Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Conard, Edward B. October 15, 1843 - 
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Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

EDWARD B. CONARD, one of the leading farmers of Upper Merion 
township, was born on the farm on which he now resides, 
October 15, 1843. He was reared on the farm, attending the 
public school of the neighborhood, and later he was a 
student two terms in the Bucks County Normal Institute at 
Carversville, and also for some time in Quaker City Business 
College, Philadelphia, graduating from the latter 
institution.

In politics Mr. Conard is an earnest Republican, but has 
never sought office. He has been a school director many 
years. He never fails to attend primary meetings of the 
party or the general or township elections. He has been 
president of the Ridge Avenue Market Company for nine years, 
having been a director for many years and one of the 
prominent workers in its organization.

On August 4, 1862, he joined a company called the Wetheral 
Blues, organized by Dr. Wetheral for nine months' service, 
which became Company I of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth 
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. It was mustered into 
service at Harrisburg, August 15, 1863, and went at once to 
Washington, where he spent a few weeks in drilling. When the 
Army of the Potomac returned to Washington after the 
Peninsular campaign the company became part of the First 
Brigade, Third Division, Fifth Corps, commanded by General 
Humphrey. They were under the first fire at the second 
battle of Bull Run. In the retreat that followed they fell 
back to protect the capital (Washington), remaining here one 
day, time enough to procure seven days' rations, for the 
long and tedious march to Antietam, here to head off the 
enemy again. Their division being held in reserve at 
Frederick City, did not arrive on the battle field till the 
18th of September, 1862. The hard-fought battle on the 17th 
proved too much for the enemy, who commenced retreating that 
evening. 

When the Third Division of the Fifth Corps reached the 
Potomac, they found the enemy on the opposite bank. They lay 
near the Potomac, doing picket duty for about one month. 
Then a reconnaissance was made over into Virginia, and they 
were under fire at Kearneysville, forcing the enemy back to 
Winchester. Here they found the enemy in force and they were 
obliged to fall back and recross the Potomac. November found 
Mr. Conard's regiment crossing the Potomac at Harper's 
Ferry. Passing through Virginia to the Rappahannock, they 
found the enemy in force at Fredericksburg, where on 
December 13, 1862, his division was in the terrible charge 
of Marye's Heights, his regiment being on the front line and 
farther up the heights than any other regiment, as shown by 
the number of their slain. In the five days' battle of 
Chancellorsville, beginning May 1863, Mr. Conard was in the 
thickest of the fight.

At the close of their term of service the company came back 
to Harrisburg and was mustered out May 18, 1863. Content 
with what he had seen of war, and with his participation in 
military movements, Mr. Conard returned to his home and 
settled down to tilling the soil on the farm where he was 
born and expected to pass the remainder of his life. He has 
been a member of Zook Post, No. 11, of Norristown, since 
1892. October 19, 1875, he married Ella V., daughter of 
David and Hannah M. (Cowgill) Walker, born February 20, 
1850. David Walker (father of Ella V. Conard) was born 
October 8, 1818, in Tredyffrin township, Chester county, 
where he grew to manhood.He received his primary education 
in the public school and afterwards attended Joseph Foulke's 
Friends' Boarding School at Gwynedd. On reaching manhood he 
inherited in the same township in which he was born a farm 
of fifty acres, increasing it later by purchasing fifty 
acres near it, on which he lived the remainder of his life. 
He died May 13, 1889. He was a member of the Society of 
Friends. In politics he was a Whig and became a Republican 
on the organization of that party in 1856.He served as 
supervisor two terms October 27, 1841, he married Hannah H. 
Cowgill, who was born in Frederick county, Virginia, 
November 16, 1816, and died June 3, 1870.
 
Their children: Eliza C., born August 15, 1842, unmarried 
and now resides with her sister, Mrs. Conard.Ella V.; 
Winfield H., born April 29, 1852, died November 24, 
1876.Louis, born August 14, 1860, unmarried, and now resides 
with Mrs. Conard.

The children of Edward B. and Ella V. Conard Winfield 
Walker, born November 11, 1876, married, April 8, 1903, to 
Mary Kemble Walker, daughter of Jacob B. Walker, deceased, 
and Hannah S. Walker. Eliza Cowgill, born December 9, 1879, 
married, November 2, 1901[2?], to Jacob Beiden Walker, son 
of Jacob B. Walker, deceased, and Hannah S. Walker. Juanita, 
born November 23, 1881, died November 23, 1892.

