Sixth Generation

181. Mary Katherine HOLDERNESS was born on 5 December 1879 in Prim Hill, Hopkins County, Texas.¹⁴⁶ She died on 29 June 1908 at the age of 28 in Cumby, Hopkins County, Texas.^{109,135,221,222}

Age given as 6/12 in 1880 Census.

May 30, 1947 Ladonia News gives Kate Holderness as an 1896 graduate of Ladonia High School - that was the 2nd class graduated from the school.

Dallas Morning News, 20 Aug 1900
Society Over the State
COMMERCE
Miss Dee Russell, Miss Kate Holderness of Cumby and Mrs. R. W. Harris [Virginia - Kate's sister - Dee was their niece] are visiting the family of Dr. Holderness. [Dr. George W.-Kate & Virginia's brother.]

From THE CUMBY RUSTLER; 8 Dec 1905. Copied by Nancy Connor Zama.
Miss Kate Holderness was married to Dr. W. E. Connor Tuesday night by Rev. C. B. Fladger of Sulphur Springs. This couple are our leading young people and are surely well matched. Dr. Connor is one of our leading physicians and enjoys a fine practice and stands high socially and professionally. The bride is the youngest child of the late Dr. Holderness and is a young woman of much culture and fine attainments. They have the wishes of this whole community. The wedding occurred at the residence of R. W. Harris.

Died of tuberculosis. Wrote to her sister Bettie from an sanatorium in San Angelo, TX and one in Alamagordo NM. Kate's funeral was held at the Methodist church; her brothers and sisters attended from Oklahoma and Texas.

Obituary in collection of Jun E. Tuck, from the CUMBY RUSTLER:
Mrs. Kate Connor, - Nee Miss Kate Holderness, died June 28, 1908. Her death had been expected daily by the public for several months. Married Dr. W. E. Connor about two years ago and leaves a boy who has been tenderly cared for by R. W. Harris and wife since its birth. Funeral held at the Methodist church, conducted by C. B. Fildger, assisted by Rev.'s Kirk and Little. Her brothers and sisters were here from Oklahoma and Texas, and businesses closed to honor this woman. She left minute directions as to her burial, and these were carried out. She requested that Mr. Tapp of Sulphur Springs be in charge of the funeral.

CUMBY RUSTLER. Copied by Nancy Connor Zama.
"In Memoriam"
Mrs. Kate Connor, beloved wife of Dr. W. E. Connor of Cumby, Texas died Sunday morning, June 28, 1908.
All that love and skill could suggest was done, but in vain, the disease held solidly on to a fatal determination.
In her past sufferings and anxiety she never murmured, but day after day and week after week, met it all with smiles and a hope that seemed boundless.
Mrs. Connor spend her life in Cumby where she was ever held in highest esteem by all. We knew her during her whole life from babyhood on, and consider her one of the purest Christian characters of her time. In reviewing her past life and looking back upon it in her closing days she said: "There was nothing to regret and nothing to change, if she had the power." And we feel that such a life and example was a blessing to all our people.
Thus knowing the great loss of the husband and friends by her death, we wish to express our sympathy by offering the following resolution.
1st - That in the death of Kate Connor, the husband lost a true and loving wife and the little son a fond and precious mother, taken away in the morning of life, when the future was so bright and full of possibilities of the coming years.
2nd - That the church and the entire community have lost one of their most useful members and brightest lights. One whose noble and womanly example was an inspiration to good deeds and pure living which will abide in the lives of her friends and associates.
3rd - That we offer this tribute and place in our minutes as a token of sympathy for our brother Dr. W. E. Connor and the little son so soon bereft.
4th - That a copy be furnished the Hopkins Echo and Cumby Rustlrer, for publication.
Bert Cate
W. T. Binion Committee
O. Smith

On FindAGrave #12162804
Kate graduated from high school in Ladonia, Texas in 1896 while living with her Aunt Betty Haden. She was a young woman of much culture and fine attainment. She played the mandoline and attended normal school, usually a training ground for teachers. She also studied Greek. She later attended Eastman College in Sulphur Springs, Texas. She and W.E. were married at her home of her sister, Virginia Harris. She died from tuberculosis. During her illness, she lived in Tuscon, Arizona and Colorado to improve her health.

Mary Katherine HOLDERNESS and William Ellie CONNOR MD were married on 5 December 1905 in Cumby, Hopkins County, Texas.²²¹ William Ellie CONNOR MD, son of James Monroe CONNOR and Emeline Graham MCDOWELL, was born on 17 November 1872 in Daingerfield, Morris County, Texas.²²¹ He died on 7 April 1932 at the age of 59 in Dallas, Texas.²²¹

W. E. Connor remarried after the death of Kate. Harris was primarily raised by his aunt Jennie Holderness Harris.

W. C. Connor married Nannie Blanch Myers, 30 Jun 1914, Fannin Co, TX

23 Sep 1918 World War I Draft Registration
Ellie William Connor of Cumby, Hopkins Co, TX was age 45, born 17 November 1872. He was a physician. Nannie Blanch Connor (wife) was his nearest relative. Meidum height and build, blue eyes, light hair. Signed as Ellie William Connor.

1920 Census. Justice Prec 4, Hopkins Co, TX, Hh 125
William E. Connor, 47, Physician
Blanche, wife, 32
Marvin M., son, 3
James E., son, age 1

1930 Census. Cumby, Hopkins, TX, Hh 95
Wm E. Conner, 57, married at age 33
Blanche, wife, 42, married at 26
Marvin, son, 13
Edward, son, 11
Lucille, dau, 7

The death of Dr. Connor was also noted in the Diary of Joseph B. Haden on 7 April, 1932. Haden also stated that on April 9, he attended Dr. Connor's funeral.

Texas Death Certificate #15785
William Ellie Connor died at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas - his residence was Cumby, Texas. His wife, Blanche, survived him. He died on 7 Apr 1932 of coronary occlusion & embolism - he had a ruptured appendix with appendectomy on the 15th of March and this was believed to have been a contributory factor to his death. He was born 17 Nov 1872. He had been a physician for 40 years. His father was J. M. Connor, b. TN; his mother Emaline McDowell, b. AL. Mrs. Blanche Connor of Cumby was the informant. The body was removed to Cumby for burial.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, 8 apr 1932, Friday, p.4
CUMBY DOCTOR DIES
DALLAS, April 7 - Dr. William E. Connor, 59, physician of Cumby, Texas, died today at a Dallas hospital after an operation. His body was returned to Cumby for burial. He was born in Daingerfield.

1935 Division of Property attached to Ancestry Tree of Connor descendant.
Property to be divided in three ways.
1. Property owned during life and before death of first wife.
2. Property acquired between death of first wife and before marriage to second wife
3. Property acquired after married to second wife.
The surviving wife as interest in the property and use and home of the homestead during her lifetime.
First Class: One-half, owned by Dr. Harris Connor. 1/4 of the other hald or 1/8 of the whole by each of his four children
Second Class One-third interest to be used or receive income for so long as the surviving wife lives. The other 2/3 held jointly and equally by the four children.
Third Class One half owned by the surviving wife, one-fourth of the other half by each of the four children or 1/8 of the whole
All the personal property to be construed as the property of the last marriage - the surviving wife to receive one half thereof and the four children the other half jointly and equally. True unless some of the personal property can be specifically traced as owed by Dr. Connor, deceased, prior to the marriage to his second wife.

Mary Katherine HOLDERNESS and William Ellie CONNOR MD had the following children: