E. Morris of the County of Lucas the NE 1/4 Section 1, also a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, all in Twp 71, range 23 West subject to a certain mortgage of $1150 in favor of the Iowa Mortgage Co."
For a short time Marion tried teaching, and then he started his own Grain and Stock business, but unlike his father, everything that Marion touched did not turn to gold. His business failed and the couple lost their home as well. I came across a very strange article that appeared in the Chariton Harold, 20 April 1893 edition. There were no later articles to explain it, but when reading it consider what was going on in Marion's life at this time and several possibilities will come to mind.
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
When they decided to make a second attempt at farming on 19 February 1900, it was Flora who took out the mortgage of $2000 for the new farm and whose name appeared on the ownership papers.
"Elizabeth J. Carlson and Carl J. Carlson, husband, of Wayne County, Iowa for $2800 paid by Flora B. Conner of Lucas County sell and convey the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Sec 16, Twp 21, Range 22, Lucas County, IA."
From this point on the family was never out of debt. For the next few several years Marion made every attempt to make his second venture into farming a success, but the times were against him this time. The dust bowel years had arrived and the drought killed of his crops several years in a row. An article from the Chariton Patriot, 4 June 1931 edition shows what had to have been among the few high moments in Marion's life in the early 1930s.
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Less then two years later the Conner family could no longer hang on to their farm and on 17 October 1932 it was sold by a sheriff's sale at auction. The family owed $4779.84 and the farm sold for $4836.60. When the sale was completed on 18 October of 1933 the couple was once again broke. Marion and Flora moved in to the town of Derby and how they made their living is not clear, but they must have been doing some form of work as social security did not yet exist.
In September of 1942 Marion took a serious fall breaking several ribs and eventually developing pneumonia. On the 29th of that month he finally succumbed and passed away. His obituary was in the 1 October 1942 Edition of the Chariton Patriot:
"MARION S. CONNOR
Funeral services for Marion S. Connor, who died Tuesday morning at his home in Derby, were held at the Derby Presbyterian church this afternoon at two o'clock, conducted by Rev. Virgil Swanson, and burial was in the Goshen cemetery."
Did our great+ grandfather ever find his way back to God? That is something none of us will know until we ourselves leave this existence. Marion most definitely had a very hard life that was filled with more failures then successes, but he did bring three children into this world. And each of those three children brought another generation into it as well. So perhaps Marion Conner's greatest success was the continuation of our family line. And maybe it is one of his descendants who will make some great mark in our world one day and prove just how successful Marion Sylvester Conner was.
1860 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents - age 1.
1870 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, Joseph and George; he was attending school - age 10.
1880 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, John, George and Frank; his occupation was give as farmer.
From the Chariton Harold, 4-20-1893 Edition:
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
1900 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora and children: Hubert, Eunice and Fred; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that had a mortgage on it; he could read and write. Their next door neighbors were Robert and Elizabeth Palmer.
1910 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, son Herbert and his wife Hattie; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that was now free of mortgage; he could read and write.
1920 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson's Theodore and Marion (Fred's sons), and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that now has a mortgage back on it; he could read and write.
1930 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson Theodore (Fred's son) and mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm (mortgage status not listed on this census); the family did not own a radio.
From the Chariton Patriot, 6-4-1931 Edition:
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Marion began as a teacher and then tried his hand in business for a short time. From the "Derby Diary 1872-1972"
written for Derby's Centennial, under Business Men 1897-98 Population 300: we find "M.S. Connor - Grain and Stock." Also listed was "Connor and Pulley General Store." This Conner was William Conner, Alfred's brother.
Marion was not in business long, possibly for financial reasons. He and Flora sold their farm in 1893 to pay off their mortgage. Their second farm was purchased in 1900 by Flora and kept in her name.
They were never free from debt, mortgaging their farms over and over until they finally lost everything in the great depression of the 1930's and moved to Derby.
1940 US Federal Census
Marion lived in Derby, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, brother-in-law Charles Shuck and grandson Marion (Fred's son); his home was rented with a monthly rent of $8, the highest grade in school that he completed was 1st year of college; he had no income in 1939.
