"Among the citizens of Pleasant
Valley township, Fayette county, Iowa, who have not only won by their
personal efforts a fair share of this world's goods, but also, because
of their upright and honorable lives, the respect and esteem of the
entire community , the subject of this sketch stands pre-eminent. He
has at all times stood for the highest and best interests of the
community and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of the
township.
Isaac N. CONNER was born February
1, 1853, at Elgin, Iowa, and is a son of Benjamin and Eliza (CANE)
Conner. Benjamin Conner was born in Madison county,
Indiana, in 1826, and is a son of John and Mahala
(CHRIS)) CONNER.
The latter was born in Tennessee and died after
her removal to Iowa; her husband died in Illinois. In 1836, at the
age of ten years, Benjamin CONNER left Indiana with his parents, en
route for the West, which held out glowing promises to the pioneer
settlers, but the father died on the way, in Illinois. The trip was
made by wagon and the journey was a long tiresome one, made doubly so
by the death of the husband and father. The family located in Green
county, Wisconsin, where Benjamin Conner was reared to maturity. In
1847 he was married to Eliza CANE. Two years later he located in
Pleasant Valley township, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres
of government land, located south of Elgin. He entered at once on the
task of clearing and developing this property, putting up a set of log
buildings, in which the family lived about 2 1/2 years, at the end of
which time they moved to Turkey River where they bought land. Mr.
CONNER was prospered in his business affairs and added to his landed
holdings from time to time, until at length he owned eight hundred
acres of good and cultivable land. The improvements on the place
comprised a comfortable residence, an "Iowa" barn and other
necessary buildings. Eventually Mr. CONNER rented this property and
moved to a farm on the West Union/Elkader Road, comprising 120 acres,
where he resided until the death of his wife. In 1895, he came to
Elgin to live, and has since maintained his residence here, having
been practically retired from active labor since 1905. To him and his
wife were born the following children: Asbury, Eliza Jane, Isaac,
Precilla, Abijah, Henry and Wakeman. In matters political Mr. conner
has been a stanch advocate of the principles embodied in the platforms
of the Republican party, but later supported the Greenbacks, and
eventually allied himself with the Democratic party, with which he is
now affiliated. He has at all times taken an intelligent interest in
local public affairs and has given good service to the community as
road supervisor and school director.
Isaac N. CONNER was reared under the parental roof and
received his early education in the district schools. He was early
inured to the work of the farm and until he attained his majority he
proved an able assistant to his father. Starting out in life then on
his own account, he went to Dakota and acquired one hundred and sixty
acres of land, which he devoted with much success to the raising of
grain until 1898, when he returned to Iowa and bought two hundred and
twenty acres of land comprising the splendid farm in Pleasant Valley
Township, Fayette county, which he now occupies. Here he carries on
general farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the
country, and he also gives considerable attention to the breeding and
raising of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle. He is practical and
progressive in his operations and is accounted one of the enterprising
and successful farmers of the township.
In 1877 Mr. Conner
was united in marriage to Alice Elizabeth KREPS, a native of
Switzerland, and they have become the parents of the following
children: Rebecca May, Edith Lavica, Benjamin Walter, Mahala Maude,
Milo Dwight, Weaver Dow, Elizabeth Matilda, Clara Leila, Winifred
Sophronia and Isaac James. Mrs. Conner was reared and educated in her
native state and in 1857 came to the United States to make her future
home.
Mr. Conner was formerly affiliated with the Greenback
party, but of recent years he has given a stanch support to the
Democratic tickets. He has taken an active interest in local public
affairs and has rendered efficient service in a number of township
offices, including those of pathmaster, member of the township board,
constable, school director and assessor. In every official position to
which called, Mr. Conner has proved faithful to his trust and he
enjoys marked prestige among the citizens of this township with whom
he has lived so long. He possesses personal qualities of a high order
and enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout the county, among which are
a large number of warm and loyal friends."