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DIED: O'CONNOR - In Santa Cruz, April 25th, P.J. O'Connor, aged 74 years, a native of New York.

Interment will be from the Wessendorf & Staffler undertaking parlors at 9 o'clock Monday morning. Mass will be held at Holy Cross Church.

Deceased Leaves Large Family

Thomas J. O'Connor, a resident of Pacheco Av., having lived in this city for more than a year, died Friday morning at a local sanitarium after a serious illness. Deceased was 74 years old and was born in the state of New York, where for a long time he was engaged in the commission business.

Surviving him is a wife and large family of sons and daughters: Thomas of Philadelphia, John of Los Angeles, William of Ruby City, Alaska, Justin of Portland, Ore., Mrs. Layola O'Connor-Johnston of New York City and the Misses Alice and Mary O'Connor of Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Evening News (April 28, 1913)

Last Rites for Thos. J. O'Connor

The funeral services for the late Thomas J. O'Connor were held this morning at Holy Cross Church where a high requiem mass was sung for the repose of his soul. A group of friends and the relatives were present at the services and followed the hearse to the Catholic cemetery, where the interment was made. Monsignor P. J. Fisher and Father Conneally were both present at the grave.

The pall bearers this morningin were as follows: T. J. Mellott, M. O'Keefe, P. C. Morrissey, Harry V. Tait, George Kenney and M. Devitt.

Santa Cruz Evening News (April ?, 1913)

The Passing of a Pioneer

Thomas J. O'Connor died in this city April 25th, after a brief illness of six weeks. Mr. O'Connor was a well known business man of Portland, Ore., in the early days, and while there a member of Geo. Wright Post No. 2 G.A.R. of that city. Mr. O'Connor crossed the plains in ‘62 from St. Paul Minn., with Captain James L. Fisk, who headed a government expedition for the protection of the emigrants who were rushing from the States to the gold fields of the Salmon river district, located in a country then known as Washington Territory. He was an active member of the Vigilantes of these days and saw strenuous times during the reign of the road agents in that Territory. He participated in the several stampedes to new diggings, the one to Last Chance Gulch, now the city of Helena, being the most memorable and productive. The expedition of which Mr. O'Connor was an enlisted guard, consumed three months crossing the plains and was organized by the government to protect the emigrants from the Indian uprisings, many tribes being on the warpath in that year.

Mr. O'Connor was one of the pioneer guards of St. Paul, Minn., and from its ranks enrolled in the First Minnesota Regiment prior to the call to go to the front.

Mr. O'Connor leaves a wife and seven children, and two grandsons: Thomas J., Philadelphia, Pa.; William F., Ruby City, Alaska; John L., Los Angeles; Justin P. and son, Portland Ore., Mary Hamilton O'Connor and Alex O'Connor, Santa Cruz; Mrs. Loyola O'Connor Johnstone and son Richard L Johnson, New York City.

Unidentified Newspaper, contributed by Phil Reader (April 29, 1913)

Last Rites For Thos. J. O'Connor

The funeral services for the late Thomas J. O'Connor were held this morning at Holy Cross church where a high requiem mass was sung for the repose of his soul. A group of friends and the relatives were present at the services and followed the hearse to the Catholic cemetery where the interment was made. Monsignor P.J. Fisher and father Connelly were both present at the grave.

The pallbearers this morning were as follows: T.J. Mellott, M. O'Keefe, P.C. Morrissey, Harry V. Tait, George Kenney, and M. Devitt.

Unidentified Newspaper, contributed by Phil Reader (April 30, 1913)

Card of Thanks

Mrs. O'Connor and family desire in this public way to thank their friends and neighbors for the sympathy and kindness shown them in their recent bereavement. They wish to express their gratitude to the reverend clergyman and Sisters of the Holy Cross for their consolation and to thank the members of the choir for the beautiful rendition of the requiem mass. They wish to thank the gentlemen who so kindly acted as pall bearers, and also the ushers, and to acknowledge a deep appreciation of the courtesies of the press and to sincerely thank the sanitarium corps and the mortuary firm for their efficient services- Adv.

Date of Birth: 1839-01-08

Date of Death: 1913-25-04

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Holy Cross Cemetery (old)

Plot: J-S.Fenc

Mortuary: W&S

Cause of Death: Und/Illness

Occupation: Sales/

Religion: RC

Local Address: Pacheco Ave

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: NY

Father Native of: John (IR)

Mother Native of: Costello_ Ellen

Enlisted: 1862/08/19

Discharged: 1862/08/26

Military Unit: MN_ CtznSld_Flandrau

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R-N/L

GAR#: WR32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: SEN 1913/04/26?