Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Connor, Chris |
Born |
04/11/1850 |
Birthplace |
Alabama |
Father |
Meriwether Lewis Connor |
Mother |
Sarah J. Reyzor |
Notes |
Christopher "Chris" Reyzor Connor was born in Alabama on April 11, 1850 to Meriwether Lewis Connor and Sarah J. Reyzor. In 1852 the Connor family moved to Madison County, Texas. The death of Chris Connor's first wife led him to go further west, where on July 11, 1876 he enlisted in Captain Neal Coldwell's Company A of the Frontier Battalion. He served under Coldwell until August 31, 1877, when he transferred to Lieutenant N.O. Reynolds' Company E. It was in Company E that Connor saw much of his service. During his service Connor was involved with the Horrell-Higgins family feud. The two families were ranchers who settled in Lampasas County and were friends and neighbors until the 1870s when John Pinckney Calhoun "Pink" Higgins accused the Horrell brothers of stealing his stock. On January 22, 1877, Pink Higgins shot and killed Merritt Horrell, one of the Horrell five brothers, at Wiley and Toland's Gem Saloon in Lampasas and the feud began. It was in Round Rock, Texas, however, as a participant in the gunfight with the Sam Bass gang on July 19, 1878, that Connor gained his greatest renown. After being tipped off Connor and fellow Rangers Dick Ware and George Herold were sent from Austin to Round Rock to wait for the arrival of the Sam Bass gang who were scheduled to rob the Round Rock bank. While Ware was getting a shave at a local barber shop Connor and Herold emerged from their secret hiding place in the bank at the sounds of gunshots being fired. The gunshots came from the Sam Bass gang who had arrived in town and promptly killed Deputy Sheriff A.W. "High" Grimes. Ware quickly jumped up from the barber's chair to fire a deadly shot at Seab Barnes, a member of the Bass gang. It was Connor's firm belief that his friend Dick Ware killed Bass none of those engaged in the gunfight could say with certainty who fired the fatal shot. Connor left the Ranger service on November 30, 1878 at Camp Contrary in Kerr County Texas. He returned to Madison County and later married Belle Steele and became a Deputy Sheriff and farmer. Chris Connor passed away in Madisonville on January 23, 1916. Connor was described as a modest man who had the esteem and trust of his fellow Rangers. Even the fearless Ranger Jim Gillett wrote upon Connor's death that Connor "had been tried out a hundred times and was never found wanting." |
Spouse |
2nd wife Belle Steele |
Deceased |
01/23/1916 |
Deceased where |
Madisonville, TX |
