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Submitted by Cheryl Van Wormer.


				VIRGIL G. AND SARAH J. (CONNER) CONNER.

VIRGIL G. CONNER, one of the oldest citizens of Ionia County, resides on section 30, Easton 
Township.  He was born November 10, 1842, and is the son of Thomas H. and Mary A. (Hunt) Conner, 
natives of New York.  His paternal ancestry is of Irish blood and his mother is descended from 
Quaker ancestry.  His father was an emigrant to Ionia County in 1835, and was active in opening 
up the county and clearing it of timber.  His death took place on the home farm, October 17, 
1885.  He and his brother Jared Conner, owned a pole-boat or flat-boat and took out the first 
wheat that was exported form Ionia County, transporting it to Grand Rapids.
	The father of our subject was surrounded by Indian neighbors with whom he carried on 
trade.  He was the first Constable of the town, being elected at the first town meeting.  For a 
number of years he worked for the Rev. William M. Ferry of Grand Haven, in the lumber business, 
but in 1852 he returned to his farm in Easton Township, and lived here until his death.  His wife
survived him but passed to the other world December 7, 1889.  their three children, are our 
subject; Mrs. Mason of Osceola County, Mich.; and Mrs. Tunsmore.  He was an active church worker
in the Congregational denomination, and his enterprise, character and ability strongly emphasized 
his loss when he was taken away.
	The subject of this sketch received the rudiments of his education in what is known as 
the Dexter district school of Easton Township.  These opportunities have been supplemented  by 
a life-long habit of reading, and he has in this way become a well-informed man.  In the early 
days of the Civil War he became greatly interested in the conflict and enlisted August 8, 1862, 
in Company K, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, which became a part of the army of the Cumberland, 
under Sheridan, Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman.  He participated in the battle of Perryville, and 
was all through Buell's campaign in Kentucky in the fall of 1862.  At Chickamauga he receive a 
gunshot wound in the left side, which now entitles him to a pension of $4 per month.  In the 
summer of 1864 he was stationed at Chattanooga, and his regiment was detailed as engineers and 
built the military bridge across the Tennessee River.  He was also in the battles of Averysboro 
and Bentonville, took part in the seige of Savannah, and was in numerous skirmishes of minor 
importance.  He marched with Sherman to the sea and cherishes with pride the old rifle which he 
carried all through that wonderful march.  This is an Enfield rifle of English manufacture, 
carrying an ounce ball about a mile.
	After his honorable discharge June 8, 1865, our subject returned to Ionia County, where 
he still makes his home.  His marriage took place May 19, 1881.  He was then united with Mrs.
Sarah J. Dexter, widow of the late S. T. Dexter.  She is a native of Orange County, N. Y., where 
she was born October 17, 1831.  She is of New York parentage, her father being Benjamin Conner,
and her mother bearing the maiden name of Catherine Bronson.  She was an emigrant at a very early
age, coming to Michigan when about five months old.  Her parents made their first home in Oakland 
County, but later came to the Grand River Valley and settled in Easton Township.  Her parental 
family consisted of seven children; Sarah J., William H., Virgil B., George W., Arthur A., Ellen 
M. and Catherine A.  Her first marriage which united her with S. T. Dexter, took place February 
28, 1850.  This gentleman came to Ionia County when only eight years of age, and belonged to one 
of the pioneer families of the township.  Her marriage with Mr. Dexter gave her two children--
Marshall S. and Benjamin C.  Marshall S. was a student in the High School, was taken sick and 
went to California for his health, but died in Woodland, that State, and was buried there; 
Benjamin C. was a young man of bright promise, who served as guard at the prison, and later as 
keeper, and returned home to recuperate, but died in a short time.  He left a widow who was 
formerly known as Miss Mathie A. Stebbens; she too is now deceased.  Mr. Dexter was a man of 
prominence and held several offices of public trust, and was Justice of the Peace for a number 
of years.  He was a Christian gentleman and died in the faith of the Congregational Church.
	Mr. Conner is a stalwart Republican in politics, a man greatly interested in matters of 
public importance; he has seventy acres of land in an excellent state of cultivation.  Mr. Conner
has served both in 1880 and in 1890 as United States Census Enumerator in Easton Township.  He 
has filled the offices of Township Clerk and School Director.  Mr. and Mrs. Conner are among the 
most honored and esteemed pioneers of the Grand River Valley.  Their hospitality is widely known 
and they are greatly admired by their neighbors for the benevolence and sociability.  In the 
business community Mr. Conner's veracity is unquestioned and he receives deserved credit for 
his record both as a citizen and a soldier.
				


This biography is taken from "PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, 
MICHIGAN."  Chapman Brothers.  Chicago, Illinois.  1891.  Pages 380-381.