Obits: Col James J. CONNER, April 22 1876 Miners Journal: Schuylkill Cos, PA
  
  This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
  by Dale M.
  
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  SAT. APRIL 22, 1876 MINNERS JOURNAL
  
  	In the Journal yesterday the death of Col. James J. Conner was announced.  We deem it due to one who occupied such a 
  position in the community and who enjoyed so universally the public respect to speak more fully of his career.
  
  	Col. James J. Conner was born in London, England, April 6, 1818, (the birthplace of all his brothers and sisters 
  except for one sister born in the U.S.)  In 1830 his father immigrated to the US where he died in 1835.  Young Conner 
  stayed in NYC for a short time clerking in a queensware store.  He then went south making a short stay at Charleston, SC, 
  whence he went to Savannah, Ga., where he clerked for a cotton firm.  In 1837 he came to Schuylkill County and with a 
  brother worked shoveling coal.  Such employment did not suit his tastes and he resolved to have no more of it.  
  He wrote for his pay and his fine penmanship attracted the attention of one of the company officers who made him 
  bookkeeper.  In this position he continued until he entered the employ of Enoch McGinnis who built the Novelty Colliery 
  at New Phila.  In 1848 he and Mr. Oliver Roads leased the colliery carrying on a store in Connerton with it.  This colliery 
  operated several years under the name of Conner-Roads.
  
  	In Feb. 1853 Col. Conner opened a store in Ashland which was then a lonely wilderness.  In March of that year 
  he moved his family there and began to build the Locust Run colliery in Connerton w/Joseph Patterson.  
  THIS WAS THE PIONEER COLLIERY OF THE ANTHRACITE REGION.  An anecdote is told of Col. Conner in connection with 
  this venture, which illustrates the courage and determination of the man.  A friend tried to dissuade him pointing 
  out the risk of operating a colliery in a region without railroads and with few apparent advantages.
  
  	A place where they said even the Whip-poorwills would starve.  Col. Conner’s reply was he would return from the 
  region with a fortune or else come back with a bundle over his shoulder on a stick.  He went on undismayed.
  
  	The first car of coal was shipped from the Locust Run colliery Sept. 1854, but regular shipments did not begin 
  until the following year.  The coal to load the first car was brought to the old depot, Ashland in wagons.  
  Old Col. Geo. Seitzinger, a well-known man of that day was the first to toss a lump of coal into the car.  The car 
  was pulled up Gordon Plane by mules, some 40 being used.  Col. Conner shipped the 1st car of coal over these planes.  
  It was consigned as a present to John Tucker, the President of the Reading Railroad.  Mr. Tucker overlooked the matter 
  until 1866 when he sent a letter which read in part:  “Permit me at this late day to express to you my obligations for you 
  consideration in presenting to me the 1st car of coal that passed over the Ashland extension of the Mine Hill and 
  Sch. Haven RR Co.  I intended at the time to convey to you my appreciation of this act of courtesy and to allude to 
  the influence your energy and enterprise have exerted in developing the important resources of that important coal field.”
  
  	Col. Conner was the prime mover in securing the building of the Ashland extension.  The tolls on this road were 
  exorbitant, relief was sought and the Mahanoy and Broad Mt. RR was projected.  Mainly thru the efforts of Col. Conner’s 
  workmen were induced to take stock in the road.  In 1861, he and John Brock broke ground fort he road at the Repplier House 
  (formerly the Mahanoy House) at Ashland.  After completion he shipped the 1st car of coal over Mahanoy Plane, it was consigned 
  as a present for Chas. E. Smith, Reading RR President.  Following is the letter of acknowledgment:  
  Messrs. Conner and Patterson, Ashland, Pa.  “After an absence of several weeks from home I found on my return a carload of 
  lump coal mined by you and consigned to me being the 1st car over the Mahanoy and Broad Mt. RR loaded with coal.  I accept 
  it with great pleasure and hope and believe it is the forerunner of many thousands of others which will pass over the same 
  route to the advantage of us all.”  CHAS. E. SMITH, 
  Pres.
  
  	Shortly before this Col. Conner became the FIRST lessee of the Girard.  At the time the Girard heirs were contesting 
  in our court the will of the late Stephen Girard claiming the City of Philadelphia had no right to the trust.  Sch. Co. Court 
  decided in favor of the heirs and the case then went to the Supreme Court, which placed the City in Possession.  While this 
  was pending, Col. Conner affected his lease from Col. Kaercher, agent for Girard estate and built the Girardville colliery 
  at Raven Run.  The shipping books show this 1st entry:  “Aug. 16, 1862- To Hon. Alexander Henry, May of Philadelphia, 
  one car lumps coal.”  Office of the Mayor-City of Philadelphia Aug. 15, 1862 
  
  JAMES J. COMMER, ESQ. ASHLAND, PA.
  Dear Sir:  Your letter of the 18th inst. Stating that you had consigned to me a car of lump coal, being the 1st mined 
  from city lands, was rec’d this morning and I have also to acknowledge arrival of the coal.  I know of no more appropriate 
  way of disposing of your gift than by dividing it between the two volunteer Refreshment Saloons and I have accordingly directed 
  it be sent to them.  Thanking you for your courteous remembrance, I am Very respectfully,  ALEXANDER HENRY, MAYOR
  
  	As a matter of local history the following entry is from shipping books of the Girardville Colliery-“1862 Dec. 26   
  First shipments per engine direct from colliery.  So far coal was by teams of John Hower at 75¢ ton, a distance of 2 miles 
  to main road.  Branch road not finished.  Toll to Pt. Carbon 18¢ ton.”
  
  	From this accumulation of evidence it will be seen that Col. Conner was THE PIONEER COAL OPERATOR OF THE MAHANOY REGION.  
  He sold his interest in the Locust Run Colliery in 1864 and sold his Girardville Colliery to Agard, Moodie & Co. in the fall 
  of 1870, then retiring from active work.
  
  	Col. Conner was a patriotic and true citizen of his country.  He took an active interest in politics and was the 
  Democratic candidate for Congress from Schuykill and Lebanon Counties in 1868.  Thru unexpected treachery in Cass Township was 
  defeated by Col. Cake.
  
  	He was the possessor of 6 military commissions from 4 Governors.  First was in 1833 from the Gov. of Ga. Appointing 
  him ‘aide-de-camp’ with the rank of Lt. Col. In 1849 Gov. Johnson of Penna., commissioned him inspector of the 6th div., of 
  the militia for the counties of Schuykill, Carbon and Monroe.  In 1851, Gov. Johnson commissioned him Lt. Col., in the Militia.  
  In 1855 Gov. James Pollack commissioned him Div. Paymaster with the rank of Major in 1856 the same Gov. commissioned him 
  Capt., of Ashland cavalry.  In 1863 Gov. Andrew Curtin commissioned him Lt. Col., of the 53rd Rgt. Pa. Militia.
  
  	When a man passes away and an entire community speaks of him with respect there is little need for one to extol him.  
  Such is the case of Col. James J. Conner.  His memory will be his monument.