My Genealogy Hound

JOHN ALEXANDER CONNER, justice of the peace, New Texas, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in March, 1826, a son of John and Jane (Selfridge) Conner. His father died in 1848, aged fifty-four years, and was buried in Scotland. The subject of this sketch came to America in 1843, spent two years in Indiana, and then served an apprenticeship at the shoe business in Philadelphia. He then passed one winter in Pittsburgh, and after traveling through Ohio and Indiana, returned to that city. Feb. 22, 1849, he married Elizabeth Fleming Arthurs, also a native of County Deny, Ireland, born December, 1828, a daughter of James and Jane (Conner) Arthurs, former of whom died in Pittsburgh in 1847, and latter, who was born in 1805, lives with Mrs. Conner. To Mr. and Mrs. John A. Conner eleven children were born, seven of whom are deceased. The living are Alexander A. (conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad), Lida Jane (Mrs. J. H. Miskinins), Anna M. (Mrs. William Davidson) and Jennie (at home). After marriage Mr. Conner carried on the boot and shoe business at Xenia, Ohio, under firm name of Allen & Conner, for five years, employing several men. In 1854 he settled at New Texas in the same business; was instrumental in starting a post office there in 1856, and was assigned to the postmastership and served as such until December, 1862; was again appointed postmaster in December, 1866, and served until Oct. 1, 1868, when he resigned to take the office of justice of the peace, which he has held since that time. He and Mrs. Conner are members of Plum Creek Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W.; he is a democrat.