Francis Maude "Mollie" Conner

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J636-YH3
name: Francis Mollie Ferguson
death date: 24 Sep 1975
death place: Jasper, Jasper, Texas
gender: Female
race:
death age: 62 years
estimated birth date: 1913
birth date:
birthplace:
marital status:
spouse's name:
father's name: Robert Conner
father's birthplace:
mother's name: Ada Crocket
mother's birthplace:
occupation:
place of residence:
cemetery:
burial place:
burial date:
additional relatives: X
film number: 2243834
digital film number: 4167898
image number: 2485
reference number: 83903
Collection: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," Francis Mollie Ferguson, 1975

Francis married Ivy Manuel Ferguson about 1927. Ivy (son of Martin Young Ferguson and Annie S. McGraw) was born on 14 Oct 1908 in Texas; died on 20 Feb 1983; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Verna Marie Ferguson was born on 30 Oct 1929 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 4 Jan 2009 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried on 7 Jan 2009 in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
2. Rev. Ivy Wendell "Buckshot" "I W" Ferguson was born about 1932 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 7 Feb 2008 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
3. Living
4. Robert Earl Ferguson was born on 27 Sep 1938 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 28 Jun 2014 in Spring Hill Community, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
5. Living
6. Patsy Ferguson was born on 17 Jan 1944 in Spring Hill Community, Sabine County, Texas; died on 3 Feb 2020 in De Pere, Brown County, Wisconsin.

Notes:

At the time of the 1900 Federal census, he and his wife Ada were living with his widowed mother in Sabine County, Texas.

(Research):
Census Information:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP One
Enumerated 25 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 131 Sheet 4A
Hemphill and YellowPine Road
105-107
Conner, William F Head m W 26 m1 0 Tx Fl Tx Farmer
Conner, Emme E Wf F W 16 m1 0 0/0 Tx Ark Tx
Conner, Pauline Mother F W 56 Wd 8/5 Tx Miss Ala
Smith, Robert J Servant M W 18 S Tx Ark Tx
106-108
Conner, Robert Head M W 30 m1 10 Tx Ga Tx Farmer
Conner, Francis A Wf F W 29 m1 10 4/3 Tx Un Un
Conner, Hessie E Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Robert A Son m W 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Sadie P Dtr F W 2 S Tx Tx Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Justice Precinct One
Enumerated 20 January 1920
SD 326 WD 168 Sheet 20A
347-419
Conner, Robert Hd M W 39 M Tx Fl Tx Farmer
Conner, Francis A Wif F W 38 M Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Hessie E Dtr F W 17 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Robert A Son M W 15 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Conner, Sadie P Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Francis M Dtr F W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Edward A Son M W 4 3/12 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Gladys W Dtr F W 1 11/12 S Tx Tx Tx

Robert married Ada Francis Crockett on 1 Feb 1900 in Sabine County, Texas. Ada (daughter of James Crockett and Mary Elizabeth Kelley) was born in Dec 1880 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 7 Jul 1958 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried on 8 Jul 1958 in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mrs. Ada Conner Dies July 7

Funeral services for Mrs. Ada Frances Conner, 76, were held Tuesday, July 8, at 4 p.m. at the East Mayfield Baptist Church with the pastor, the Rev. L. R. Dunn, officiating. Assisting was the Rev. Dan Marshall, pastor of the Jasper Baptist Church. Burial was in the Springhill cemetery under the direction of the Starr Funeral Home of Hemphill.

Mrs. Conner died suddenly July 7 at her home here at 1:20 p.m. from a heart attack. She was a native of Sabine County and had lived here all her life.

Survivors include five daughters, Mrs. Obie Kindley, Mrs. Floyd Lott and Mrs. Ivy Ferguson, all of Hemphill; Mrs. Marvin Herndon of Huntington and Mrs. A. B. Jenkins of Beaumont; two sons, Alton Conner of Hemphill, and Robert Conner of Beaumont; 24 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.
****************************************************

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txsabine/obituaries/TXSabine_Obits_Surname-C.htm

Laura Buckmaster shows her as a daughter of James CROCKETT and Mary Elizabeth KELLEY.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J633-QQS
Name: Ada Francis Conner
Event Date: 07 Jul 1958
Event Place: Precinct 1, Hemphill, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race (Original):
Age (Formatted): 75 years
Birth Year (Estimated): 1883
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name:
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Kelley
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation:
Residence Place:
Cemetery (Original):
Burial Place: Sabine Co., Texas
Burial Date: 08 Jul 1958
Informant's Name (Original):
GS Film number: 2115590
Digital Folder Number: 4167375
Image Number: 1159
Reference ID: 47322
Collection: Ada Francis Conner, "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976"

(Research):
Census Information:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Justice Precinct 1
Enumerated 22 April 1930
ED 202-3 SD 19 Sheet 1B
Pineland Springhill Road
10-10
Conner, Francis A. Hd F W 49 Wd 18 Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Conner, Robert A Son M W 24 Wd 20 Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Conner, Edward A Son M W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Gladys W Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Conner, Dollie Dtr F W 9 S Tx Tx Tx

Notes:

Fed, along with his father Willis, and brothers William, John and Charles were indicted for the murders of Eli Low and Kit Smith after a short trial and based on a longstanding feud over free-ranging. 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.
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. Courtesy of Ed Wetterman (edwetterman@hotmail.com), as posted on his website http://clikto/sabinefeud