Marion died in Derby after falling, fracturing ribs which caused a pneumonia that was fatal. Marian is buried in Goshen Cemetery, Lucas County, Iowa.
From my family book 'A Pilgrimage into My Past' - Marian Sylvester Conner's Story
Marion's father, Alfred Conner was one of the earliest pioneers in Lucas County, Iowa. Alfred's grandfather probably emigrated from Ireland and his grandmother's family arrived in the American Colonies from England as far back as the early 1600s. Marion's mother, Harriet Wade's family arrived in the colonies almost as far back with some of her ancestors coming from England and others from Wales.
The first born child of his parents, Marion was born and raised in Derby, Lucas County, Iowa. His father had only arrived in Iowa four years before his birth and with the exception of a little trading point at Eddyville and a station at Chariton, the rest of the county was practically all unbroken prairie.
As Marion grew older he joined his father in working the family farm. He was a handsome, strong young man and was raised by parents strong in the Christian faith, his father a deacon of Goshen Church where they attended services. When he was just eighteen, in 1878, Marion suffered a crisis in both his faith and his relationship with his father. I have read two slightly different versions of the story, but what they both have in common are the facts that on a Sunday morning Marion remained home from church to care for his seriously ill three-year-old sister Martha and that while his parents were away the little girl died. This story was told by both Marion's granddaughter Fern Palmer Johnson and one of his grandson's (whose name, I apologize, I never wrote in my records). Both said that Marion was so distraught that his resentment was not only aimed at his father for leaving (to either attend church or to drive a visiting preacher to another church - depending on which story you go by), but also at God. They say that he fell away from the church and according to the grandson he never attended again.
It is impossible to know if Marion and his father were able to settle their differences, Alfred Conner was a bit of a larger then life figure, extremely prominent in the community and heavily involved in both community and church affairs. And so it is possible that their relationship never warmed again, but then again I have no idea what the relationship was like prior to this incident so it is possible that they were never close. No matter what their relationship, Marion continued to live on his family's farm and work with his father until his marriage in 1883 to neighbor Flora Belle Shuck.
On 8 August of 1885 the couple bought a farm for $1484.80 that was located on the NE 1/4 of Sect 1 Twp 71 Rng 23. Their first mortgage was for $1234.80, they paid that off on 24 June 1887, took another mortgage out on 16 May 1887 for two separate amounts of $68.01 and $1150, with the $68.01 paid off on 2 July 1892. At this time Marion and Flora's neighbors were the Robert and Elizabeth Palmer family.
On 5 September 1891 Marion purchased additional land in Lucas County:
"J.A. Robinson and Mary A. Robinson, husband and wife, in the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $120 convey to Marion S. Conner a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, Twp 71, Range 23."
By 20 January 1893 the farm was not doing well and Marion made the decision to sell off a large amount of his land with the exception of the house and the immediate land it stood on.
"M.S. Conner and Flora Connor, husband and wife, of the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $2500 convey to R.E. Morris of the County of Lucas the NE 1/4 Section 1, also a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, all in Twp 71, range 23 West subject to a certain mortgage of $1150 in favor of the Iowa Mortgage Co."
For a short time Marion tried teaching, and then he started his own Grain and Stock business, but unlike his father, everything that Marion touched did not turn to gold. His business failed and the couple lost their home as well. I came across a very strange article that appeared in the Chariton Harold, 20 April 1893 edition. There were no later articles to explain it, but when reading it consider what was going on in Marion's life at this time and several possibilities will come to mind.
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
When they decided to make a second attempt at farming on 19 February 1900, it was Flora who took out the mortgage of $2000 for the new farm and whose name appeared on the ownership papers.
"Elizabeth J. Carlson and Carl J. Carlson, husband, of Wayne County, Iowa for $2800 paid by Flora B. Conner of Lucas County sell and convey the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Sec 16, Twp 21, Range 22, Lucas County, IA."
From this point on the family was never out of debt. For the next few several years Marion made every attempt to make his second venture into farming a success, but the times were against him this time. The dust bowel years had arrived and the drought killed of his crops several years in a row. An article from the Chariton Patriot, 4 June 1931 edition shows what had to have been among the few high moments in Marion's life in the early 1930s.
