The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-27

Bates a prominent Albanian. VINO aiteF-
wards became a member Of the banking
firm Of Lathrop & Bates of Savannah, and
of the cotton factorage firm OF Bates 4
Conner
His Successful Business Career.
.Preferring a business life to that of a
planter. Mr.. Conner removed TO Savannah
in 1868 and in conjunction with mis- fa-
ther-in-law established the cotton commits
sion house Of Bales & Conner. Mr. Bates
death occurred in 1874 and his daughter
Mrs Conner, died the following year Mr.
Conner remained a widower for several
years until his marriage OCT 10, 1880, TO
Miss Lila Hail of Connecticut, who sur
wives him.
After the death of his partner Mr.
Bates, Mr.. Conner continued the cotton
factorage business under the firm name
OF r. NJ Conner & Co, with the late J.
G. Hayward as partner e. 7. Conner be
ing subsequently admitted to the 1rm.
The firm built up a large and lucrative
business and was well-known throughout
Georgia and adjoining states. When Mr..
Conner assumed the presidency Of the
Central Railroad the affairs of the firm Of
H M Conner & CO. were wound up, the
cotton commission business being no long
er as attractive as in former years. Be
sides his cotton commission business. he
had acquired other large Interests In
1891 he bought the interests Of the late
ness of Hammond. Hun & Co, and con-
tinued the business under the firm name
of Conner, Hun & Co. The firm did the
largest fertilizer manufacturing business
of any in this section of the state. Its
interests We're consolidated a few years
since with those of the Southern Fertilizer
Company of Atlanta which was in turn
consolidated more recently with the Vir-
ginia- Carolina Chemical Company of
Richmond Va.
The success of the Savannah Hotel Com
pany, by which the De Soto was built
was largely due TO the energetic efforts
of Mr.. Conner. He was active in organic
ing the company and was its president
from IDS organization until his death. He
also took an active part as a stockhOlder
and director in the Savannah Construc-
ton Company, which built the South
Bound Railroad from Savannah TO Column
bia, and aided in making it the most sue
cessful local enterprise of the kind n
many years.
Mr.. Conner always took an active interest
in Savannahs Commercial advancement
He was president of the Cotton Exchange
from 1888 to 1886 and was president of the
Gordon Press at the time of his death
The only social organization with which
he was connected was the Hibernian So
ciety, of which he had been a member
for number of years.
Was Sagannah's WeaIthiest Citizen.
BY those who have some knowledge of
his affairs Mr.. Conner is considered to
have been for some years pas Savaunah's
wealthiest citizen. Besides his large in
terests already mentioned he was very
largely interested in cotton manufacturing
and, until recently in cattle ranching IL
Texas, in both of which industries he was
very successful He organized the Bibb
Manufacturing Company in 1878 in COM
pany with Mai. J. T, Hanson, and was
president Of the company from its
organization until the time of his
death. The company is one of The largest
cotton manufacturing concerns of the
South and has had uninterrupted ca
reer of success. About the same time with
the organization of the Bioh Manufactur-
ing Company Mr.. Conner embarked in the
cattle business in Texas, in which his
brother. Mr.. +, T. Conner, Joined him In
1887 This proved to be a very profitable
venture and the gorwth of the ranching
interest continued until the business was
one of the largest of the kind in Texas.
About year ago these interests were dis
posed of at a satisfactory figure.
Mr.. Conner was a man who kept his
business affairs to himelf his exact wealth
is unknown, but il is estimated by those
in position to form an opinion at from
81 $4,000 to $1,500.000. Being aware of
his feeble health and intending 10
retire from active business he has dur
ing the last few years gradually disposed
OF various large holdings in the industries
in which he was interested, placing the
proceeds in safe investments
In March 1892, MIR. Conner was made
receiver of the Central Railroad ana
Banking Company of Georgia The elect
ion took place at Macon, where the ques-
ton of the appointment of a pernanens
receiver for the Central Railroad was then
being heard by Judge Speer A oompro-
mise agreement was reached among the
creditors of the road and the directo- 8
as the result of which Gen. i. r. Alexau-
der resigned president aud director and
Mr.. Conner was elected to fill these va
caneies, the understanding being that Mr.
Conner was to be made chairman of the
board of receivers, which was then the
legal position of the board of directors
As chairman of the board and president
of the company he was practically in sole
charge of the Central and its allied prop
critics. In July following this arrange
ment was done away with and Mr. Conner
was appointed sole receiver by the court
He continued in this capacity until Oc-
tober, 1893, when. upon application of
some of the creditors. Capt r. Somers
Hays of New York was appointed core
ceiver, under which management the
property continued until its reorganization
in its present shape which was affected in
October. 1885.
His Work as Receiver.
Mr.. Corners work as receiver and pres
ident of the Central Railroad brought him
more prominently before the public, and
made him more generally known than
would otherwise have been the case He
had been a director of the Central, under
the presidency of his friend, Capt w G.
Raoul. from 1882 unit the latter's defeat
by Gen E. p. Alexander in 1885, when he
retired from the board. He subsequently
served one year ~ a member of the board
under Gen. Alexander. His position as
director had given him a thorough knowl-
edge OF the affairs of the. Central. and he
realized fully the importance of the road
10 savannah. both as its chief artery of
commerce and because of the large hold
ings of its stock and securities by the
people of the city. including many estates
and benevolent institutions. He did not
realize fully at the time of accepting the
receivership the extent to which the prop
erlY had hecome encnm hernA and thn