Henry G. Connor
Encyclopedia
Henry Groves Connor was a North Carolina
politician and jurist, and a United States federal judge
.
Born in Wilmington, North Carolina
, Connor read law to enter the bar in 1871. Connor was born in Wilmington, North Carolina
. He read law . He was in private practice in Wilson, North Carolina
from 1871 to 1885. He was elected to a term in the North Carolina Senate
in 1885, and served as a North Carolina Superior Court
judge from 1885 to 1893. He returned to private practice in Wilson from 1893 to 1903.
In 1898, he took part in the "White Supremacy
" campaign, traveling the state to speak on behalf of the Democratic Party. According to an official state report on the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898
, "Connor’s correspondence and speeches repeatedly indicated that he was 'willing to go a very long way to remove the negro from the politics of the state' as he was 'managing a campaign of which I shall never be ashamed.' Although definitely on the side of white supremacy, Connor reflected the concerns of conservative Democrats when he hoped 'that the present conditions may pass away without violence or bloodshed and that our whole people may be wiser and understand each other better.' He fully felt that once the Democrats regained power over the state, they should earnestly seek to improve the lives and education of blacks."
In that campaign, Connor was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
from Wilson County
and was rewarded by his fellow Democrats with the post of Speaker
in the new legislature.
Connor later served as an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
from 1903 until 1909. On May 10, 1909, Connor was nominated by President William Howard Taft
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
vacated by Thomas R. Purnell. Connor was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 25, 1909, and received his commission the same day. Connor held that judgeship until his death, in Wilson, on November 23, 1924.
He had three sons: George Whitfield Connor, who followed him onto the state Supreme Court; H. G. Connor, Jr., a lawyer and legislator; and Robert Digges Wimberly Connor
, secretary of the North Carolina Historical Commission, professor at the University of North Carolina, and later the first Archivist of the United States
.
Connor was a published author. Among his works were biographies of John Archibald Campbell
, James Iredell
, and William Gaston
.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
politician and jurist, and a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, Connor read law to enter the bar in 1871. Connor was born in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
. He read law . He was in private practice in Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
from 1871 to 1885. He was elected to a term in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
in 1885, and served as a North Carolina Superior Court
North Carolina Superior Court
The Superior Court is North Carolina’s general jurisdiction trial court. It has jurisdiction over all felony cases, cases involving over $10,000, and appeals of misdemeanor and infraction cases from the North Carolina District Courts....
judge from 1885 to 1893. He returned to private practice in Wilson from 1893 to 1903.
In 1898, he took part in the "White Supremacy
White supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
" campaign, traveling the state to speak on behalf of the Democratic Party. According to an official state report on the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898
Wilmington Insurrection of 1898
The Wilmington Insurrection of 1898, also known as the Wilmington Massacre of 1898 or the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, occurred in Wilmington, North Carolina on November 10, 1898 and following days; it is considered a turning point in North Carolina politics following Reconstruction...
, "Connor’s correspondence and speeches repeatedly indicated that he was 'willing to go a very long way to remove the negro from the politics of the state' as he was 'managing a campaign of which I shall never be ashamed.' Although definitely on the side of white supremacy, Connor reflected the concerns of conservative Democrats when he hoped 'that the present conditions may pass away without violence or bloodshed and that our whole people may be wiser and understand each other better.' He fully felt that once the Democrats regained power over the state, they should earnestly seek to improve the lives and education of blacks."
In that campaign, Connor was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
from Wilson County
Wilson County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2006, there 73,814 people, 28,613 households, and 19,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 199 people per square mile . There were 30,729 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
and was rewarded by his fellow Democrats with the post of Speaker
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
in the new legislature.
Connor later served as an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
from 1903 until 1909. On May 10, 1909, Connor was nominated by President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is the United States District Court that serves the eastern 44 counties in North Carolina. Appeals from the Eastern District of North Carolina are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The...
vacated by Thomas R. Purnell. Connor was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on May 25, 1909, and received his commission the same day. Connor held that judgeship until his death, in Wilson, on November 23, 1924.
He had three sons: George Whitfield Connor, who followed him onto the state Supreme Court; H. G. Connor, Jr., a lawyer and legislator; and Robert Digges Wimberly Connor
Robert Digges Wimberly Connor
Robert Digges Wimberly Connor was an American historian and the first Archivist of the United States, 1934-1941. He was born to Henry G. Connor and Kate Whitfield Connor on September 26, 1878, in Wilson, North Carolina...
, secretary of the North Carolina Historical Commission, professor at the University of North Carolina, and later the first Archivist of the United States
Archivist of the United States
The Archivist of the United States is the chief official overseeing the operation of the National Archives and Records Administration. The first Archivist, R.D.W. Connor, began serving in 1934, when the National Archives was established as an independent federal agency by Congress...
.
Connor was a published author. Among his works were biographies of John Archibald Campbell
John Archibald Campbell
John Archibald Campbell was an American jurist.Campbell was born near Washington, Georgia, to Col. Duncan Greene Campbell...
, James Iredell
James Iredell
James Iredell was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799...
, and William Gaston
William Gaston
William J. Gaston was a jurist and United States Representative from North Carolina. Gaston was born in New Bern, North Carolina, the son of Dr. Alexander Gaston and Margaret Gaston. He entered Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., at the age of thirteen, becoming its first student...
.