Elias Darby Conger, Sr.

Elias Darby Conger Sr.

PARENTS: David Conger, Sr. and Mary Darby

BIRTH: 8 Jun 1763, Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ
DEATH: Abt. 13 Sep 1843 in Adams Twp., Monroe Co., OH

BIOGRAPHY:
Elias Darby Conger enlisted in the Revolutionary War but was too young to fight, so he "ran bullets."  His granddaughter, Elizabeth Conger Henkle, remembered him as a good sized man, sitting in his arm chair reading, and that he had quite a library.

Elias and wife, Mary Goble, accompanied his brother, David, and wife, Sarah, from New Jersey to Western Pennsylvania in 1791.  After Mary's death, in 1804, Elias married Mary Gregory and they moved on into Monroe county, Ohio, where they both died.  Family tradition says that Mary Darby Conger, mother of David and Elias, went with them to Pennsylvania.

To prove that you can't believe everything you read in print or what family traditions says, the following article from the "Centerville Iowian," 10 January 1934, is given in full.

The following Conger family data is furnished by J.C. Harvey of Seymour: "Appanoose county's history may not be complete without the mention of the name Conger.  This family dates its beginning in America in the year 1669, landing at Plymouth Rock.  They were of French-Hugenot descent.  Hence in years each generation emigrated westward until you find the name Conger in all parts of the United States.  They are all related, as the original name, was Koniger, and was changed to Conger by John Conger, the first.  (This has not been proved nor disproved.)

The Congers were first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of their countrymen.  They furnished soldiers in every war from Colonial wars down to the World War.  The first death recorded at Camp Dodge in Des Moines was Conger from Appanoose county.

John Conger, III, was a captain in the Revolutionary War.  His son, Gershom, was George Washington's orderly at Valley Forge, and he became the grandfatheer of the sons and daughters of the Congers who emigrated to Appanoose county in pioneer days. (There is no record of a John Conger having a son named, Gershom, other than John Belconger.  Capt. David Conger of the Pennsylvania Militia had a son, Gershom born 1792, after Valley Forge.  A Gershom, born about 1763 in N.J., son of Enoch and Berzillah, might possibly have been an orderly to George Washington, but no Gershom in this line could have been.)

Gershom resided and ended his days in Green county, PA. (Son of Elias Darby Conger)  His descendants moved over into Monroe county, Ohio, and his grandchildren moved on into Iowa later (this Gershom evidently confused with his father, Elias Darby).  Enos and Jane Strayer Conger came first, in 1845 (brother and wife) and homesteaded on the Charlton River.  Then came Elias and John in 1849 (brothers) and they homesteaded claims in Caldwell township.  They were followed in the early 50's by Benoni, James, Morris, Moses, Max, Mark and Stephen (brothers and nephews), with cousins Charles, Elias and William.

At one time, prior to the Civil War, all these Conger families resided in Appanoose county, Iowa, and Putnam county, MO, and each of these families furnished soldiers in the Civil War -- they were abolitionists and were interested in the underground route in getting slaves north to freedom.

John Conger (John B. 1808) was progressive in the early day movements.  At one time he lived in Centerville and built one of the first brick residences in the town.  He helped to organize the first bank in Appanoose county, and later was among the founders of Seymour, Iowa.  In the early days he owned and operated one of the first tread-powered threshing machines ever run in this section of the state,   This was an advancement over the old chaff-piler and flailing system.

Benoni took to growing blooded cattle, and at one time had one of the best herds of Shorthorns (Durhams) in the state.

Elias (Elias Gregory 1806) drifted into growing blooded horses, and Enos was noted in the county as a horticulturist and farmer.  All the other Conger boys became thrifty farmers, and their children likewise took up agricultural pursuits, at which most of them were successul.

Many of the Conger descendants moved westward and became great benefactors in building up the great west.  However, at this time possibly over 500 of the Conger descendants live in Appanoose and adjoining counties."
(Source:  The Conger Family of America, Vol. I, p. 142-143 - Maxine Crowell Leonard).

EMIGRATION: The Conger family left Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ in 1790, moving to Washington Co., PA.  In the party were:  1) Elias Darby Conger, Sr. and his wife, Mary Goble and their five children (Sarah, Mary, Ruth, Hannah and David); 2) David Conger Jr., and his wife, Sara (Welch) and son (Elias); 3) the mother of Elias and David Conger, Mary Darby (Green) Conger and their sister, Mary E. Conger.

