[1] At the age of 18, she married Marcus A. Conner, of Burlington, Vermont,[2] who died in 1881 in a drowning accident,[3] leaving her with two young sons to care for and educate.

With decided abilities for music, literature and the drama, circumstances led her to choose some form of dramatic work, and she began the careful study of elocution.

The vocal practice eradicated all nasal, shrill, and guttural tones, while the Delsarte method of exercising every muscle of the frame was beneficial to the body.

As a preliminary to graduation from the Training School of Elocution, each pupil was required to give a public reading, the audience consisting of invited friends.

These entertainments, in Association Hall, afforded a literary treat to the audience, and were an index of the accomplishments to be achieved by a course of study in such a school and under a teacher whose refining influence left an indelible impression on the pupil.

Aside from the graduates' and postgraduates' recitals, the school gave frequent entertainments, such as "Shakespeare" and "Longfellow" afternoons, "Dickens," "Bryant,"' and "Whittier" evenings.

[6] Owing to the constant increase of business, it became necessary for Conner to seek larger and more commodious quarters than the WMCA building afforded.

[6] After operating the school for more than a decade, Conner left Buffalo in 1898 to give elocution recitals on a tour of the Pacific coast.

[8] A follower of Christian Science, in 1906, in Buffalo, she was one of the founders of the International Progressive Thought League, along with Grace Carew Sheldon.