Thomas G. O'Connor
1824-1867
There isn’t a lot of information about Thomas G. O’Connor. We do know that he was born around 1824 in Ireland. At some point he was married in Ireland, and we can track him through his first three children. The first was born in Ireland in 1847, the second in New York around 1850 and the third in Illinois in 1855. Thomas’ wife Alice died in Iowa sometime before 1860, and by March 12, 1863 he had moved to Portland with his three children.
Thomas was probably following his brother Michael to Portland. Michael arrived before 1860 and began working at the What Cheer Hotel at Yamhill and Taylor, and from 1861 to 1868 was the proprietor of the establishment.
Thomas married Anne McLaughlin (also born in Ireland) in 1863 and they took up residence at the corner of Front and Clay. By 1866 they added two more children to their family.
The Incident
In 1867, Portland was a building city of 6,700 people with more than its share of vices and crime. The town Marshal (this was before the full-time police force was created in 1870), was approved by the town council to hire two deputies and on April 10, 1867, Thomas O’Connor was hired.
Four months later on August 21, 1867, Frank Miguel, a native of France, walked out of the Union Hotel at 2:45 in the morning. Miguel was carrying a handgun and by the time he reached First and Morrison, he was shooting it in the air. Deputy Marshals O’Connor and Townsend heard the shots and caught up with Miguel in front of the Oro Fino Saloon at First and Stark.
Miguel raised his gun to shoot O’Connor. He grabbed the gun, pushing it down as it went off, shooting O’Connor in the right thigh and breaking his leg. O’Connor fell to the street, still holding on to Miguel’s gun. Townsend then shot Miguel in the abdomen. Miguel started to strangle Townsend who managed to shoot Miguel in the face, ending the fight. Townsend then went for help while O’Connor kept Miguel covered with Miguel’s gun.
There were no hospitals in Portland in 1867. Miguel was taken to the jail where he died two days later. O’Conner was taken to his brother’s hotel where he died nine days later, at the age of 43.
Thomas was probably following his brother Michael to Portland. Michael arrived before 1860 and began working at the What Cheer Hotel at Yamhill and Taylor, and from 1861 to 1868 was the proprietor of the establishment.
Thomas married Anne McLaughlin (also born in Ireland) in 1863 and they took up residence at the corner of Front and Clay. By 1866 they added two more children to their family.
The Incident
In 1867, Portland was a building city of 6,700 people with more than its share of vices and crime. The town Marshal (this was before the full-time police force was created in 1870), was approved by the town council to hire two deputies and on April 10, 1867, Thomas O’Connor was hired.
Four months later on August 21, 1867, Frank Miguel, a native of France, walked out of the Union Hotel at 2:45 in the morning. Miguel was carrying a handgun and by the time he reached First and Morrison, he was shooting it in the air. Deputy Marshals O’Connor and Townsend heard the shots and caught up with Miguel in front of the Oro Fino Saloon at First and Stark.
Miguel raised his gun to shoot O’Connor. He grabbed the gun, pushing it down as it went off, shooting O’Connor in the right thigh and breaking his leg. O’Connor fell to the street, still holding on to Miguel’s gun. Townsend then shot Miguel in the abdomen. Miguel started to strangle Townsend who managed to shoot Miguel in the face, ending the fight. Townsend then went for help while O’Connor kept Miguel covered with Miguel’s gun.
There were no hospitals in Portland in 1867. Miguel was taken to the jail where he died two days later. O’Conner was taken to his brother’s hotel where he died nine days later, at the age of 43.