Individual Details
James Conner
(1817 - 17 Mar 1877)
https://web.archive.org/web/20141006084418/http:/www.connerprairie.org/Learn-And-Do/Indiana-History/Conner-Prairie-History/Conner-Family-Mekinges.aspx
James Conner
Probably born around 1818, James was the youngest of the Conner children. Like his oldest brother, John, James Conner was touched with a sense of wanderlust. The Delaware were renowned for their abilities as guides and took part in many of the famous exploratory expeditions in American history. The great explorer and seeker of empire, John Charles Fremont, was greatly impressed by their abilities. James Conner accompanied Fremont on several of his expeditions, including the fateful expedition to California in the 1840s during which war broke out with Mexico and Conner was one of those who "enlisted" in the Fremont army. It was Fremont's habit to name natural phenomena after members of his expeditions as a means of rewarding good performance. Thus, there is a "Connor's Spring" near the Humboldt River in California that was likely named after James.
Despite his wanderings, James would return to his people in Kansas and assumed a position of importance and appears to have been a secondary chief. In 1854, he was one of a delegation of Delaware and Shawnees "empowered to make land cessions treaties" with the government. It was noted that Conner was among those who planned to "visit their friends in Indiana on their return home." This may be the source of a local legend that some of William Conner’s Delaware family returned for a visit shortly after his death in 1855.
In 1858, James was nominated to be the principal Chief of the Delaware. However, he turned down the honor, saying his brother John would be more acceptable to other Delaware. Why his brother, who had spent most of the previous thirty-eight years away from the main band of the tribe, was more acceptable is uncertain. Some evidence indicates that James was involved in some sort of scandal. His brother was indeed named principal chief, but James continued as a lesser chief and later served as principal chief from 1873 until his death in 1877.
James Conner
Probably born around 1818, James was the youngest of the Conner children. Like his oldest brother, John, James Conner was touched with a sense of wanderlust. The Delaware were renowned for their abilities as guides and took part in many of the famous exploratory expeditions in American history. The great explorer and seeker of empire, John Charles Fremont, was greatly impressed by their abilities. James Conner accompanied Fremont on several of his expeditions, including the fateful expedition to California in the 1840s during which war broke out with Mexico and Conner was one of those who "enlisted" in the Fremont army. It was Fremont's habit to name natural phenomena after members of his expeditions as a means of rewarding good performance. Thus, there is a "Connor's Spring" near the Humboldt River in California that was likely named after James.
Despite his wanderings, James would return to his people in Kansas and assumed a position of importance and appears to have been a secondary chief. In 1854, he was one of a delegation of Delaware and Shawnees "empowered to make land cessions treaties" with the government. It was noted that Conner was among those who planned to "visit their friends in Indiana on their return home." This may be the source of a local legend that some of William Conner’s Delaware family returned for a visit shortly after his death in 1855.
In 1858, James was nominated to be the principal Chief of the Delaware. However, he turned down the honor, saying his brother John would be more acceptable to other Delaware. Why his brother, who had spent most of the previous thirty-eight years away from the main band of the tribe, was more acceptable is uncertain. Some evidence indicates that James was involved in some sort of scandal. His brother was indeed named principal chief, but James continued as a lesser chief and later served as principal chief from 1873 until his death in 1877.
Events
| Birth | 1817 | Connersville, Fayette, Indiana, United States | |||
| Residence | 1840 | Orange Township, Fayette, Indiana, United States | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1848 | Connersville, Fayette, Indiana, United States - Qua- Ta- Too | |||
| Residence | 1850 | Jefferson, Henry, Indiana, United States | |||
| Death | 17 Mar 1877 | Nowata, Nowata, Oklahoma, United States | |||
| Burial | Nowata Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata, Oklahoma, United States |  |
Families
| Spouse | Qua- Ta- Too (1826 - ) |
| Father | William H Conner (1777 - 1855) |
| Mother | Mekinges Anderson (1783 - 1855) |
| Sibling | Capt. John Quincy Conner (1802 - 1863) |
| Sibling | Hamilton "Harry" Conner (1809 - 1887) |
| Sibling | William "Bill" Conner Jr. (1811 - 1867) |
| Sibling | Nancy "Aukeelenqua" Conner (1815 - 1834) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Ella "Eliza" Conner (1818 - 1877) |
Endnotes
1. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVL-1NV8 : 15 December 2020), James Connor, ; Burial, Nowata, Nowata, Oklahoma, United States of America, Relocated Cemetery; citing record ID 21260047, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com..