He came to Grayson County at the age of 12 years on a cattle drive of 125 miles from Ellis County to Locust Community and it took them 5 months to make the trip. His parents settled in Locust Community in 1867. He learned a lot from them and especially how to make pear preserves that won him awards and ribbons at old Settlers’ Reunions.
After his wife died in the 1918 flu epidemic, he moved to Denison and was a carpenter and painter. He kept the community children entertained with his memories of his youth and events such as an ambush he was in with Jessie and Frank James when they were on their way to Sherman on horseback to visit their sister who taught school there. The James Gang, using anonymous names, came to the community to help with the crops at harvest times. Conner remembered their names and they later showed up on census.
1900 - Justice Precinct 8, Grayson County, Texas
919BURGESS, Conner head Jun 1856 43 m a 22 TX KY MO farmer
BURGESS, Sally A. wife Apr 1857 42 m at 22 7 children / 6 living TX TN AR
BURGESS, Albert H. son ? 1880 19 S TX TX TX at school
BURGESS, Cynthia dau ? 17 S TX TX TX at school
BURGESS, Ruth dau ? 1885 5 S TX TX TX at school
BURGESS, Wallace son 1895 7 TX TX TX
BURGESS, Earl son May 1895 5 TX TX TX
BURGESS, Carl son May 1895 5 TX TX TX
REEVES, Jane mother-in-law July 1828 71 Wd 12 children w/7 still alive AR TN TN
BEAN, Thomas employee Feb 1872 23 S TN TN TN farm laborer
On
Ancestry.com the above family are indexed as Conner Bury.
1910 - Justice Prencint 8, Grayson County, Texas; Series: T624; Roll: 1556; Page: 291A; Enumeration District: 106; Part: 2; Line: 4. He is listed as Conner Burgers