Biographical Annals of Northumberland County: CONRAD File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tim Conrad and Tony Rebuck. tconrad@lucent.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. Reprinted from Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County Pennsylvania. J. L. Floyd & Co. CONRAD Pages 705 & 706, 970 & 971, & 286. Contact Tim Conrad tconrad@lucent.com for more on this line. GEORGE M. CONRAD, of Sunbury, a citizen of that borough in touch with its best interests, commercial, official, social, and one whose intelligent activities have made him a power in all those circles, bears a name which has been identified with this region for several generations. Jacob and Adam Conrad are shown by the records to have been taxables in Augusta township, Northumberland county, in 1774. In the maternal line Mr. Conrad is a member of another prominent family, the Fasold family, the branch to which his mother belongs having been settled in Northumberland county for about a century. At the Sunbury courthouse are recorded wills of two Jacob Conrads. One lived in Sunbury borough, and his will, made May 20, 1811, was probated July 7, 1812. He purchased the home-stead on which he died, a property of 150 acres, from George Harrison. Mention is made of nine children: Nicholas, Jacob, Peter, Henry, John (who was given the homestead), Mary (married David Melick), Elizabeth (married Jacob Henbrook[Stenbrook]), Susanna (married George Hall) and Catharine married (George Long). The daughter Susanna was given the plantation where she and her husband, George Hall, lived. The other Jacob Conrad, farmer of Augusta township, "being sick and weak," made his will July 8, 1815, and it was probated Aug. 29, 1815. His wife's name was Catharine, and the following sons and daughters are mentioned: Catharine (married John Zerfoss), Jacob, Elizabeth, Henry, John Nicholas (under twenty-one), John, George, Peter, Christian and David. Of a later date is the will of Peter Conrad, Senior, pioneer, who lived in Augusta township, Northumberland county, and whose wife was Magadalena. He evidently died advanced in years, and his will, made May 30, 1837, was probated June 12, 1837. The children were: Jacob, John, Henry, Christian, David, Daniel (obtained homestead), Catharine (Mrs. Wagner, deceased), Magdalena (married Samuel Kreager), Elizabeth (Mrs. Kreidinger, who lived in French Creek, Crawford Co., Pa.) and Mary [granddaughter] (Mrs. Barger). Taking up the early records of the Conrads, we find that John Conrad, the great-grandfather of George M. Conrad owned a farm of some four hundred acres east of Sunbury. This John Conrad, born Nov. 18 1777, died June 11, 1839. He married Julian Cooper, who was born June 1, 1778, and lived and died in Augusta township, passing away Dec. 22, 1841, aged sixty-three years, six months, twenty one days. They had children as follows: Susanna, married Samuel Herb; Ann Maria married Decaton Herb and had Julia, Maria, Daniel, Decaton (married Mrs. Maria Dietrich) and Samuel; William married Susan Huey and (second) a Miss Bartholomew, and had a son George; Eli married Polly Geringer; George married Hester Reeser; Daniel married a Miss Wolfe; Sarah married Samuel Garinger; Julia Ann married Henry Gass; Catharine (Kate) married a Mr. Cooper; Elidia married a Mr. Schrader; Molly married William Miller. One Henry Conrad, who is buried at the Augustaville Church, was born Oct. 8, 1779, and died March 29 1854. He had a brother John - possibly the John mentioned above. George Conrad, son of John, born Aug. 26, 1808 died May 17, 1877. He owned a large farm, comprising some two hundred and fifty acres, upon which what is now the eastern portion of Sunbury is built. He married Hester Reeser, born July 26, 1811 died Nov. 11, 1886, and they became the parents of the following children: Catharine married Albert Beckley and had four children, Florine (married Charles Zerbe), Clara (married John Evert), Alice (died young) and Hattie; William died young; Harriet married Philip Eckman and had a daughter Esther; Henry H. married Sophia Fasold; Gideon was the next in the family, Silas married Ellen Clark; Amandus Aaron, the youngest, married Mary Wise. Henry H. Conrad, son of George, was born in 1843 and died Oct. 16, 1894. He and his wife Sophia (Fasold), daughter of George and Mary (Kreiger) Fasold, who survives him, were parents of seven children: George M., who is mentioned fully below; Cora I., wife of W. P. G. Hoffman; Esther; Charles A.; Ida M., who is the wife of J. B. Gould; Emily, who died in 1906, and who was the wife of William Scott and the mother of two children, Thomas and Henry; and William, teller in the Sunbury National Bank, who married Maud Reitz. George M. Conrad, son of Henry H. and Sophia (Fasold) Conrad, was born in 1864 in what was then Upper Augusta township, Northumberland county, in which region the Conrads have long been numerous and prominent. In 1898 he established himself in business at Sunbury, with which borough he is now identified as one of its foremost residents. Mr. Conrad is an extensive dealer in coal, flour, grain and feed, making a specialty of the commodity first named. in which line he has built up so large a trade that he is now the largest dealer in anthracite coal in the borough. His place of business, on South Third street, has