CENSUS: 1800, in Greene Co., PA, Morris Twp., page 87
    Elias Congar [Conger]; Males: 3 - - 1 -; Females 2 1 1 1 -
(Furnished by Joyce Posey)

TAX_LIST: 1801, in Morris Twp. Greene Co., PA; Elias Conger. Page 258 of Mrs. Hennen's Cemetery Record Book.
(Furnished by Joyce Posey)

LAND: 6 Sep 1806
Deed: William Rogers and Cartrey, wife, to Elias Conger, all of Greene Co. [PA]
Dated Sep. 6, 1806; Deed Book 2, p. 409; $300.00; 102 acres
Part of "Rogers Fancy," Morris Twp., on Bates Fork of Tenmile. Patented to said William Rogers Nov. 27, 1805.  Adjoins Frederick Lughman, Grantee, Wm. Green and Reuben Wright.
(Received from: Greene County Historical Society; R.D. #2, P.O. Box 127; Waynesburg, PA 15370 - furnished by Joyce Posey)

CENSUS: 1810, in Greene Co., PA, Morris Twp.
     Elias Conger, males 3,0,0,1,0; females 2,1,1,1,0
(Furnished by Joyce Posey)

LAND: 8 Apr 1812
Deed: Elias Conger and Mary, wife, to Benjamin Lyons of Greene Co. [PA]
Dated Apr. 8, 1812; Deed Book 2, p. 649; $628, 102 acres
Part of "ROGERS FANCY" in Morris Twp. patented by Wm. Rogers, Nov. 27, 1805.
Witnesses: John Han, J.P; Richard R. Iiams.


EMIGRATION: According to Joyce Posey and Bob Guilinger: Elias Darby Conger Sr. and his family later left Morris Twp., Greene Co., PA removing to Monroe Co., OH about 1812/1813, probably about the time of the 8 Apr 1812 land sale in Morris Twp., Greene Co., PA.  According to Maxine Crowell Leonard this was after Elias had remarried in 1804/1805.


              Early Records of an Elias Conger in Monroe Co., OH

CHURCH_AFFILIATION:
Baptists organized in 1813, the first ministers were Rev. Phillip Skinner and Elias Conger.
(Source:  History of Monroe Co., Ohio, 1813, page 16)

COMMENT:
19 Dec 1815: Road from Woodsfield, [OH] to Elias Conger's viewed:  The Commissioners have entered into bond with James Henthorn and Phillip Nolan to pay the expenses of the cost should fall upon petitioners.  Mitchel Atkinson surveyor.  The road beginning at Woodsfield and ending near or at Elias Conger in Center township.
(Source: Monroe Co., Ohio: The First Twenty Years, Commissioners Journal 1815-1835, Transcribed by Carolyn Zogg Wolf for the Monroe Co., OH Historical Society - furnished by Joyce Posey)

COMMENT:
4 Sep 1816: Road from Woodsfield to Elias Congers.  Commissioners viewed where line crosses the road that runs from Woodsfield to Sunfish Creek and proceed to view the ground for a road from thence on eastward course to intersect a road near H. Jackson's leading from Woodsfield to Elias Conger's.  Mitchel Atkinson, surveyor.
(Source: Monroe Co., Ohio: The First Twenty Years, Commissioners Journal 1815-1835, Transcribed by Carolyn Zogg Wolf for the Monroe Co., OH Historical Society - furnished by Joyce Posey)

TAX_LIST:
Monroe Co., Ohio Tax List, 1816, page 55; Elias Conger, R4, T3, S24

COMMENT:
Adams Twp., Monroe Co., OH was organized on 6 Mar 1826.  Elias Conger Sr. was among the early settlers.
[Note: Elias Conger's land was in Center Twp., Monroe Co., OH until the formation of Adams Twp. after which it was in the new township.]
(Source:  History of Monroe Co., Ohio, 1813, page 22)

COMMENT:
17 Mar 1817: Road from Woodsfield to Elias Conger's established: Commissioners agreed an order to view a road beginning at Woodsfield, thence to Elias Conger's.  Commissioners consider the road to be of Public Utility and recorded the same a Public Highway.
(Source: Monroe Co., Ohio: The First Twenty Years, Commissioners Journal 1815-1835, Transcribed by Carolyn Zogg Wolf for the Monroe Co., OH Historical Society - furnished by Joyce Posey)


RESIDENCES: A Brief History of Adams Township, Monroe Co., OH
Adams Township was organized on 6 Mar 1826.  Sunfish Creek flows through the middle of Adams Twp.  Piney Forks is a tributary of Sunfish Creek.  The township is bordered by Sunsbury, Switzerland, Salem, Green and Center townships.

