Artis "Artie" Price Conner

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JN4G-ZZR
name: Artie Price Conner
death date: 14 Nov 1976
death place: Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
gender: Male
race: White
death age: 78 years
estimated birth date:
birth date: 16 Oct 1898
birthplace: Hemphill Texas
marital status:
spouse's name:
father's name: Leander Conner
father's birthplace:
mother's name: Martha Smith
mother's birthplace:
occupation: accountant gas pipeline
place of residence:
cemetery:
burial place:
burial date:
additional relatives:
film number: 2243983
digital film number: 4005513
image number: 00954
reference number: 84134
Collection: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," Artie Price Conner, 1976

Notes:

In 1900, his nephew Willis, age 8, was living with them.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr 2
Enumerated 7 June 1900
SD 8 ED 69 Sheet 4B
68-68
Conner, L. J. Head M W Jan 1853 47 m 26 Ga Ga Ga Farmer
Conner, Caroline M Wf W F Nov 1856 43 m 26 9/8 Tx Ala Tx
Conner, Jessie Son W M Dec 1876 23 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Lizzie C Dtr W F Jun 1878 21 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Gilbert W Son M W Aug 1880 18 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Cornelia N Dtr W F Nov 1882 17 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Rosa C Dtr W F Oct 1884 15 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Ada W F May 1889 11 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Starlin Son M W May 1892 8 S Tx Ga Tx
Conner, Artie P Son W M Oct 1898 1 Tx Ga Tx
Conner, Willie Nephew W M May 1881 18 S Tx Ga Tx

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 2
Enumerated 20 and 21 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 132 Sheet 3B
59-59
Conner, Leander Head m W 60 Wd Ga Ga tga Farmer
Conner, Ada Dtr F W 20 S Tx Ga Tx
Conner, Starling Son M W 17 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Artie Son M W 11 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
McDaniel, Nolan Hired Boy M W 15 S Tx SC Tx Farm Laborer

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 7
Enumerated 9 and 12 day of Jan 1920
SD 326 ED 169 Sheet 7A
122-122
Conner, Leander J Head M W 69 Wd Ga Ga Ga Farmer
Conner, Starlin W Son M W 28 M Tx Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Connor, Lorena Dtr-in-law F W 24 M Tx Tx Tx

Leander married Martha "Marthy" Caroline Smith. Martha (daughter of John A. Smith and Amanda Low) was born on 7 Nov 1856 in Texas; died on 15 Mar 1907 in Texas; was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Yellowpine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There was a Willis Conner in the "1840 Decatur County Georgia Census Index " (Frances T. Ingmire, Mountain Press). Decatur is very near the Florida border. Could this be him?

Came to Texas in 1857 from Tattonall County, Geogia.

Was shown on the muster roll of Captain J.M. Burroughs Company of the Sabine County Volunteer Infantry, CSA, and was enlisted at Hemphill, Texas by Drury Field for 3 months duty on January 15, 1863. His headstone is marked Texas Infantry, CSA.


On his "12 to Midnight" blog, Ed Wetterman (edwetterman@hotmail.com) writes:

In the 1880's several of Sabine County's families became embroiled in an unfortunate shooting feud that disrupted the whole community. Fathers, sons, daughters and cousins became engulfed in the fighting that would ravage the county from 1883 to 1887.

It began with the murders of Eli Low and Kit Smith in Holly Bottom off Housin Bayou in the southern part of Sabine County. The bodies were found about ten feet apart and the men had been shot in the back. The funerals were quickly held and many thought it suspicious that the Conner family had not attended.

It was known that the Conner and Low families had argued in the past about free-ranging and the building of schools and roads. Apparently many angry words had been exchanged, but the situation had never erupted into violence.

After a short investigation, Willis Conner, along with his sons, Fed, William, John and Charles were indicted for the murders and held without bond. Charles and Fed's trial was held first and they were found guilty. Charles was sent to prison for twenty-five years. Fed was given life in prison, but successfully appealed his case and was retried. He was again found guilty. He would never serve, however, as the jail was broken into and Willis, Fed, William and John escaped into the countryside- where they began a running war with the law enforcement of the day.

The Texas Rangers were called in to assist in arresting the Conners, but were ambushed and one Ranger, J.H. (Jim) Moore was killed. William Conner was also killed and many others were wounded. Willis, Fed and John escaped the battle. The Rangers, having suffered a grievous defeat, left Sabine County and did not return. John Conner then abandoned Willis and Fed and according to Ruth Sibley Davis in her book "Neighbor against Neighbor," moved to start a new life in Louisiana.

The people of the county, wanting to end the violence, began to pressure local officers to arrest the Conners. Eventually, a private investigator was hired and disguised as a cattle buyer went through the county looking for clues to the Conner's whereabouts. He learned that Willis and Fed's families left food and supplies for them on a trail somewhere deep in the woods. An ambush was set up and Fed Conner was killed. Willis escaped, but was killed a few weeks later, when his young grandson, a boy of twelve, was coming to give him food. The boy had been tracked and followed by a posse and in the ensuing gunfight, Willis and the boy were killed.