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Less then two years later the Conner family could no longer hang on to their farm and on 17 October 1932 it was sold by a sheriff's sale at auction. The family owed $4779.84 and the farm sold for $4836.60. When the sale was completed on 18 October of 1933 the couple was once again broke. Marion and Flora moved in to the town of Derby and how they made their living is not clear, but they must have been doing some form of work as social security did not yet exist.
In September of 1942 Marion took a serious fall breaking several ribs and eventually developing pneumonia. On the 29th of that month he finally succumbed and passed away. His obituary was in the 1 October 1942 Edition of the Chariton Patriot:
"MARION S. CONNOR
Funeral services for Marion S. Connor, who died Tuesday morning at his home in Derby, were held at the Derby Presbyterian church this afternoon at two o'clock, conducted by Rev. Virgil Swanson, and burial was in the Goshen cemetery."
Did our great+ grandfather ever find his way back to God? That is something none of us will know until we ourselves leave this existence. Marion most definitely had a very hard life that was filled with more failures then successes, but he did bring three children into this world. And each of those three children brought another generation into it as well. So perhaps Marion Conner's greatest success was the continuation of our family line. And maybe it is one of his descendants who will make some great mark in our world one day and prove just how successful Marion Sylvester Conner was.
My Great Great Grandfather:
1860 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents - age 1.
1870 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, Joseph and George; he was attending school - age 10.
1880 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, John, George and Frank; his occupation was give as farmer.
From the Chariton Harold, 4-20-1893 Edition:
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
1900 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora and children: Hubert, Eunice and Fred; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that had a mortgage on it; he could read and write. Their next door neighbors were Robert and Elizabeth Palmer.
1910 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, son Herbert and his wife Hattie; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that was now free of mortgage; he could read and write.
1920 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson's Theodore and Marion (Fred's sons), and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that now has a mortgage back on it; he could read and write.
1930 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson Theodore (Fred's son) and mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm (mortgage status not listed on this census); the family did not own a radio.
From the Chariton Patriot, 6-4-1931 Edition:
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Marion began as a teacher and then tried his hand in business for a short time. From the "Derby Diary 1872-1972"
written for Derby's Centennial, under Business Men 1897-98 Population 300: we find "M.S. Connor - Grain and Stock." Also listed was "Connor and Pulley General Store." This Conner was William Conner, Alfred's brother.
Marion was not in business long, possibly for financial reasons. He and Flora sold their farm in 1893 to pay off their mortgage. Their second farm was purchased in 1900 by Flora and kept in her name.
They were never free from debt, mortgaging their farms over and over until they finally lost everything in the great depression of the 1930's and moved to Derby.
1940 US Federal Census
Marion lived in Derby, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, brother-in-law Charles Shuck and grandson Marion (Fred's son); his home was rented with a monthly rent of $8, the highest grade in school that he completed was 1st year of college; he had no income in 1939.
Marion died in Derby after falling, fracturing ribs which caused a pneumonia that was fatal. Marian is buried in Goshen Cemetery, Lucas County, Iowa.
From my family book 'A Pilgrimage into My Past' - Marian Sylvester Conner's Story
Marion's father, Alfred Conner was one of the earliest pioneers in Lucas County, Iowa. Alfred's grandfather probably emigrated from Ireland and his grandmother's family arrived in the American Colonies from England as far back as the early 1600s. Marion's mother, Harriet Wade's family arrived in the colonies almost as far back with some of her ancestors coming from England and others from Wales.
The first born child of his parents, Marion was born and raised in Derby, Lucas County, Iowa. His father had only arrived in Iowa four years before his birth and with the exception of a little trading point at Eddyville and a station at Chariton, the rest of the county was practically all unbroken prairie.
