Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Connor, Thomas 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Thomas Connor, now living retired in Braidwood, was for many years extensively 
and successfully engaged in commercial pursuits and was widely known as a 
dealer in live stock. He was born in Roscommon county, Ireland, May 8, 1837, 
and his parents, Thomas and Bridget (Wauldorn) Connor, were also natives of 
the Emerald isle. The father died in that country during the early boyhood of 
his son Thomas and the mother departed this life in Braidwood, Illinois, May 
14, 1885. They were the parents of six children but only two are now living, 
the brother of our subject being William Connor, who is living retired in 
Morris, Illinois. After losing her first husband the mother became, the wife 
of Patrick Carroll and they had six children but all have passed away. The 
father of onr subject was a farmer and, cattle-buyer in Ireland and the family 
were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Connor was reared in the 
land of his nativity to the age of ten years, when, in 1847, he came to the 
United States on a sailing ship which was six weeks and three days in making 
the voyage. He crossed the Atlantic with his mother, stepfather, two sisters 
and one brother, landing at Quebec, whence they made their way to Montreal, 
Canada, and afterward to Lebanon, New Hampshire, where they spent six months. 
They then removed to Hanover, Vermont, where a year was passed, after which 
the family started by wagon to Whitehall and thence proceeded by canal to 
Troy, New York, and over the Erie canal to Buffalo. At the last named place 
they boarded a steamer bound for Chicago and after reaching that port 
proceeded over the Illinois and Michigan canal to Joliet. From early boyhood 
Thomas Connor has been dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood. He 
worked as a coal miner for about twelve years, during which period he saved 
his earnings, so that in 1870 he had capital sufficient to enable him to 
engage in the meat market business at Braidwood in partnership with his 
brother William under the firm style of Connor Brothers. They also engaged in 
buying cattle and hogs for their market for about thirty-five years and as he 
prospered in his undertakings Mr. Connor made judicious investment in land, 
becoming the owner of a half section in Reed and two farms, one of eighty 
acres, the other of one hundred and sixty acres in Custer township. He also 
owns a half interest with his brother in one hundred and sixty acres in the 
same township. He has two hundred and forty acres of land in Kankakee county, 
together with three quarters of a section of coal lands on which the Drue coal 
mine is located. It is now being operated by the Joliet & Wilmington Coal 
Company. In the spring of 1906 Mr. Connor took a trip into the gulf section of 
Texas and bought four hundred acres of fine land well adapted to the raising 
of fruit, cotton and rice. In 1904 he erected a fine residence in Braidwood, 
where he is now living retired, his extensive property interests bringing to 
him a very desirable annual income. On the 14th of May, 1865, Mr. Connor was 
married to Miss Susan McCann, who was born in Tyrone, Ireland, January 1, 
1836, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (McCarney) McCann, both of whom were 
natives of the Emerald isle and were married there. The father came to the 
United States in 1849 on a sailing vessel, landing at New York city. He thence 
made his way to Joliet, where he was first employed on public works. In 1858 
he sent for his wife and five children and they came to the new world on a 
sailing vessel, which dropped anchor in the harbor of New York, whence they 
proceeded westward by rail to Joliet. In the meantime Mr. McCann had carefully 
saved his earnings and purchased a farm in Will county, near Joliet, whereon 
he spent his remaining days engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-
raising. He was a school director for many years and was interested in the 
growth and upbuilding of the community. His political allegiance was given to 
the democracy and he was a member of the Roman Catholic church. He died in 
1885, at the age of seventy-eight years, while his wife survived until 1891, 
passing away at the age of eighty-two. Three of their children are now living: 
Bridget, the wife of Felix McCann, of Minnesota; Mary, the widow of James 
Riley and a resident of Joliet; and Mrs. Connor. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Connor have 
been born eleven children: Mary, the widow of James Dunn; Catherine, the wife 
of John Moffit; Nellie, who became the wife of Thomas Kasher and died at the 
age of thirty-three years; Susan, the wife of Patrick Linskey; Thomas, who 
died at the age of eight years; Henry, who died when six years of age; Annie, 
the wife of Michael Vickers; Agnes, Lucy, Ada and Blanche, all at home. The 
family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church. In politics Mr. Connor 
is independent, voting for the best man regardless of party affiliation. He 
has served as highway commissioner in Reed township and has been school 
director for four or five years. He has made an excellent record in the 
business world and his life shows what may be accomplished by firm and earnest 
purpose guided by sound business judgment and keen discrimination. Starting 
out in life when but a boy as an employe in the coal mines, he has made steady 
and substantial advancement until he is today one of the prosperous residents 
of Will county with extensive invested interests which bring him a gratifying 
annual income and enable him to enjoy life in comfort and ease. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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