(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 census
not located

1880 census
not located

Frederick married Nancy Pauline Travis after 1870. Nancy (daughter of James Cannon Travis and Sophronia Pauline White) was born on 2 Sep 1852 in Texas; died on 26 Sep 1927; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1910 Federal census, she was living with her son and daughter in law, William F. and Emma Conner, in Sabine County; and in 1920 she was living with son Willis and his wife Nora.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct No 1
Enumerated 19 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 68 Sheet 8A
125-129
Conner, Nancy W F Sept 1852 47 Wd 8/5 Tx La Miss Farmer
Conner, Robt W F Feb 1880 20 M 0 Tx Fla La Farm Laborer
Conner, Ada Dtr-in-Law W F Dec 1880 20 M 0/0 Tx Tx Tx

Notes:

"Looking through Ancestry's World family trees......He was the son of Andrew David Crockett and Clarissa Ann Richardson Crockett Foster

The 1860 census list his age as 6/12 the census was dated 7-30-1860
therefore making him born probably Late Jan or early Feb 1860. He died I can
only tell you bet Dec 1880 and 1900."

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CROCKETT/2006-10/1159747862

James married Mary Elizabeth Kelley on 30 Oct 1879 in Newton County, Texas. Mary (daughter of Elijah Kelley and Nancy Shepherd) was born about 1860 in Texas; and died. [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."

Notes:

He was known by his middle name, Cannon. He may have been married previously to an Elizabeth, also from Mississippi.

According to the MINUTES 1858-1890 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HEMPHILL, TEXAS, (James) Cannon and Sophronia (White) Travis were among the 11 founding members of the church. Sophronia was admitted by voucher on September 7, 1857 from W. C. Southwell, Missionary East Texas, as was her husband, Cannon Travis. Fellowship was withdrawn from Cannon Travis on November 10, 1860, and restored September 24, 1864. In June 1884, "charges having been preferred against Bro. Cannon Travis for unchristian conduct & said charges as alleged being Sustained, it was ordered that the Church withdraw fellowship from him & it is further ordered that his name be erased from the Church Book."

Note: Children's names and birthdates are based on a transcription of the 1870 census. The actual 1870 and 1880 census microfilm's should be carefully checked. The 1880 extract seems to have several glaring discrencies in names and dates. Blanche Toole speculates that perhaps the census taker knew Cannon and his family, and completed the information from (faulty) memory instead of by actually interviewing the family. Also, Charlie White lists a child named Jann White, born ca 1868 per the 1870 census who is not listed on either transcription of the census. Perhaps this is Martha Jane White.

Military Service Co. D 1 Tex HV Arty CSA (Courtesy of Tony Pickett)

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.

Jules Hurst writes that "I understand that Cannon died in Texas of cancer of the eye."

James married Sophronia Pauline White on 5 Dec 1850 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Sophronia (daughter of Edward White and Elizabeth Strickland) was born in Nov 1833 in Amite County, Mississippi; died on 15 Jun 1915 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sophronia was born during an auspicious month. On November 13, 1833, between midnight and dawn, thousands of meteors showered the sky over North America. To the native peoples of the land, it appeared that the stars were falling out of the heavens. Some thought it was the judgment day. Others called it "The Night the Stars Fell".

A young girl who was a slave at the time of the event said "Somebody in the quarters started yellin' in the middle of the night to come out and to look up at the sky. We went outside and there they was a fallin' everywhere! Big stars coming down real close to the groun' and just before they hit the ground they would burn up! We was all scared. Some O'the folks was screamin' and some was prayin' we all made so much noise, the white folk came out to see what was happenin'. They looked up and then they got scared too."

The celestial phenomenon called "the most impressive and awesome display ever recorded" was, in fact, the Leonids meteor shower seen in one of its most impressive years. Viewers witnessed 50,000 to 150,000 meteors per hour, only equaled by the November 17, 1966 display, when the Leonid shower brought 150,000 meteors per hour. Debris from the comet Temple-Tuttle that orbits the sun every 33 years causes the shower.

She was born and raised in Amite County, Mississippi, and can be found on the 1850 census with her parents. Sometime after that, the family moved to Sabine County, Texas.

After her husband's death, she lived with her oldest son, William Hardy Travis. She can be found living with he and his wife, Grace Ener, at the time of the 1900 and 1910 Sabine County census.

Notes:

Hello Melinda,
I am Yvonne Kattawar and I am looking for information you might have for my gr grandfather Elijah Kelly, born in Sept.l825 in Decatur, Ga. I am trying to find his parents. All I know is that they were born in N. Carolina. I have located him on the 1860 census records in Jasper Co, Tx, 1870 and 1880 he was in Newton Co, Tx. Your Travis line in Sabine Co.,with connections to EK is not a coincidence. My gr grandfather was Cannon Travis, brother to Richard Henry. Cannon's daughter, Martha Jane (my grandmother) married James E. Kelly, whose father was Elijah.Thanks for your help.
---- My e-mail is fishingkat@aol.com - Thank you for your help.

Elijah married Nancy Shepherd on 22 Oct 1857 in Jasper County, Texas. Nancy was born about 1838 in Georgia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]