As Marion grew older he joined his father in working the family farm. He was a handsome, strong young man and was raised by parents strong in the Christian faith, his father a deacon of Goshen Church where they attended services. When he was just eighteen, in 1878, Marion suffered a crisis in both his faith and his relationship with his father. I have read two slightly different versions of the story, but what they both have in common are the facts that on a Sunday morning Marion remained home from church to care for his seriously ill three-year-old sister Martha and that while his parents were away the little girl died. This story was told by both Marion's granddaughter Fern Palmer Johnson and one of his grandson's (whose name, I apologize, I never wrote in my records). Both said that Marion was so distraught that his resentment was not only aimed at his father for leaving (to either attend church or to drive a visiting preacher to another church - depending on which story you go by), but also at God. They say that he fell away from the church and according to the grandson he never attended again.
It is impossible to know if Marion and his father were able to settle their differences, Alfred Conner was a bit of a larger then life figure, extremely prominent in the community and heavily involved in both community and church affairs. And so it is possible that their relationship never warmed again, but then again I have no idea what the relationship was like prior to this incident so it is possible that they were never close. No matter what their relationship, Marion continued to live on his family's farm and work with his father until his marriage in 1883 to neighbor Flora Belle Shuck.
On 8 August of 1885 the couple bought a farm for $1484.80 that was located on the NE 1/4 of Sect 1 Twp 71 Rng 23. Their first mortgage was for $1234.80, they paid that off on 24 June 1887, took another mortgage out on 16 May 1887 for two separate amounts of $68.01 and $1150, with the $68.01 paid off on 2 July 1892. At this time Marion and Flora's neighbors were the Robert and Elizabeth Palmer family.
On 5 September 1891 Marion purchased additional land in Lucas County:
"J.A. Robinson and Mary A. Robinson, husband and wife, in the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $120 convey to Marion S. Conner a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, Twp 71, Range 23."
By 20 January 1893 the farm was not doing well and Marion made the decision to sell off a large amount of his land with the exception of the house and the immediate land it stood on.
"M.S. Conner and Flora Connor, husband and wife, of the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $2500 convey to R.E. Morris of the County of Lucas the NE 1/4 Section 1, also a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, all in Twp 71, range 23 West subject to a certain mortgage of $1150 in favor of the Iowa Mortgage Co."
For a short time Marion tried teaching, and then he started his own Grain and Stock business, but unlike his father, everything that Marion touched did not turn to gold. His business failed and the couple lost their home as well. I came across a very strange article that appeared in the Chariton Harold, 20 April 1893 edition. There were no later articles to explain it, but when reading it consider what was going on in Marion's life at this time and several possibilities will come to mind.
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
When they decided to make a second attempt at farming on 19 February 1900, it was Flora who took out the mortgage of $2000 for the new farm and whose name appeared on the ownership papers.
"Elizabeth J. Carlson and Carl J. Carlson, husband, of Wayne County, Iowa for $2800 paid by Flora B. Conner of Lucas County sell and convey the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Sec 16, Twp 21, Range 22, Lucas County, IA."
From this point on the family was never out of debt. For the next few several years Marion made every attempt to make his second venture into farming a success, but the times were against him this time. The dust bowel years had arrived and the drought killed of his crops several years in a row. An article from the Chariton Patriot, 4 June 1931 edition shows what had to have been among the few high moments in Marion's life in the early 1930s.
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Less then two years later the Conner family could no longer hang on to their farm and on 17 October 1932 it was sold by a sheriff's sale at auction. The family owed $4779.84 and the farm sold for $4836.60. When the sale was completed on 18 October of 1933 the couple was once again broke. Marion and Flora moved in to the town of Derby and how they made their living is not clear, but they must have been doing some form of work as social security did not yet exist.
In September of 1942 Marion took a serious fall breaking several ribs and eventually developing pneumonia. On the 29th of that month he finally succumbed and passed away. His obituary was in the 1 October 1942 Edition of the Chariton Patriot:
"MARION S. CONNOR
Funeral services for Marion S. Connor, who died Tuesday morning at his home in Derby, were held at the Derby Presbyterian church this afternoon at two o'clock, conducted by Rev. Virgil Swanson, and burial was in the Goshen cemetery."