This sad situation finally ended the Low-Conner Feud which had divided the county for so long. For years, no one wanted to discuss what had occurred as it was simply too divisive and the families too intermingled to be considered a worthy subject of conversation.



(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Georgia, Tatnall County, No. 79 Subdivision
Enumerated 9 Dec 1850
(image on ancestry.com is very faint)
???-332
William and Nancy Conner
333-335
Willis Conner 28 Farmer birthplace: ditto (Tatnall?)
Percy Conner 25 birthplace: ditto (Tatnall?)
Fedrick Conner 3 birthplace: ditto (Tatnall?)
Charles Conner 1 birthplace: ditto (Tatnall?)

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Patroon Beat No. 5, PO Milam
Enumerated 7 July 1860
Page 31
231-232
Willis Conner 37 M Farmer $--- $1700 Ga
Piercey Conner 35 F Ga
Frederick M Conner 12 M Ga
Charles W Conner 10 M Ga
Leonard J Sonner 8 M Ga
Alfred H Conner 6 M Ga
William Conner 4 M Ga
Catherine P Conner 2 F Ga

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Beat No 2, PO Sabine Town
Enumerated 2 August 1870
Page 24
503-504
Conner, Willis 47 M W Farmer $500 $500 Ga
Conner, Therisa (sic) 45 F W Keeping House Ga
Conner, Federick M 23 M Ga
and on a separate page (appears to have been inadvertantly seperated?)
Texas, Sabine County, Beat No. 3, PO Brookeland
Enumerated 4 Aug 1870
Stamped 19
502-502
Charles W 21 M W Ga
Leander J 17 M W Ga
Alfred H 16 M S Fl
William E 14 M W Fla
Percy D 13 F W Fla
John M 9 M W Tx
Nancy B 7 F W Tx

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 2
Enumerated 2 July 1880
Page 19 SD 1 ED 84
168-179
Jackson and Susan Low family
169-180
Connor, Willis W M 58 Farmer Ga SC Ga
Connor, Pierce W F 55 Wf Ga Ga SC
Connor, Wm W M 25 Son Fla Ga Ga
Connor, John W M 19 Son Tx Ga Ga
Connor, Nancy W F 15 Dtr Tx Ga Ga
170-181
Connor, Alfred W M 27 Farmer Fla Ga Ga
Connor, Sarah W F 24 Wife La Miss La
Connor, Alfred W M 7 Son Tx Fla La
Connor, Stephen W M 5 Son Tx Fla La
Connor, Fanny W F 3 Dtr Tx Fla La
Connor, Riley W M 1 Son Tx Fla La

Willis married Piercy Douglas on 1 Aug 1844 in Tattnall County, Georgia. Piercy was born on 4 Apr 1824 in Tattnall County, Georgia; died on 22 Oct 1898 in Many, Sabine Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Conner Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Query from Tem Moody

Piercy Douglass, born 24 Apr 1824 in GA. Married (1) Willis Jackson Conner 1 Aug 1844 (2) M. J. Coleman. Willis J. Conner died 1887 in Sabine Co. TX and is buried in Conner Cemetery, Sabine Co. TX. Piercy died 22 Oct 1898 in Sabine County TX and may be buried in the Conner Cemetery or in the Douglas Cemetery in Union County FL. Attempting to verify date of death and burial place of Piercy nee Douglass.

Reply from Linda King Davenport

The Index to the Cemeteries of Sabine County Texas 1836 - 1964 copyrighted by J. B. Sanders 1964 states the burial place as Conner Cemetery with 5 unmarked graves. To quote: "Conner, Percy 15 Mar 1824 - 22 Oct 1898" I don't know if "Percy" was misspelled in Mr. Sanders' book or on the tombstone. This is not my line and I have not researched this at all. Happy hunting!

Ron McClendon noted that he is not sure of the second marriage.

She was the daughter of Frederick Douglas.

FindAGrave shows that "Piercey was the daughter of Frederick Douglas and wife, Bethamy Hannah Anderson Douglas. She was born with twin sister, Tiercey Douglas. Married Willis William Jackson Conner on 1 Aug 1844 in Tattnall County, Georgia."

John married Amanda Low about 1856. Amanda (daughter of Jesse Low and Harriet Hines) was born about 1839 in Texas; died about 1898. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Came to Texas after 1850 and settled near the Newton County line on Sandy Creek. (White and Toole, p 30).

John married Mary ???. Mary was born about 1807 in Georgia; was buried in Smith-Mason (Deas-Mason-Smith) Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jesse married Harriet Hines on 28 May 1836 in Sabine County, Texas. Harriet (daughter of Elbert Hines and Mahana Melton) was born on 1 Nov 1817 in Mississippi; died on 12 Nov 1875. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]