Magness Pim Conner (1899 - 1971)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

In 1900, Magness was just 1 year old. ^[1] His birthday was listed as Feb 1899 on the US Census of that year. His father, Benjamin, was 43 and making a living as a farmer. His mother, Sarah, was also 43. His siblings were Emma (17), Ross 10, Leona (7), Hubert (5) and baby sister Liza (9 months). They were living in Big Bottom, Independence County, Arkansas.

By 1910, Magness had lost his mother. ^[2] The US Census of 1910 lists B.P. (53) as a widower. Living with them was Benjamin's spinster sister Liza (49), as well as Ryan (19), Leona (17), and Hubert (15). Magness was 11 years old. He lost his father in November of that year. ^[3]

Filling out the WWI Selective Service System Draft Registration of 1917-1918 ^[4] , Magness listed his birthdate as 2 Feb 1899 and he spelled his middle name "Pim".

Magness married Mollie Ann Thompson on the 23rd of July, 1916, in Independence, Arkansas.^[5] At the time of the US Census in 1920, ^[6] the couple were living in White River, Arkansas. They had 2 children, Mary (2) and Ross (1). Magness' Aunt Lizzie (58) was also living with them. They were renting their home and farming.

In 1930 ^[7] Magness and Mollie were living in Magness, Arkansas. According to the US Census report of that year both Magness and Mollie could read and write. Magness was a farmer. In addition to the children, Mary (12), Ross (11), Madge (9), Ralph (6), and FM (1), Francis M. Thompson lived with them. Mr. Thompson, Mollie's father, was 58 years old and widowed.

In 1935, Magness was admitted to the Arkansas State Tuberculosis Sanatorium^[8] where he was a patient until 1937 or 1938.

The Sanatorium

At the time that Magness became ill he was farming. He and his wife, Mollie, had been renting. There was now no income for Mollie and no way to care for the the 3 boys that were still at home. The two older boys, Ralph (12) and FM (7) were sent to an orphanage in Morrilton, about 67 miles from Booneville. Billie, born in 1931, was admitted to the Mason's building at the sanatorium which had been built by the Masonic Lodge to house children whose parents were patients. The Lodge also built a school which Billie later attended for 2 years. Mollie also became ill with tuberculosis and was admitted in 1936, but was given a clean bill of health after about 6 months. Mollie and Magness believed that they had caught TB from drinking unpasteurized milk. ^[9]

In 1940 ^[10] Magness and Mollie lived in Booneville, Arkansas. At that time Magness and Mollie were both 42. They had 4 sons living at home - Ross (21), Ralph (17), FM (11) and Billie Gene (8).

Work and pay record for Magness Pem Conner.

The Conners lived in the house on the left.

Magness was earning $25.00 a week as a Janitor at the Arkansas TB Sanitorium in Booneville. (Because of the stigma caused by having Tuberculosis it was difficult to find work after having been a patient. The Sanitorium offered work to patients and ex-patients.)^[11] They were renting their home for $10.00 a month. Magness had no other income and had worked 26 weeks in 1939, earning $300.00.

In 1950 Mollie and Magness were living ^[12] at the Sanitorium in the staff dormitory. Magness' occupation was listed as utility man and Mollie's as nurses' aid. They both worked 45 hours the week before the census. All of their children had left home. The youngest, Bill, had entered the Navy at 17.

Magness & Bill

Mollie, Wayne, Magness, Bill and FM

In 1965 Mollie and Magness, as well as their children, Ross Conner and Madge (Conner) Roberts, travelled from Arkansas to El Rio, California to be with the rest of their children and offer support to Ralph Conner. He had been diagnosed with cancer and his left leg was removed at the hip. Ralph recovered and lived to be 80 years old. While in California they were able to meet their newest grandchild, Wayne Magness Conner who was born in May of that year.

Magness passed away on the 6th day of the same month he was born in , in the year 1971. ^[13] Mollie died in 1980. ^[14] Mollie died in the hospital, but all five of the children were able to say goodbye.

Ralph, Ross, Madge, Bill, Mary & FM Images found in this profile, as well as other Conner family photos can be found at Conner Family Photos & Sources.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3F7-KTK : 11 March 2022), Mogness Conner in entry for Pem Conner, 1900.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKV9-2Q9 : accessed 13 April 2022), Magness Conner in household of B P Conner, Magness, Independence, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 37, sheet 13A, family 215, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 52; FHL microfilm 1,374,065.
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #20110444Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20110444/benjamin-conner: accessed 03 April 2023), memorial page for Benjamin Conner (25 Dec 1856–14 Nov 1910), Find a Grave Memorial ID 20110444, citing Macks Chapel Cemetery, Sulphur Rock, Independence County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by C&P LaPlante Files (contributor 46814587).
4. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3PB-JV3 : 25 December 2021), Magness Pim Conner, 1917-1918.
5. ↑ Marriage: "Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957"
   FHL Film Number: 1288742
   Ancestry Record 2548 #359356 (accessed 7 April 2024)
   Magness Conner (21) marriage to Mollie Thompson (18) on 23 Jul 1916.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDNB-48M : 31 January 2021), Magness Connor, 1920.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMLH-JB7 : accessed 23 March 2022), F M Conner in household of Magness Conner, Magness, Independence, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 23, sheet 1B, line 95, family 22, NARA microfilm publication T626 (WaMshington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 77; FHL microfilm 2,339,812.
8. ↑ https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/arkansas-state-tuberculosis-sanatorium-2237/
9. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/mbovis.pdf
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQKC-XXK : 8 January 2021), F M Conner in household of M P Conner, Booneville, Logan, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 42-5, sheet 7B, line 49, family 147, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 151.
11. ↑ see Conner_Family_Photos_Sources-14.jpg, found at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Conner_Family_Photos_%26_Sources
12. ↑ United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Mont Sandals, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: 1432; Sheet Number: 4; Enumeration District: 66-30. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.
13. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #19097651 (accessed 9 April 2024)
    Memorial page for Magness P. Conner (2 Feb 1899-6 Feb 1971), citing Oak Hill Memorial Cemetery, Booneville, Logan County, Arkansas, USA (plot: Section 1-1; Row 3; Block E.); Maintained by Linda McGahan (contributor 47210053).
14. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #19097653Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19097653/mollie-ann-conner: accessed 03 April 2023), memorial page for Mollie Ann Thompson Conner (14 Aug 1897–31 May 1980), Find a Grave Memorial ID 19097653, citing Oak Hill Memorial Cemetery, Booneville, Logan County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by Linda McGahan (contributor 47210053).