Did our great+ grandfather ever find his way back to God? That is something none of us will know until we ourselves leave this existence. Marion most definitely had a very hard life that was filled with more failures then successes, but he did bring three children into this world. And each of those three children brought another generation into it as well. So perhaps Marion Conner's greatest success was the continuation of our family line. And maybe it is one of his descendants who will make some great mark in our world one day and prove just how successful Marion Sylvester Conner was.
1860 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents - age 1.
1870 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas, IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, Joseph and George; he was attending school - age 10.
1880 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Union, Lucas IA with his parents & siblings: William, Eliza, John, George and Frank; his occupation was give as farmer.
From the Chariton Harold, 4-20-1893 Edition:
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
1900 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora and children: Hubert, Eunice and Fred; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that had a mortgage on it; he could read and write. Their next door neighbors were Robert and Elizabeth Palmer.
1910 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, son Herbert and his wife Hattie; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that was now free of mortgage; he could read and write.
1920 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson's Theodore and Marion (Fred's sons), and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm that now has a mortgage back on it; he could read and write.
1930 US Federal Census
Marion was living in Warren, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, grandson Theodore (Fred's son) and mother-in-law Elizabeth Shuck; his occupation is farmer, he owned his own farm (mortgage status not listed on this census); the family did not own a radio.
From the Chariton Patriot, 6-4-1931 Edition:
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Marion began as a teacher and then tried his hand in business for a short time. From the "Derby Diary 1872-1972"
written for Derby's Centennial, under Business Men 1897-98 Population 300: we find "M.S. Connor - Grain and Stock." Also listed was "Connor and Pulley General Store." This Conner was William Conner, Alfred's brother.
Marion was not in business long, possibly for financial reasons. He and Flora sold their farm in 1893 to pay off their mortgage. Their second farm was purchased in 1900 by Flora and kept in her name.
They were never free from debt, mortgaging their farms over and over until they finally lost everything in the great depression of the 1930's and moved to Derby.
1940 US Federal Census
Marion lived in Derby, Lucas, IA with his wife Flora, brother-in-law Charles Shuck and grandson Marion (Fred's son); his home was rented with a monthly rent of $8, the highest grade in school that he completed was 1st year of college; he had no income in 1939.
Marion died in Derby after falling, fracturing ribs which caused a pneumonia that was fatal. Marian is buried in Goshen Cemetery, Lucas County, Iowa.
From my family book 'A Pilgrimage into My Past' - Marian Sylvester Conner's Story
Marion's father, Alfred Conner was one of the earliest pioneers in Lucas County, Iowa. Alfred's grandfather probably emigrated from Ireland and his grandmother's family arrived in the American Colonies from England as far back as the early 1600s. Marion's mother, Harriet Wade's family arrived in the colonies almost as far back with some of her ancestors coming from England and others from Wales.
The first born child of his parents, Marion was born and raised in Derby, Lucas County, Iowa. His father had only arrived in Iowa four years before his birth and with the exception of a little trading point at Eddyville and a station at Chariton, the rest of the county was practically all unbroken prairie.
As Marion grew older he joined his father in working the family farm. He was a handsome, strong young man and was raised by parents strong in the Christian faith, his father a deacon of Goshen Church where they attended services. When he was just eighteen, in 1878, Marion suffered a crisis in both his faith and his relationship with his father. I have read two slightly different versions of the story, but what they both have in common are the facts that on a Sunday morning Marion remained home from church to care for his seriously ill three-year-old sister Martha and that while his parents were away the little girl died. This story was told by both Marion's granddaughter Fern Palmer Johnson and one of his grandson's (whose name, I apologize, I never wrote in my records). Both said that Marion was so distraught that his resentment was not only aimed at his father for leaving (to either attend church or to drive a visiting preacher to another church - depending on which story you go by), but also at God. They say that he fell away from the church and according to the grandson he never attended again.
It is impossible to know if Marion and his father were able to settle their differences, Alfred Conner was a bit of a larger then life figure, extremely prominent in the community and heavily involved in both community and church affairs. And so it is possible that their relationship never warmed again, but then again I have no idea what the relationship was like prior to this incident so it is possible that they were never close. No matter what their relationship, Marion continued to live on his family's farm and work with his father until his marriage in 1883 to neighbor Flora Belle Shuck.
