Biography of Charles and Martha (Miner) Conner of Kalamazoo, MI

Home

Martha (Miner) Conner
(1881-1956)

Martha (Miner) Conner

Martha "Mattie" (Miner) Conner (1881-1956) was born on May 18, 1881 in Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Jane (Courtney) Miner.

As a young teenager, Martha earned an income as a trick horse rider for a rodeo. That's where she met her future husband, who was a rodeo clown.

She married Charles Conner (1864- ? ), a native Ohioian who was born in April 1864. They were wed in 1897, when Martha was age 16. There was a 17-year-age difference between wife and husband, and he had been married once before.

Martha and Charles together bore a family of three daughters -- Fairy Lillie Harger, Goldie M. Gerry Petrie and Olive Eunice Lyke Carner.

When the federal census was enumerated in 1900, the Conners lived in Franklin Township, Shelby County, OH. Living next door were her remarried mother Mary Vinings, 15-year-old married sister Lillie Sheets, and brothers William M. Miner and Charles Harrison Miner. Charles Conner's occupation that year was listed as "juke" -- an outdated term which is being investigated.

L-R: Goldie, Fairy, Charles and Martha

The Conners relocated to Melrose, Brown Township, Paulding County, OH during the decade of the 1900s. Their home in 1910 was on Park Street, which Charles used as a base for his work as a traveling junk salesman.

In about 1912, the Conners moved again, to Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, MI, where two of Martha's brothers had migrated a year or two earlier. There, Charles ran a grocery store on East Michigan Avenue.

Their homes in Kalamazoo were on Lincoln Avenue (1920), East Michigan Avenue (1930) and 1122 Engleman Avenue (1956).

The census of 1920 shows Charles (age 55) as the "keeper" of a grocery store. Also living under his roof were single daughter Fairy (age 21), married daughter Goldie Czary (20) and boarders J. Albert "Ab" Harger and Fred Petro (or Petrie). Harger's nephew later became the Conners' son in law.

Kalamazoo Gazette, 1956

By 1930, the family now lived on East Michigan Avenue, with Charles continuing his work as "proprietor" of a grocery store, and daughters Fairy and Goldie, both in their 30s, working there as clerks. Fred Petro (or Petrie) remained as a lodger, as he had 10 years earlier. Residing next door were Martha's nephews Leon and Joseph Miner, sons of William M. Miner.

Martha suffered from instestinal obstruction and perforation for a number of years. She passed away from their effects on July 17, 1956, at the age of 74, at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Her funeral was held in the Truesdale Chapel, led by Rev. Don L. Warmouth. Interment followed in Riverside Cemetery. Her obituary was published in the Kalamazoo Gazette.

~ Daughter Fairy Lillie Myrtle (Conner) Harger ~

Daughter Fairy Lillie Myrtle Conner (1898-1980) was born on March 27, 1898 in Dupont, Putnam County, OH.

As a young woman, she lived in Kalamazoo, MI and with her sister Goldie earned a living as clerks in their father's grocery store.

When she was 35 years of age, on Sept. 25, 1933, she wed 31-year-old blacksmith Orville Harger (Feb. 11, 1902-1969), son of John and Grace (Harris) Harger and a native of Van Buren County, MI. The wedding ceremony place in Kalamazoo, by the hand of Probate Judge John L. Hollander.

Orville was divorced from his first wife and with her produced one son, Orville "Jack" Harger Jr.

Three sons in the second family were Leon Rodell Harger, Charles Roger Harger and Robert John Harger.

Kalamazoo's paper mills

Their married lives were spent in Kalamazoo. The federal census enumeration of 1940 shows the Hargers living next door to Fairy's parents and also to Fairy's first cousin Leon Phillip Miner and family. Orville's occupation at that time was as a beatsman in the local paper mill.

Orville changed jobs during the decade of the 1940s. By 1950, he earned a living as a die man in a local taxicab manufacturing plant.

Sadly, Orville died at the age of 67 on July 14, 1969.

Fairy lived for another 11 years. She passed away in Portage, Kalamazoo County at the age of 82 on May 26, 1980. The couple sleeps for all time in Kalamazoo's Riverside Cemetery.

Son Leon Rodell Harger Sr. (1934- ? ) was born in about 1934 in in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County. He was the father of Leon Rodell Harger Jr. and Mark Harger. The Hargers dwelled in Portage, MI.

Grandson Mark Harger ( ? -living) has contributed valuable input for this biography.

