OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

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He was united in marriage A.D. 1851, to Elizabeth Croyle, and to this union were born the following children: John A., merchant, who resides on a part of the old homestead, and is postmaster at Connor; Margaret, deceased; James B., attorney-at-law, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Francis J.; Peter J., at present preparing for admission to the bar; Philip, now in the employ of the Hartford Paving and Construction company, and Bertha M., teacher in the Johnstown schools. Having trained their children to habits of industry, and educated them to fill places of influence and usefulness, James O'Connor and his excellent wife continued to live quietly on the old homestead in Somerset county, until October 5, 1896, when Mr. O'Connor died, surrounded by wife and family, whom he loved so well, and at his own request his body was laid at rest in the little country grave- yard near his former home.     Francis Joseph O'Connor was educated in the common schools of Somerset county, and at special schools known as normal schools. These "normals " were subscription schools, for the preparation of teachers and usually taught by those whose education and experience fitted them for a professorship in state normal schools.     While a mere boy in years, Mr. O'Connor began teaching, and taught seven terms in the common school and five terms of normal school, in his native county.     But the life of a successful teacher in a country school was far from being the goal of Frank O'Connor's ambition, and he soon sought a wider field for the exercise of his talents. Accordingly, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan as a student, and made such good use of his time there, that he graduated from that institution

in the spring of 1884, with the degree of LL.B., and was admitted to practice before both the supreme court and the circuit courts of the State of Michigan. After graduating he returned to Somerset county and taught school for a year. Then, having passed the examination for admission to the bar of his native county, May 8, 1884, he began the practice of law at Somerset, May 4, 1885.     Having been admitted to the bar of Cambria county, November 9, 1886, he came to Johnstown and opened an office on Franklin street, opposite the old post-office building. Here he was joined a year later by his brother, James B. O'Connor. The firm of O'Connor Bros. soon built up a paying practice, and continued until 1889, when he was elected district attorney of Cambria county, the firm was dissolved, and he has since occupied the commodious and convenient offices in the Woolf Block.     In 1894 he was elected city solicitor by the councils of the city of Johnstown, and performed the duties of that office for the term of two years, for which be was elected, his term expiring in May, 1896.     On the 28th of October, 1891, Mr. O'Connor was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Bailey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Bailey, of his adopted city.     Mr. O'Connor has the happy faculty of winning both the friendship and the respect of those with whom he associates. He is at home anywhere, and can adapt himself to any company. He is a born orator, and when he has occasion to address an audience or a jury, his earnest words, with his fine presence and splendid physique, make a strong impression.     In politics Mr. O'Connor is a democrat, and in 1889 was elected district attorney on that ticket. He performed the duties of that office

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