Early settlers of Adams township were Charles and James Atkinson, Gilbert and Mitchell McCoy, Elias Conger, Christian Hartline, Phillip Noland, Robert Norris, Samuel Bracey and the families of Mellott and Powell.

The village of Cameron was established in 1837 by James and Mary (Brown) Atkinson.  James was an early settler and a Revolutionary War veteran.  Cameron was originally named Jamestown.

The first church in Adams Twp. was built near Cameron in 1825.  Other churches: Mt. Zion Church of Christ (formerly known as the Bracey Church), Goudy Church of Christ, Mellott Ridge Church of Christ, Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, Cameron Church of Christ.
(Source: The Navigator, Monroe County Chapter OGS, June 1991, Vol. 4, No. 2 - furnished by Joyce Posey)


Census: 1820, in Monroe Co., OH, Centre Twp, #17
    Elias Conger, agriculture (living next to Abner Powell)
    3 males under 10; 2 males between 10-16; 1 male between 16-26;
    1 male over 45; 1 female under 10; 1 female between 16-21; 1 female
    over 45
(Early records furnished by Joyce Posey)

Census: 1840, in Monroe Co., OH, Adams Twp.
    Elias D. Congar (sic)
Males:
    00-05, 0; 05-10, 0; 10-15, 0; 15-20, 0; 20-30, 1; 30-40, 0;
    40-50, 0; 50-60, 0; 60-70, 0; 70-80, 1; 80-90, 0; 90-100, 0; 100&up, 0
Females:
    00-05, 1; 05-10, 1; 10-15, 0; 15-20, 0; 20-30, 1; 30-40, 0;
    40-50, 0; 50-60, 0; 60-70, 1; 70-80, 0; 80-90, 0; 90-100, 0; 100&up, 0
(Source: The Federal Census Monroe County, Ohio 1820-1830-1840 - Monroe County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society)


CONFLICT-DEATH:  Was the date of death, 3 Sep 1845 or 13 Sep 1845 or 13 Sep 1843?  Maxine Crowell Leonard lists, 3 Sep 1845.  Robert Guilinger believes the date should be 13 Sep 1845.  Joyce Posey obtained two records from Page 485-486 of the Tuesday, 26 Sep 1843 Journal of the Monroe County, Ohio Common Pleas Court which indicate that the death probably occurred in 1843, Abt. 13 Sep 1843.  The Ancestral File lists, 3 Sep 1845 in Adams Twp., Monroe Co., OH.


PROBATE: Elias D. Conger Will Recorded
Common Pleas Court Record, Journal 3, p. 485
Monroe County, Ohio
September Term A.D. 1843
Tuesday September 26, 1843
The last will and testament of Elias D. Conger late of the county of Monroe, deceased, was this day presented in court for probate.

Whereupon John M. Boughner and Benjamin Trimbly the two subscribing witnesses to said will being severally duly sworn, the said John M. Boughner deposeth and saidth that he saw the testator sign and seal said will as and for his Last Will and Testament, that he was at the time of signing and sealing of the same, of sound mind and memory of full age & under no restraint and that he, said Boughner, signed the same as a witness in the presence of said testator and at his request and the said Benjamin Timly saith taht he heard the said testator acknowledge the signing and sealing said will as and for his Last Will and testament that he was at the time of sound and disposeing mind and memory of full age and under no restraint and that he in the presence of said testator and at his request signed the same as a witness thereto which testamony the court order to be reduced to writing which is done and the same ordered to be certified and the same together with said will ordered to be recorded.

Common Pleas Court Record, Journal 3, p. 486
Monroe County, Ohio
September Term A.D. 1843
Tuesday September 26, 1843
Stephen Conger, Elias Conger and Benoni Conger the executors named in the Last Will and Testament of Elias D. Conger Late of Monroe County deceased, appeared in open court, accepted said trust and gave Bond in the sum of six thousand dollars conditioned according to Law with which the Court accept.  The Court appoint John D. Glenn, William Alexander and Stephen Atkinson appraisors of the personal property of said testator.
(Furnished by Joyce Posey from copy of the record in her possession, obtained for her by Shirley Neiswonger, researcher of Monroe Co., OH, Oct 1996)


PROBATE: 17 Jul 1847, Stephen, Benoni, Elias Conger Executors of the Estate of Elias Conger, deceased.
[Note: Joyce Posey reports that Catherine Fedorchak wrote, "a general rule of thumb seems to have been that a person's estate notice was carried (in the newspaper) about a month after the death, it was customary for such notices to be carried for several successive weeks and sometimes months."  Since the estate notice was found in the July 17, 1847 issue of "The Spirit of Democracy" it appears that the settlement..."]

Richard E. Henthorn

13 October 2014