Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Conn, Jacob December 5, 1811 - ????
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 1, 2024, 8:13 am

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 256
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Jacob Conn is of Scotch Irish parentage and was born on 
Georges Creek, near Smithfield, Fayette county, Penna, 
December 5, 1811, and is a son of Isaac Conn and Nancy 
Zearley Conn.
    George Conn, paternal grandfather, was a ship carpenter; 
in 1759 came from Hagerstown, Maryland, and took up 400 
acres of land on Georges Creek under what was known as a 
"tomahawk right. "  About 1760 a man by the name of Powell 
settled on a part of this tract and disputed the ownership 
of the same with Conn.  They agreed to settle their quarrel 
by a fight.  They fought near a spring.  Conn was victorious 
and held the land.  The spring has been known ever since as 
"Powell Spring. "  His wife's maiden name was Lydia 
Flintham.  They reared nine children, seven sons and two 
daughters.
    Isaac Conn, father--a twin, was born in 1784 on Georges 
Creek and was reared on his father's farm.  He enjoyed but 
the scant educational privileges of that frontier day.  He 
married Nancy Zearley, and they had ten children, four sons 
and six daughters.
    In 1838 he removed to Highland county, Ohio, and died 
there in 1869 in the eighty fifth year of his age.  His wife 
followed him to the portals of the tomb in a few years.
    Jacob Conn was raised on a farm.  Although school 
advantages of that day were meager, he acquired a fair 
education and became an ordinary scholar. In 1831 he worked 
for his uncle at seven dollars per month.  From 1832 to 1834 
he helped his father, who then resided in Virginia.
    He was married to Miss Sarah Weltner, daughter of John 
Weltner, April 3, 1838.  Unto their union were born eleven 
children: Isaac Phillips Conn, John W Conn, Susan W Conn, 
Rachel Conn, Ann Elizabeth Conn, Eliza Jane Conn, Hannah W 
Conn, George W Conn, Sarah L Conn, Thomas J Conn and 
Catherine Conn.
    From 1838 to 1843 he rented the Phillips farm, 
afterwards leased a farm near Point Marion and cultivated it 
for five years.  In 1848 he bought 163 acres of the John 
McFarland farm and removed to it.  He had but forty dollars 
of his own, but honesty and integrity linked to energy 
established a credit and he borrowed the money to pay for 
his purchase. Working hard, in a very few years he 
discharged every dollar of his indebtedness.
    The first barn he built was struck by lightning and was 
consumed together with a horse and wagon.  In 1873 he 
erected a fine large two story frame house complete in all 
its equipment in which he now resides. He is a democrat.  
He has been since 1843 a member of the "Forks of Cheat" 
Baptist church to which his wife and children belong.
    Mr Conn began life a poor boy and now owns a splendid 
and well improved farm of 260 acres, partly underlaid with 
coal.  Studying Franklin's maxims when a boy, he became a 
successful man, is now an honored and respected citizen, 
influential and prosperous farmer of Springhill township.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb