Graham, Young County
John Conner was born in present-day Indiana in 1802 to William Conner and Mekinges (or Macunchis), possibly the daughter of Delaware Chief William Anderson. When the Delaware Nation split and moved to Texas and Missouri due to American westward expansion, the almost twenty-year-old Conner set out towards the Pacific Ocean for adventure. After four years of traveling and learning new languages, Conner settled in Texas in 1842. His negotiating skills as a trader and ability to speak six Native languages, English, and Spanish aided him when he began working with Texas President Sam Houston to mend relationships between Native American tribes and the Republic of Texas. Working as an interpreter, guide and agent, Conner opened negotiations, effected treaties and helped to establish permanent boundary lines and open trade. Conner was able to convince several Native American tribes to meet representatives from the U.S. and Texas at Torrey's Trading House #2 near present-day Waco where articles of peace between all parties were signed. Conner also helped negotiate the Meusebach-Comanche Treaty between the Comanches and German settlers and a ceasefire between Comanche leader Pahayuco and Sam Houston after the Council House Fight of 1840. By 1845, Conner helped create peace agreements between Texas and most known Native American tribes in the state. On February 7, 1853, the Texas Legislature ordered the Texas Land Commissioner to issue a land grant to Conner in Haskell and Young Counties, making him the only known Native American to receive such an allotment from the state. In 1857, Conner became the Principal Leader of the Delaware Nation. Conner died in 1872, but he is remembered for his instrumental role in negotiating peace between Native Americans and European settlers. (2021) Marker is property of the State of Texas