been enlarged to meet the demands of expanding trade until it now covers nearly half of a city block. The office is at No. 135 South Third street, adjoining the warehouses, yards and switches, the whole plant being well adapted to the handling of the immense business carried on. Although his business affairs have attained such large proportions, Mr. Conrad has shown himself an able manager, and he has found time for public- spirited service to the borough in spite of the heavy demands made upon him by his private interests. His name has been associated with almost every project of local importance for years, and he has taken an active part in the civil administration in various important capacities. For two years he served as member of the school board; for one year filled the office of borough treasurer; and for four years was a member of the borough council, during the last two years of his service in that body being its efficient president. He has always been identified with the Democratic party, of which he is an ardent and influential supporter. In 1903 Mr. Conrad assisted in organizing the Sunbury National Bank, and has since been one of the directors of that institution. He has long been a prominent member of the First Reformed Church, of which he has been treasurer for a number of years, also taking a leading part in the work of the Sunday school, which he has served as superintendent for about fifteen years, still holding that position. Socially he is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America and of the Masonic fraternity, in the latter connection belonging to Maclay Lodge, No. 632, F. & A.M. of Sunbury; to Mount Hermon Commandery, K.T., of Sunbury; and to Williamsport Consistory, A.A.S.R. On May 21, 1890, Mr. Conrad married Della A. Burns, daughter of Dennis and Kate (Kramer) Burns, of Boise City, Idaho, and to this union has been born one daughter, Ruth, who is still attending school. The family occupy a handsome residence on East Market street, Sunbury, which Mr. Conrad built in 1900 and enlarged and remodeled in 1908, further beautifying what was already a charming home. It is one of the attractive homes which adorn the "Hill" in Sunbury. In the fall of 1906 Mr. and Mrs. Conrad visited her mother in Idaho and took a trip to the Pacific coast. Her father died in 1874. CHARLES A. CONRAD, member of the firm of Conrad & Shotsberger, proprietors of the "Fairmount Hotel," Sunbury, was born in that borough Feb. 12, 1870, son of Henry H. and Sophia (Fasold) Conrad. Mr. Conrad attended the public schools of Sunbury and in his early years was employed with his father at farming and teaming. He also clerked for his brother George M. Conrad, in his store, for a period of twelve years. He then engaged in the hotel business in 1894-95, after which he was associated with his brother George M. in the coal business for a period of seven years. In 1901, in connection with Galen Shotsberger, he began to conduct the "Fairmount Hotel," which has had a prosperous existence under his efficient management. Socially Mr. Conrad is a member of the P.O.S. of A., F.O.E., Sunbury Lodge of Elks, Conclave, and No. 1 Fire Company. He is a Democrat in politics. Mr. Conrad married (first) Emma B. Lawrence, daughter of Abraham Lawrence, and after her death, which occurred in 1901, he married (second) Bertha Oyster, daughter of George Oyster. They have three children: Helen, Ruth and Charles. John Conrad, Mrs. Eckman's grandfather, was born [Nov.] 18, 1777, and died June 11, 1839. He married Julia Cooper, who was born June 1, 1778, and died Dec. 22, 1841. They lived on the hill near Sunbury, and Mr. Conrad gave his attention principally to the raising of fruit, having the largest orchard in the vicinity. He made a specialty of peaches, which he took to market in such quantities that he used a six- horse team. Nine children were born to John and Julia (Cooper) Conrad,(1) Darnel married a Miss Wolfe: (2) William married Susan Huey and (second) a Bartholomew (3) George married Esther Reiser. (4) Julia Ann married Henry Gass and had children, William, Jacob, George, Maria, Susan, Louise and. Harriet. (5) Sarah married a Mr. Gebrunger. (6) Elia's, born June 20, 1819, died Jan. 27, 1849. His, wife was a Gehrunger. (7) Kate married a Mr. Cooper. (8), Ann Maria married Decaton, Herb and had five children, Julia, Maria, Daniel, Decaton and Samuel. (9) Susan married Samuel Herb. GEORGE CONRAD, son of John and Julia, (Cooper) Conrad, was the father of Mrs. Eckman. He was born Aug. 26, 1808, in Upper Augusta township, and died May 17, 1877. His wife, Esther (Reiser), born July 26, 1811, died Nov. 11, 1886. They were the parents of the following children: (1) Catharine married Albert Beckley, and their children were Florine (married Charles Zerbe). Clara (married John Evert), Alice (died young) and Hattie. (2) William died young. (3) Harriet is the widow of Philip Eckman, of Sunbury. (4) Henry married Sophia Fasold and they had a family of seven, George M. (who married Della Burns and had a daughter Ruth), Cora (wife of W. P. G. Hoffman), Esther (died young), Charles (who married a Miss Lawrence and subsequently a Miss Eyster), Ida (wife of J. B. Gould), Emily (Mrs. William Scott, whose children are Thomas and Henry) and William. (5) Amandus A. married Mary Wise. (6) Gideon. (7) Silas married Ellen Clark. HARRY F. CONRAD, one of the younger merchants of Sunbury doing a thriving business there, was born April 21, 1882, in Penn township, Snyder Co., Pa., son of Aaron A. Conrad. He comes of a family which has been identified with this part of Northumberland county for several generations. Jacob and Adam Conrad are shown by the records to have been taxables in Augusta township in 1774. In the early accounts of the Conrads we find that John Conrad, the great- grandfather of Harry F. Conrad, owned a farm of some four hundred acres east of Sunbury. This John Conrad, born [Nov.] 18, 1777, died June 11. 