Pueblo County Biographies

Pueblo County, Colorado
CHARLES O'CONNOR

Contributed by Karen Mitchell.

CHARLES O'CONNOR Charles O'Connor, a well known patrolman of Pueblo, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in June, 1856, and is a son of Larry and Mary (Nolan) O'Connor. Charles O'Connor remained a resident of the Emerald isle for only three years, for at the end of that time his parents brought their family to the United States, establishing their home in Connecticut in 1859. After residing there for a time they removed to Chicago, where Mr. O'Connor passed away but the mother is still living. Charles O'Connor was educated in the public schools of Chicago and in his youthful days and early manhood was employed at various occupations. He resolved, however, to try his fortunes in the west and came to Colorado in 1877, when this was still a western frontier state. In 1879 he engaged in railroad work and after a year went to the San Juan country during the mining excitement there. While a resident of that district he served as city marshal of Durango. covering the years from 1881 until 1883 inclusive. He afterward returned to Pueblo and it was about that time, on 17 July 1884, that he married Miss Margaret Sullivan. The children of this marriage are: Charles L., who is a resident of California; and Raymond D., who was accidentally killed at the age of twenty-seven years. It was in 1887 that Mr. O'Connor joined the police force of Pueblo and he has since been active in that connection. He served as chief of the department in 1891 and 1S92 under Mayor William Hamilton and has been on the force practically ever since, making an excellent record by the prompt and fearless manner in which he discharges his duties. Mr. O'Connor has always been a democrat in his political affiliations and an earnest worker in behalf of the party. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He was well known as an Indian fighter in the San Juan country and participated in many sanguinary engagements with the red men, being wounded on several occasions but always bearing his full share in inflicting punishment upon the savage red tribes. His long residence in Colorado has made him thoroughly familiar with the history of pioneer development in this state and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. History Of Colorado Illustrated Volume III Chicago The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1918

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