BIOGRAPHY: Edmund CONRAD, Mifflin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ _________________________ The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 603. EDMUND CONRAD, McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pa., son of Henry and Catharine (Koppenhaver) Conrad, is of German descent. He was born in Myerstown, Lebanon county, Pa., July 24, 1840. His great-grandfather, John Conrad, took part in the struggle for American independence, as colonel in the Continental army. Michael Conrad, son of John Conrad, was one of the pioneer farmers of Lebanon county. He was an earnest, conscientious Christian, a devout member of the Lutheran church. He reared a family of children: Eli, who married and had children, John, David, Lorilla, Eli, Mary and Rebecca; Elizabeth (Mrs. Heffelfinger), of Lebanon county, lived to the age of eighty-four; Mary, died in early womanhood; and Henry. Henry Conrad was born and reared in Lebanon county, where he received a limited German and English education in the district schools. He learned the business of tanning at Myerstown with Mr. Bridenbaugh, serving an apprenticeship of three years. His trade being finished, he worked as journeyman at Lebanon for several years, and later carried on business for himself. He was considered an expert at currying and tanning. Besides his tanning interests, he became engaged in shipping on the Union canal, where he operated a number of boats. After a successful career, he resided for a short time in Lewistown, and then came to Oliver township. From the year 1852 he was a resident of McVeytown, where he died November 28, 1863, aged fifty years. Mr. Conrad was most highly esteemed by all who knew him. In his earlier years he was a Democrat, but afterwards supported the Know Nothing party, and later still became an ardent Republican. He was an elder of the Lutheran church at Lebanon, Pa. Mr. Conrad was married March 23, 1836, to Catharine, daughter of Michael and Sophia (Zimmerman) Koppenhaver. They had two children: Sophia, who died aged five years; and Edmund. Mrs. Catharine Conrad died May 5, 1883, in her seventy-second year, at the home of her son, Edmund Conrad, in McVeytown. Edmund Conrad received his education in the district schools of Lebanon and Mifflin counties. He was yet a young man when he became the support of his parents. At the age of fifteen, he went to work in the rolling mill at McVeytown, and some time after began to learn his trade in the same town with Adam Brimmer, tinsmith. He served an apprenticeship of four years, and then engaged in business for himself. This he continued for several years and then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona, following his trade there for several years. But, in 1862, owing to impaired health, he was obliged to relinquish his position, and return to McVeytown. In September of the same year, he enlisted in Company C, Fourth regiment, Pennsylvania Emergency Troops, and received his honorable discharge at Harrisburg after the battle of Antietam. Returning to McVeytown he resumed his business in the tinsmith and manufacturing line, and continued it up to 1873. Then he became the editor and proprietor of the McVeytown Journal, at that time a semi-monthly sheet of four pages, about eight by ten inches. Under the new management the paper thrived, and has been twice enlarged. Its pages now contain seven columns. He is a Republican. While he has never sought public office, he has served the borough in various capacities. He has been a notary public since 1873. During the Fifty-first United States Congress, Mr. Conrad held a position in the Document Room, Washington, D. C. He has been and is still, an active participant in fraternal organizations. He is a past master of McVeytown Lodge, No. 376, F. and A. M., and a charter member of Bright Star Lodge, No. 705, I. O. O. F., of which he has been secretary since its institution, March 14, 1870. He is also a member of Chaplain Thomas Stevenson Post, No. 482, G.A. R., McVeytown. Mr. Conrad was married January 9, 1862, to Hannah C., daughter of James and Catharine (Setzler) Stackpole. They have had three children: Henry, died young; William J., married Margaret A., daughter of Valentine and Mary Rothrock, has two children, Gertrude B. and Stackpole; and Blanche B. M., died aged fourteen years. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.