On 8 August of 1885 the couple bought a farm for $1484.80 that was located on the NE 1/4 of Sect 1 Twp 71 Rng 23. Their first mortgage was for $1234.80, they paid that off on 24 June 1887, took another mortgage out on 16 May 1887 for two separate amounts of $68.01 and $1150, with the $68.01 paid off on 2 July 1892. At this time Marion and Flora's neighbors were the Robert and Elizabeth Palmer family.
On 5 September 1891 Marion purchased additional land in Lucas County:
"J.A. Robinson and Mary A. Robinson, husband and wife, in the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $120 convey to Marion S. Conner a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, Twp 71, Range 23."
By 20 January 1893 the farm was not doing well and Marion made the decision to sell off a large amount of his land with the exception of the house and the immediate land it stood on.
"M.S. Conner and Flora Connor, husband and wife, of the County of Lucas and State of Iowa for $2500 convey to R.E. Morris of the County of Lucas the NE 1/4 Section 1, also a strip 40 feet wide and 80 rods long off the south end of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, all in Twp 71, range 23 West subject to a certain mortgage of $1150 in favor of the Iowa Mortgage Co."
For a short time Marion tried teaching, and then he started his own Grain and Stock business, but unlike his father, everything that Marion touched did not turn to gold. His business failed and the couple lost their home as well. I came across a very strange article that appeared in the Chariton Harold, 20 April 1893 edition. There were no later articles to explain it, but when reading it consider what was going on in Marion's life at this time and several possibilities will come to mind.
"M. S. Conner mysteriously disappeared last Sunday night, and up to the present time nothing has been heard of his whereabouts. His wife and friends don't know what to make of the escapade."
When they decided to make a second attempt at farming on 19 February 1900, it was Flora who took out the mortgage of $2000 for the new farm and whose name appeared on the ownership papers.
"Elizabeth J. Carlson and Carl J. Carlson, husband, of Wayne County, Iowa for $2800 paid by Flora B. Conner of Lucas County sell and convey the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Sec 16, Twp 21, Range 22, Lucas County, IA."
From this point on the family was never out of debt. For the next few several years Marion made every attempt to make his second venture into farming a success, but the times were against him this time. The dust bowel years had arrived and the drought killed of his crops several years in a row. An article from the Chariton Patriot, 4 June 1931 edition shows what had to have been among the few high moments in Marion's life in the early 1930s.
"DERBY CITIZEN GIVEN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Marion Conner, of Derby, celebrated his 72nd birthday on Sunday, May 31, and in honor of the event a number of relatives went to his home with well filled baskets, and gave him a surprise and spent the day. A beautiful birthday dinner was served and a happy time was had by all. Those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott and family, Charles Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Conner and family, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. John Exley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Conner and daughter, Leila, and Frank Conner, of Derby."
Less then two years later the Conner family could no longer hang on to their farm and on 17 October 1932 it was sold by a sheriff's sale at auction. The family owed $4779.84 and the farm sold for $4836.60. When the sale was completed on 18 October of 1933 the couple was once again broke. Marion and Flora moved in to the town of Derby and how they made their living is not clear, but they must have been doing some form of work as social security did not yet exist.
In September of 1942 Marion took a serious fall breaking several ribs and eventually developing pneumonia. On the 29th of that month he finally succumbed and passed away. His obituary was in the 1 October 1942 Edition of the Chariton Patriot:
"MARION S. CONNOR
Funeral services for Marion S. Connor, who died Tuesday morning at his home in Derby, were held at the Derby Presbyterian church this afternoon at two o'clock, conducted by Rev. Virgil Swanson, and burial was in the Goshen cemetery."
Did our great+ grandfather ever find his way back to God? That is something none of us will know until we ourselves leave this existence. Marion most definitely had a very hard life that was filled with more failures then successes, but he did bring three children into this world. And each of those three children brought another generation into it as well. So perhaps Marion Conner's greatest success was the continuation of our family line. And maybe it is one of his descendants who will make some great mark in our world one day and prove just how successful Marion Sylvester Conner was.
Family Members
Siblings
