BIO: John Bexton CONNER, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 979 - 981. _____________________________________________________________ JOHN BEXTON CONNER, postmaster of Burnside borough, and a prosperous business man of this place, where he also keeps a drug store and job printing establishment, was born in Indiana county, Pa., March 5, 1859, a son of John Chapman and Anna (Widowson) Conner. His father, John C. Conner, was born in Indiana county, in 1831, and died at Burnside, Clearfield county, February 13, 1909. When a young man he was engaged in mercantile business in Indiana county and subsequently carried on a store of his own at Mitchells Mills, that county, for about four years. He came to Burnside in 1868, and was at first employed here as a clerk, but later opened a store of his own, being a member of the firm of Kime & Conner, general merchants. Two years after he bought out his partner's interest and continued the business under the name of J. C. Conner, adding thereto a lumber business. His son, Harry Charles Conner, was admitted as a partner in 1885. John C. Conner was also a partner in the lumber firm of Hopkins, Irvin & Conner, having heavy investments in this concern. Their business was wiped out at the time of the great Johnstown flood, May 31, 1889, which destroyed the town, causing great loss of life. In this, one of the memorable disasters in the world's history, he lost nearly all his fortune, and retired from active business life. During his earlier years he had been one of the most enterprising and successful business men of this locality, and his misfortunes were due to no fault of his. He was active in politics and served as a justice of the peace in Indiana county and later at Burnside. He was elected on the Republican ticket for the office of county auditor. He was reelected justice of the peace, dying on the very day of his election. He was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Conner married first Anna Widowson, who died, leaving three children: Nettie, who is the wife of A. K. Long, of Burnside; Jennie, wife of Elwood Henderson, of Burnside; and John B., the subject of this sketch. Mr. J. C. Conner married for his second wife, Emily V. McClure, a daughter of Stansburg McClure. She died at the age of 48 years, April 12, 1891. Three children were born of this marriage, William M., Harry Charles, and Emma A., the last mentioned being the wife of W. E. Patchin, of Burnside. John Bexton Conner, after his school days were over, acted as clerk for his father until reaching the age of 25 years. He then entered into partnership with Dr. Prowell of Burnside, taking up the study of pharmacy, and subsequently buying out his partner, engaged in the drug business for himself at Burnside. He later opened a drug store at Glen Campbells. He later established a bottling works for soft drinks at Glen Campbell in 1899, and also established a branch of the same at Burnside. In the latter place, in 1908, he opened a printing office for job work, which he has conducted successfully. In 1897 Mr. Conner was appointed postmaster for the borough of Burnside, and has so continued up to the present time. He also served a previous appointment to this office under the Harrison administration. A staunch Republican in politics, he has also held office as councilman and treasurer of the borough, as well as burgess. J. B. Conner was married, October 25, 1892, to Lura J. Weaver, a native of Burnside township, born April 2, 1877. Her parents were Charles C. and Agnes (McCardell) Weaver, and she is a great-great-granddaughter of John Weaver, who was born in Switzerland and a granddaughter of John Weaver, who was born in Northampton county, Pa., and who died May 18, 1870, at the advanced age of 90 years and three days. His wife, whose name in maidenhood was Ruth Zimmerman, died November 20, 1873, at the age of 86 years, six months and thirteen days. Samuel B. Weaver, Mrs. Conner's grandfather, was born February 2, 1815, and when a young man followed the carpenter's trade in New York state. Coming subsequently to Clearfield county, Pa., he settled in Burnside township and in 1835 built the old log edifice of the Mt. Zion church, then one of the very few church buildings to be found in this section. Its site is now marked by an old hemlock tree. He also built many of the large barns in this locality. He married Keziah Logan, who was born January 1, 1817, a daughter of David and Charlotte (Feree) Logan, the former born March 29, 1789 and the latter June 4, 1788. Charles C. Weaver, Mrs. Conner's father, was born in Burnside township December 25, 1841, and was occupied as a farmer and lumberman during all his industrial period. His death took place in 1889 when he was 47 years old. He was a Civil war veteran, enlisting October 25, 1861, for three years, in Company C, 105th Regt. Pa. Inf., Col. A. McKnight. He served in the Army of the Potomac under Generals McClellan and Burnside, was promoted to corporal April 1, 1864, and to sergeant August 28, 1864. At the end of the three years' service he re- enlisted and served to the close of the war, being mustered out July 11, with an honorable record as a soldier. His wife Agnes, who was born April 7, 1852, was a daughter of John and Jane (Pilson) McCardell, pioneer settlers of this region. Mr. and Mrs. John B. Conner have been the parents of seven children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: John B., Jr., born 1894; Charles, who died in infancy; Samuel Arthur, 1899; Mark, 1902; Percy, 1904; Mary Agnes, 1906; and Lura Elizabeth, 1908.