1839. He married Julia Cooper, and they had children as follows: Daniel married a Miss Wolfe; William married Susan Huey and (second) a Mr. Bartholomew, and had a son George; Eli married Polly Gerlinger; George married Esther Beeser; Julia Ann married Henry Gass and had William, Jacob, George, Maria, Susan, Louise and Harriet; Kate married Mr. Cooper; Sarah married Charles Gebrunger; Ann Maria married Decadon Herb and had Julia, Maria, Daniel, Decadon (married Mrs. Maria Dietrich) and Samuel; Susan married Samuel Herb. George Conrad, son of John, born Aug. 26, 1808, died May 17, 1877. He owned a large farm, comprising some two hundred and fifty acres, upon which what is now the eastern portion of Sunbury is built. He married Esther Reeser, born July 26, 1811, died Nov. 11, 1886, and they became the parents of the following children: Catharine married Albert Buckley and had four children, Florine (married Charles Zerbe), Clara (married John Evert), Alice (died young) and Hattie; William died young; Harriet married Philip Eckman and had a daughter Esther; Henry married Sophia Fasold; Aaron A. is mentioned below; Gideon was the next in the family; Silas married Ellen Clark. Aaron A. Conrad, son of George, was born May 9, 1852, in Upper Augusta township, and received his education there in the common schools. He was reared to farm life, but has not been engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. In 1877 he engaged in merchandising in that part of Upper Augusta township which later became East Sunbury, and is now included within the limits of the borough of Sunbury, his store being located at the southeast corner of Tenth and Market streets. There he did business until 1880, when he moved to Penn township, Snyder county, and became interested in milling. In May, 1886, he moved to Selinsgrove, this county, where he has since made his home. For some time he carried on a general gristmilling business at an old mill locally known in the earlier days as Snyder's mill, and later as Conrad's mill; the establishment is over one hundred years old, and is one of the landmarks of Lower Augusta township. For eight years Mr. Conrad did an extensive business shipping fruit to New York, Pittsburg and the West in the fall season. He is now living retired. Successful and energetic in his business undertakings, he has also been active and useful in his relations to the community, having served as school director six years, during which time he was president of the board four years and treasurer one year; as street commissioner one year and as assessor, three years, in spite of the fact that he was a Democrat in a Republican stronghold. He has been prominent in local fraternal organizations, having been first president of Washington Camp No. 736, P.O.S. of A., of Selinsgrove (he has passed through all the chairs); and is a past grand of Selinsgrove Lodge, No. 197, I.O.O.F, and active in the work of that body. He served fourteen years as a trustee of the Reformed Church of which he and his family are members. On Dec. 10, 1877, Mr. Conrad married Mary E. Weis, daughter of Urias and Sarah (Duke) Weis, farming people of Washington township, Snyder county, and they have had two children, Roberta (who lives with her parents) and Harry F. In March, 1911, Mr. Aaron A. Conrad returned to Sunbury, where he now makes his home. Harry F. Conrad received a public school education at Selinsgrove, and during his earlier years took an active part in local athletic affairs. When he started out for himself he became a traveling salesman for the Witman, Schwartz Company, wholesale grocers of Harrisburg, Pa., in whose employ he continued for six years, from June 17, 1904, to May 1, 1910, his territory being in Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon and Bedford counties. Meantime, he had gained considerable familiarity with the trade and wide experience, so that when he started in the business on his own account it was not as a novice. On May 4, 1910, he purchased the stock, good will and fixtures of J. F. Berlew, a grocer located at the corner of Market and Tenth streets, Sunbury, and there be has since been established in business, handling a complete line of fancy groceries and fresh meats. He employs four clerks, and has a large trade, making deliveries all over the town. Personally Mr. Conrad has a high reputation, and he has every prospect of making a substantial place for himself among the prosperous business men of the borough. On Sept. 10, 1905, Mr. Conrad married Anna M. Miller, daughter of Joseph A. and. Mary J. (Fry) Miller, of Lewistown, Pa. They have one son, Joseph Miller Conrad. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad are members of the Lutheran Church.