Son Charles Roger Harger (1935- 2007) was born on Aug. 18, 1935 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County. He entered into marriage with Kalamazoo native Norma L. Hawley (July 30, 1940-2023), daughter of Kenneth and Carrie (Tidd) Hawley. Together, they produced a trio of children -- Charles Harger, Dorrie Dolnik and Brenda Nelson. They eventually moved to Parchment near Kalamazoo. At the age of 71, he passed into the arms of the heavenly host in Kalamazoo on June 29, 2007. Burial was in the local East Cooper Cemetery. Norma lived for another 16 years. Death claimed her life on March 30, 2023. She was survived by nine grandchldren and 17 great-grandchildren. In an obituary, the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association.

Grandson Charles Roger Harger Jr. was a graduate of Parchment High School. In 1984, he was employed by Burroughs Inc. Charles wed Donna Wadsworth ( ? - ? ), daughter of Joan C. Wadsworth. In 2016, the Hargers made a dwelling-place in Parchment, MI.

Granddaughter Dorrie Harger attended Parchment High School. She married Richard Dolnik ( ? - ? ), son of Joseph and Barbara (Kraai) Dolnik. Dorrie lives in Cooper Township, MI. They are the parents of one known son, Joseph Dolnik.

Granddaughter Brenda Harger is a 1980 graduate of Parchment High School and then attended Western Michigan University. On July 1, 1995, she was united in matrimony with Roger Nelson. According to her Facebook page, she has been employed over the years as sales and marketing manager at Nabisco Cookies, sales representative at Pepperidge Farm and marketing sales supervisor at Bimbo Food Products.

Son Robert John Harger (1937-2016) was born in 1937 in Michigan. He married Pauline Vandyke ( ? - ? ). Among their children was Robert V. "Bobby" Harger and Ronald Harger. The couple divorced in about 1970. Robert reputedly died in Kalamazoo on Aug. 20, 2016.

Grandson Robert V. "Bobby" Harger (1958-2023) was born on June 27, 1958 in Kalamazoo. He was the father of Chelsie Fulton. Robert married Lori Comstock ( ? - ? ), daughter of Lester and Florence Comstock. She brought two stepchildren into the family, Nicole L. Comstock and Morrey Harger. Said an obituary, "Bob loved being outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycle [and] also loved to cook and grill. Bob never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with any. He especially enjoyed spending time with his friends. Bob was an animal lover and cared deeply for his dog, Moco."They grieved at the untimely deaths of daughter Nicole (2022) and Morrey (2023). Their sadness was deepened when, at the age of 65, Robert died just 10 days after his son Morrey on Oct. 12, 2023. His remains were cremated.

Step-granddaughter Nicole L. Comstock (1982-2022) was born on May 8, 1982. She lived in Battle Creek and had a bonus daughter Caitlyn Falls and father figure Gary Howell in her life. Said an obituary, she "was an avid lover of the outdoors, mountain biking, spending her days at the beach, rescuing animals, kayaking and spending every second she could in Northern Michigan." Sadly, at the age of 39, Nicole died at home on April 9, 2022.

Step-grandson Morrey J. Comstock (1988-2023) was born on Sept. 9, 1988 in Kalamazoo. He was a 2007 graduate of Comstock High School. Morrey resided in Battle Creek and was the father of Grayson Harger. "Morrey was a kind man with a big heart," said an obituary. "He was a hard worker and was skilled at many jobs. He loved working on landscape, hunting, fishing and football." The family was plunged into mourning when, at the age of 35, Morrey died on Oct. 2, 2023.

Grandson Ronald Harger ( ? - ? ) was living in 2023.

~ Daughter Goldie May (Conner) Gerry Petrie ~

Daughter Goldie May Conner (1899-1972) was born on June 28, 1899 in Shelby County, OH.

On Sept. 27, 1915, at the age of 16, she wed 19-year-old Warren Greenleaf Gerry (or "Czary) ( ? - ? ), son of Fred and Katie (Hill) Gerry. Rev. F.E. George officiated, with Leslie White and Fairy Conner serving as witnesses.

One son born to this couple was Charles Frederick W. Gerry/Geary.

Warren was tall and slender, with grey eyes and dark hair. He was a papermaker in Kalamazoo, as were many in the family. Their address in 1917 was 137 Seminary Street, Kalamazoo.

Sadly, their son only lived for a year. Having contracted pneumonia, death swept him away on Feb. 19, 1917, just two days after his first birthday. His tender remains were lowered under the sod of Riverside Cemetery.

In 1917, Warren registered for the military draft during World War I, and disclosed his residence as Kalamazoo, and his employer as Standard Paper Company.

