Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Conn, William Gans ???? - ????
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com September 1, 2024, 8:18 am

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 258
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    William Gans Conn is of Irish and German parentage and 
one of Springhill's prosperous farmers; is a son of John 
Conn and Hannah Gans Conn, and was born in Monongalia 
county, Virginia, now West Virginia.
    His great grandfather, George Conn, came from Maryland 
to Georges Creek and settled there at an early day.
    His grandfather, Jacob Conn, was a native of Springhill 
township, was married to Eleanor Hartman, and removed from 
Georges Creek to Monongalia county, Virginia.  They had six 
sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to an advanced 
age.
    Jacob Conn enlisted in the War of 1812, but his company 
on its third day's march toward Washington City received the 
news that a treaty of peace had been concluded.  He died at 
eighty four years of age, and his wife reached her ninetieth 
year.
    W G Conn's father, John Conn, was born December 5, 1813, 
in Monongalia county, Virginia, on a farm and received but 
three months' schooling, yet by dint of hard study at home 
he remedied his lack of school learning so far as reading, 
writing and a practical knowledge of arithmetic was 
concerned.
    In 1834 he married Miss Hannah Gans, daughter of 
Benjamin Gans, a native of Springhill township.  John Conn 
removed from Jaco Farm, Virginia, to near Point Marion where 
he purchased the Rudolph Saddler farm containing 116 acres.  
On this land he erected a fine house, built a large barn and 
made many valuable improvements.  He purchased the farm for 
$750, and now it is valued at $10,000.  He and his wife were 
members of the Baptist church from 1837 until the beginning 
of the war when they left the Baptist denomination and 
united with the Disciple church at Oak Grove.
    During the war, John Conn left the democratic party and 
became a republican.  While serving as school director, he 
was instrumental in securing the construction of a new 
schoolhouse in the "Forks of Cheat." From his own lack, he 
realized the importance of education and accordingly 
educated all of his children, of whom four became teachers 
and two still remain teachers.
    William G Conn was raised on the farm, received his 
education in the common schools and in the Millsboro Normal 
School where he attended two terms.  Between his Normal 
courses he taught two terms of district school. In 1863 he 
enlisted in Company B, Sixty first Pennsylvania Infantry 
Volunteers, was in the battles of Rappahannock Station, Mine 
Run and Wilderness.
    In one of the battles of the Wilderness he was struck in 
the shoulder by a minnie ball, which passed down into his 
side where it still remains. After being wounded, he was 
sent to Findlay Hospital in Washington City, remained seven 
months but he rejoined his regiment in December before the 
walls of Petersburg.  He was with the regiment in all its 
engagements until the legions of Lee grounded arms at 
Appomattox.  After witnessing Lee's surrender, his regiment 
was marched to Danville, Virginia, thence to Washington 
City.  He was discharged at Camp Reynolds, returned home, 
removed to the "oil regions" of West Virginia where he 
engaged for ten years in the mercantile business and 
teaching school.   In 1885 he returned to Point Marion where 
he has since been engaged in teaching and farming.
    September 26, 1868, he was married to Miss Emily M 
McGough, daughter of James McGough and Sarah J Hood McGough 
of Westmoreland county.  They have five children: Lillian G 
Conn, born July 26, 1870, Wood county, West Virginia; Arthur 
Conn, born May 10, 1873, Gales Fork; Helen E Conn, May 26, 
1877, Richie county; Edith K Conn, October 11, 1879, 
Pennsylvania; and Harvey Raymond Conn, born June 28, 1889, 
Pennsylvania.
    He has been a deacon in the Church of Christ at Point 
Marion ever since the church's organization.  He honors by 
his prudence, thrift and intelligence one of the old 
families of the county.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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