Thomas E. Connor 1857-1929 Obituary

Thomas E. Connor, an Evanstonian by birth and a business man here for 51 years, died at the Evanston hospital Friday following a short illness.  He was 74 years old and was born in a house which formerly stood in the vicinity of Michigan avenue and Burnham place.  A short time later the family moved to a new home built by James Connor, Thomas' father, at 1121 Lake street.
Mr. Connor received his primary education at a parochial school here and attended St. Ignatius academy in Chicago for his high school training.  After leaving school he worked for T. C. Hoag who owned a grocery store on the southeast corner of Chicago avenue and Davis street, the same store which is now owned by George C. Taylor, who was also employed by Mr. Hoag and worked with Mr. Connor.
About 1878, Mr. Connor, with his brother James C. Connor, started a hardware business at 618 Davis street, the site of the Connor building which was recently destroyed by fire.  He remained there until about 1896 when he opened a hardware store of his own in partnership with Charles E. Arnold at 605-7 Davis street.  He operated this business under the firm name of Connor and Arnold until 1901 when he bought Mr. Arnold's interest and continued the business under the name of Thomas E. Connor Hardware company at the same address. In 1924 he built the present Connor building at 1506 Sherman avenue and the business has been located there ever since.  His two sons Thomas E., Jr. and James were associated with him in business.  The Thomas Connor residence, which he occupied after he was married and in which his eight children were reared, was located at 1217 Oak avenue but in recent years he has lived at 1122 Oak avenue adjoining his eldest son's apartment, since the death of his wife seven years ago.
Funeral services were held Monday morning at St. Mary's church and interment was at Calvary.  He is survived by his two sons, Thomas E., Jr., and James C. and six daughters, Miss Elizabeth Connor; Mrs. E.J. O'Laughlin of Pasadena, Calif.; Mrs. J. Gaudino of San Pedro, Calif; Mrs. Frank O'Connor; Mrs. N. W. Benedict; Mrs. D. J. Harrison, all of Evanston.
Evanston Historical Society files. No newspaper name given. Clipping date January 2, 1930.

Thomas E. Connor and his wife, Jennie B. Colbert Connor are interred in his father, James Connor's, gravesite in Calvary Cemetery, Lot 44, Block 4, Section Q.