The Reverend Americus Conner and his wife, Mary Jane Cadwallader Conner, lived all over the state of Indiana and in Irvington. In 1912, the couple along with their foster daughter, Mary Seeger, returned to the neighborhood to reside at 340 North Ritter Avenue. Also living nearby was their daughter Pearl Conner Hackleman and her family at 5438 Lowell Avenue.
Their newer home at 340 North Ritter Avenue was built on speculation in 1908 for the Reverend John P. Findley, who then rented the place to Gilbert and Stella Laymon. The Laymons resided in the house briefly and watched as their new home at 351 North Ritter Avenue was under construction across the street and completed in 1909. Jason and Gertrude Baker also lived in the house from 1909 until 1911. The Conners came next and resided in the two-story dwelling for about five years before moving out in 1917. During their time in the home, the family spent much of their lives on the road as Reverend Conner was an evangelist and in high demand among Protestant churches as a speaker. An Indianapolis News article indicated that the Conners along with their foster daughter started a new business called the Boys' Friend Chautauqua Company with a capital stock investment of $7500 in the summer of 1912.
Americus has been lecturing Hoosiers for years over the dangers of what could happen to boys if they were not given proper instruction. In the new campaign, he added a separate talk for girls led by his foster daughter, Mary Seeger. Mrs. Conner traveled with the group to assist with logistics. Sometimes the troupe would spend as long as a week in one town. Their Ritter Avenue neighbors likely seldom saw the family as in 1912 alone, they held revivals in New Albany, Muncie, Huntington, Seymour, Franklin, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Although the Conners were members of the Disciples of Christ, they preached wherever they were invited. In little Windfall, Indiana in 1914, both the Methodist and Disciples hosted the family, while in that same year, they preached to the Presbyterians of Rushville. In Greenfield, some local businessmen paid their fee so that Hancock County Protestants could attend the daily talks for free. The Conners charged each venue for their revivals as it was after all, a family business.
In 1917, the Conners and Mary Seeger started the year with their ministry in southern Indiana. They preached in Evansville, Boonville, and Mount Vernon. A post in the Martinsville Reporter-Times (March 21, 1917, 1), noted that all three of them vacated their Ritter Avenue home and moved into the sanitarium at Bethany Park in Morgan County, Indiana for the summer. They continued their ministry well into the 1920s and eventually the elderly Conners moved in with their daughter Pearl Conner Hackleman at her Lowell Avenue home.
 |
| The Reverend John P. Findley built 340 North Ritter Avenue on speculation in 1908. Gilbert and Stella Laymon moved into the house in 1909. The Conners arrived in 1912. (photo courtesy of Anne Gribble Spurgeon) c1915 |
 |
| Built in the American Four Square style in 1908, 340 North Ritter Avenue has housed numerous Irvington families over the years. The woman in the photograph might be Mary Jane Conner. (photo courtesy of Anne Gribble Spurgeon) c1915 |
 |
| Americus and Mary Jane Conner along with their foster daughter, Mary Seeger, resided at 340 North Ritter Avenue from 1912 until 1917. (photo courtesy of Anne Gribble Spurgeon) c1915 |
 |
| In this photograph, you can not only see 340 North Ritter Avenue, but you can also see 338 North Ritter Avenue. The Conners lived at 340 in 1915 while the Agnew family lived next door at 338. (photo courtesy of Anne Gribble Spurgeon) c1915 |
I would like to thank Anne Gribble Spurgeon, the great great granddaughter of Americus and Mary Jane Conner, for her family stories and the use of her photographs. I would also like to thank Steve Barnett and Paula Schmidt at the Irvington Historical Society for their assistance with research.
Sources: Articles related to the Conner Chautauqua Circuit from 1912 to 1917: "Youth Camp," Muncie Star-Press, February 10, 1912, 5; Huntington Herald, April 8, 1912, 3; Seymour Tribune, May 4, 1912, 1; Franklin Evening-Star, September 7, 1912, 1; Fort Wayne Gazette, December 17, 1912, 3; Greenfield Reporter, March 15, 1913, 1; Elwood Call-Leader, April 5, 1914, 3; Boonville Standard, January 5, 1917, 1; Evansville Courier-Press, January 30, 1917, 3. Details about topics that the Conners covered in revival and Mary Seeger's role: "The Boys' Friend," Greenfield Daily Reporter, March 11, 1913, 1
No comments:
Post a Comment