Winfield W. Conard was reared on his father's farm and 
graduated in the public schools of Upper Merion at thirteen 
years of age and then entered Friends' Central School at 
fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia, graduating in 
1893. He entered the University of Pennsylvania in the same 
year and graduated in June, 1897, as Bachelor of Science in 
Civil Engineering. He received Engineer in 1903. Soon after 
graduating he accepted a position at the Pencoyd Iron Works 
and remained with the American Bridge Company as 
draughtsman, estimator and designer, for over six years. He 
is now an estimator and designer for the Phoenix Iron Works.

The Conard family was one of the first to settle in this 
part of the state of Pennsylvania. Thones Kunders located in 
Germantown, being among those who sailed from Crefeld, 
Germany, in the ship, Concord, Seventh-month, 24, 1683. He 
landed at Philadelphia, Tenth-month, 6, 1683. He married 
Elin Streypers, and died in 1729. Their children:
Cunraed Cunraeds, married first Ann Klinken, second Anne 
Burson.
Madtis Conders, married Barbara Tyson.
John Cunrads, Horsham, married first Alice Lukens, second, 
Elizabeth Denis.
Ann married a Streeper. 
Agnes, married Samuel Powell.
Elizabeth, married Griffith Jones.
Henry Cunraeds, Whitpain, married Katherine Streeper.

Of these children John Conrads of Horsham had several 
children by the first wife, Alice Lukens. By the second 
wife, Elizabeth Dennis, he had one son, Dennis Conrad, who 
lived in Lower Merion.

Dennis Conrad had the following children Isaac, Alice, 
married a Blaker; John (great-grandfather of Edward B. 
Conard); Jonathan, and Mary, married a Likens.

John Conard's children were: Jonathan, Dennis (grandfather), 
Hannah, Ann, married a Norton, Deborah.
Dennis Canard was born in 1785, and married Mary Huff. Their 
children: Joseph H. (father), John C., married a Widener; 
Susan, married William Carver. She was born February 10, 
1810.
Mary H., born July 21, 1812; married Charles Waltz.
Ann, born November 17, 1815. 
Lydia H., born January 18, 1818.
John H., born September 22, 1820. 
Charlotte H., born October 17, 1822.

In 1820 Dennis Conard bought the farm now owned by Edward B. 
Conrad, of John Moore at sheriff's sale. John Moore had 
bought it of Mr. Jenkins, and Mr. Jenkins of Robert Morris.

Joseph H. Conard, son of Dennis, was born in Horsham 
township, Montgomery county, December 14, 1808, died October 
10, 1863. September 20, 1842, he married Eliza A. Bright, 
daughter of Edward and Martha (Lukens) Bright.

Edward Bright was born August 17, 1789, and died October 31, 
1832, and his wife, Martha, was born July 4, 1796, and died 
March 1, 1831.

Mrs. Joseph Conard was born August 8, 1824, and died January 
2, 1897. The children of Joseph and Eliza Conard were:
Edward B.
Melissa, born January 18, 1845, married Daniel F. Moore. 
They had one child, Madison, who died in childhood. Melissa 
died February 26, 1869.
Martha H., born June 24, 1847, died January 8, 1848.
Theodore, born October 18, 1848, died April 14, 1849.
Lydia A., born February 12, 1850, married Henry McKinney. 
Their children: Henry N., died in infancy: Melissa, died in 
infancy; William A., born December 3, 1878, married 
September 8, 1903, to Roberta Montgomery of Rochester, New 
York, now a missionary in West China; Helen F., born April 
6, 1889.
Susanna, born December 14, 1852, died October 22, 1861.
William C., born May 25, 1856, died December 3, 1875.

Joseph H. Conard came with his parents to the farm now owned 
by his son, Edward, in 1820, and became the owner of the 
place by inheritance and purchase about 1861. He was a 
farmer. He was a Whig, and was a member of the Underground 
Railroad, helping several slaves to escape. After his death 
the farm came into the possession of his wife and afterwards 
of his son Edward.

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