The marriage ended within a few years, with the charge put forth of "extreme cruelty." Their divorce was approved in Kalamazoo County on Jan. 31, 1920. Warren moved to Chicago, and records show that he remarried that same year, on Feb. 9, 1920, to Ruth Goodrich in St. Joseph, Berrien County, MI.

In 1920, Goldie lived in her father's household in Kalamazoo, along with her sister Fairy (age 21) and boarders Albert Harger and Fred Petro (or Petrie).

Census records for 1930 show her continuing to dwell under her parents' roof in Kalamazoo, and with her sister Fairy working as clerks in their father's grocery store. At that time, Fred Petrie remained in the household as a lodger.

She eventually married her lodger Fred Wallace Petrie (July 24, 1887-1952), son of Charles and Cora (Eddy) Petrie. He was a World War I Army veteran, having served with the Dev Battalion No. 2, 160th Depot Brigade. Their act of marriage is said to have taken place at his death bed prior to his passing on June 18, 1952. But no record has been found of such a union, and Goldie appears to have continued using her maiden name for good.

Goldie resided with her mother in the mid-1950s at 1122 Engleman Avenue.

At the age of 72, using the name "Conner," she died in Kalamazoo on March 24, 1972. She sleeps for all eternity in Riverside Cemetery.

~ Daughter Olive Eunice (Conner) Lyke Carner ~

Daughter Olive Eunice Conner (1920-1994) was born on Sept. 1, 1920 in the village of Mendon, St. Joseph County, to the south of Kalamazoo.

At the age of 16, on May 17, 1937, she wed 21-year-old assembler Lewis Casper Lyke (March 22, 1916-1988). He was a native of Rochester, NY, but living in Kalamazoo at the time, and was the son of Lewis and Laura May (Detchler) Lyke. The wedding ceremony was held in Kalamazoo, by the hand of County Probate Judge John L. Hollander, and witnessed by Ora B.Ritsema and Beulah A. Mapes.

The known children of this marriage were Lewis Eugene Lyke, Thomas Lyke, Danny Dale Lyke and Pamela Cias.

Lewis stood 5 feet, 6½ inches tall and weighed 138 lbs. He was required in 1940 to register for the military draft on the eve of America's entry into World War II. At the time, their address was 715 Sheldon, and he was unemployed.

Olive earned a living over the years as a practical nurse.

They moved to Southern California, and lived Redondo Beach in 1951 at the birth of their son Danny. They moved to Gardena, Los Angeles County and were there in 1956. Their marriage dissolved in divorced, which was approved in Orange County, CA in July 1968.

Using the name "Conner," Olive entered into marriage in Fresno on Dec. 8, 1984 with Donald L. Carner ( ? -? ). They were in Fresno in 1985.

The angel of death spirited her away in September 1994 at the age of 74. A brief obituary appeared in the Fresno Bee, in which her name was spelled "Conner."

Former husband Lewis was in Anaheim in 1985 and last resided in Temecula, Riverside County. He died on July 13, 1988.

Son Lewis Eugene Lyke (1946-1985) was born on June 18, 1946 in Hawthorne, CA. He was not married. He was arrested as a teen of 15 in June 1962 for burglary, grand theft, auto theft and petty thefe for a break-in with a gang at a liquor warehouse and food market in Anaheim. At the age of 19, he was pictured in the Anaheim (CA) Bulletin when wading through a foot of rainwater that had accumulated during a storm at the intersection of State College and Lincoln Boulevards. Lewis's occupation was as a painter with Art Dixon, a painting contractor. He moved to Fresno, CA in the summer of 1985. He passed away at the age of 39 on Oct. 4, 1985. The remains were cremated. In his obituary, the Fresno Bee spelled his mother's second married name as "Carter."

Son Thomas Lyke ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). He lived in Fresno in 1985.

Son Danny Dale Lyke (1951-1986) was born in 1951 in Inglewood Bassinette Hospital in Redondo Beach. News of his birth was announced in the Redondo Reflex newspaper. As of 1986, he dwelled in Fresno and was emploiyed as a painter for Timberlake. Sadly, Danny and a co-worker engaged in a fight at a construction site at 55 West Bullard Avenue. Danny was knocked to the ground and struck his head on the pavement, suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was rushed to Valley Medical Center where he died at the age of 34 on June 19, 1986. The incident was covered in the Fresno Bee.

Daughter Pamela Lyke (1953- ? ) was born in about 1953. She tied the knot on Nov. 28, 1970 in Los Angeles with Andrew J. Ciais/Cias ( ? - ? ). Andre at the time was serving with the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War with the Strategic Air Command and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Carolina. As of 1985, her homeplace was in Temecula, CA.