Charles Fremont Conner (1857-1905)
by Gretchen Brown
Charles Fremont Conner was born February 4, 1857 (though other sources conflict with differing dates of 1852 and 1860) in Richmond, Indiana, the fifth child of James and Sarah Conner. Conner’s first artistic expression was while employed by the Hoosier Drill Company (later International Harvester) where he painted landscapes and decorations on farm machinery. Completely self-taught, Mr. Conner did not make use of a studio, but painted his works largely out of doors. He was also a woodcarver, a mechanic and played the coronet in Conner’s Military Band with his four brothers.
In 1887, Conner and his brother Albert, also an artist, went to California. Here, Charles met and married his wife Carrie Stanton. This marriage produced two children, Russell Conner and Pauline Conner Foien.
By the time he returned in 1903, there was an association of artists known as The Richmond Group, of which he became a prominent member. Charles was said to be of modest personality and it was said of him by a friend that he “does not appear to have realized his own ability.”
“A Wet Night in February” and “Woodland Memory”, two of his most highly acclaimed works, were exhibited in 1903 in Indianapolis. “A Wet Night in February” went on to be selected for exhibit at the St. Louis World’s Fair.
The Richmond Art Museum owns many of his paintings today which were on display during a 2008 exhibition. Most others are valued in private collections. “Old Swimming Hole” is owned by the Northeastern Wayne School Corporation, bought in part by the collection of funds of school children.
Charles Conner, afflicted by poor health throughout his life, passed away in Fountain City on February 15, 1905. He was only forty-eight.
Sources:
Dingwerth, Shaun T. The Richmond Group artists
Dingwerth, Shaun T. California to Indiana: The Art of Charles Conner 1857-1905. Richmond Art Museum
Morrisson-Reeves Library History 