Conger, John B.

John B. Conger

PARENTS: Elias Darby Conger, Sr. and Mary Gregory

RELATIONSHIP: Ethel Atkinson stated: John B. Conger was half-brother of Rhoda Conger, who married Elizabeth Atkinson's brother, James Atkinson. John B. Conger was also cousin of Elias Conger.


REFERENCE: John and Elizabeth Conger lived in Adams Twp, Monroe Co., OH on what was known, as of 1882, as the Pfalzgraf farm. [The Congers,] after selling this farm [in 1849] moved to Iowa where they were living in 1882. (Source: Hardesty - Historical Hand Atlas)

LAND: John Conger and Elizabeth his wife of Monroe Co., OH sold land to John and Alexander Sinclair. Attested to: 29 Dec 1837 (Source: Burned Deed Records C & E in "Gateway to the West," page 219 - furnished by Joyce Posey)


EMIGRATION: Conger families came west to Iowa over time. 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. (Source: The Conger Family of America - Maxine Crowell Leonard)

EMIGRATION: The John B. Conger family left Monroe Co., OH in 1849 for Appanoose Co., IA where they are listed in the 1860 census. (Source: The Conger Family of America, Vol. I, p. 299 - Maxine Crowell Leonard)

EMIGRATION: Joyce Posey reports that they later settled at Seymour, Wayne Co., Iowa.

LAND: First purchasers of land prior to 1856: Township 68, Range 17, District of Chariton. (Source: Appanoose Co., Iowa Book #1 of Land Patents - furnished by Joyce Posey)


Census: 1850, in Appanoose Co., IA, Caldwell Twp. 37/37, 23 Nov 1850
John Conger, 41, farmer, $1600 R/E, PA; Elizabeth, 40, OH
Mary, 18, OH; Elizabeth, 16, OH; Charles A. 14, OH; Nancy Jane, 12, OH;
William, 9, OH; Lydia A., 5, OH
(1850 Census furnished by Joyce Posey and Robert Guilinger)

COMMENT: At the time of the 1850 census of Caldwell Twp., Appanoose Co., Iowa there were three Conger and one Powell families living close together.
Enos and Jane (Strayer) Conger were Family #34
Elias Gregory and Rebecca (Patterson) Conger were Family #35
James B. and Hannah Powell were Family #36 with George Conger, 21, b. OH
John B. and Elizabeth (Atkinson) Conger were Family #37
Note: Enos, Elias Gregory, John B. Conger and Rebecca (Conger) Powell were siblings. George Washington Conger was the 1st cousin, 1 generation removed of these Conger siblings. As of January 1996 it is not known whether James B. and Hannah Powell were related to their three Conger neighbors or to Charles and Rebecca (Conger) Powell who were Family #15 in Center Twp., Appanoose Co., IA.

CHURCH_AFFILIATION: A Christian church was organized in 1855 in the area of where Exline, IA is now located. Among the members were John Conger and wife. About 1864 a church was erected. (Source: History of Appanoose Co., IA, 1878 - furnished by Joyce Posey)


Census: 1856, in Appanoose Co., IA, Caldwell Twp., family 99/99
John B. Conger, 47, PA, farmer, in state 7 years; Elizabeth, 48, OH
Charles, 21, OH; Nancy J., 18, OH; William, 16, OH; Lyda A., 10, OH
[Note: Everyone in Iowa 7 years.]
(Furnished by Robert Guilinger)

CENSUS: 1860, Appanoose Co., IA

Census: 1870, in Wayne Co., IA, Genoa, #3
Newton C. Michael, 27, clerk in store, IN; Lydia, 23, keeping house, OH
Elizabeth, f. 11/12, IA born in March
John Conger, 62, merchant, PA; Elizabeth Conger, 63, keeping house, OH
(Furnished by Joyce Posey)


BIOGRAPHY: Carried Gold In False Bottom of Their Tool Chest
Among the early settlers of Caldwell township, [Appanoose Co., IA], was John Conger, born in Green county, Pennsylvania in 1808. His wife, Elizabeth Atkinson Conger, was born in Ohio. She was the daughter and granddaughter of Revolutionary war soldiers and a half-sister of General Atkinson, prominent in the Black Hawk war.

Mr. and Mrs. Conger and their six children came from Ohio by flat-boat down the Ohio river to St. Louis where they transferred their belongings to a Mississippi river boat bound for Keokuk. They landed in Keokuk in the spring of 1849. The family remained in Lee county, while Mr. Conger looked for a location. In the fall of 1849 they came by covered wagons to Appanoose county, [IA], and paid $500 dollars in gold for an improved claim five miles south of Centerville. The gold was carried from Ohio in a double bottom tool chest. Many beautiful pieces of furniture, china and quilts were brought to the new home in the west. Soon after their arrival the house and contents were destroyed by fire. The family lived in the "claim house" a log house containing one room and a loft, until the new log house was built, a part of which is now standing. The improvements on the claim were some rail fences, small barn or shed, made of logs and a splendid deep well of water. A little girl who came to play with the Conger children told them her, "Granny Van Dike said the Mormons dug the well." When asked if her Granny was a Mormon, she replied, "Oh, no, she is just Granny."

Mr. and Mrs. Conger were charter members of the Christian church of Exline, [IA], which was organized in 1855. The Conger family moved to Centerville in 1864 and to Wayne county in 1869.

When the call came for volunteers in the Civil War, William Conger enlisted in Co., I, 36th Iowa, under Captain J.B. Gedney. He died at Benton Barracks in Dec. 1862. Charles Conger enlisted in Co. B, 6th Kansas Cavalry under Captain E.E. Harvey.

Nancy J. Conger married Wallace M. Harvey in Feb. 1861. In August of the same year he enlisted in Capt. Edwards state militia, traveling through Missouri to St. Joe, Mo., where they disbanded. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. I, 36th Iowa under Capt. J.B. Gedney and served until 1865 when he was mustered out of the service.

Lydia A. Conger married Newton C. Michael, Civil War soldier serving in the 17th Ia. under Capt. J.F. Walden.
[Note: The statement that Elizabeth Atkinson was a half-sister of General Atkinson, prominent in the Black Hawk War is incorrect, according to researchers working on the Atkinson family in 1996. There were two Atkinsons with the same name and no one has ever offered proof that there is any connection between General Atkinson and the Atkinsons of Monroe Co., Ohio. REH]
(Source: Early Pioneer Stories, p. 37, published by Appanoose County, Iowa Genealogical Society - furnished by Joyce Posey)


BIOGRAPHY:
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. (Source: The Conger Family of America - Maxine Crowell Leonard)

ERROR: Ulysses Grant Ross reported that John Conger died about 1878/1879. According to Robert Guilinger, the date of death is 8 Aug 1883 and he believes Mr. Ross was in error. Joyce Posey also lists the date of death as, 1883.


CEMETERY: South Lawn Cemetery; Seymour, Wayne Co., IA;
John Conger, Died Aug. 8, 1883, Age 75 yr., 2 m; Elizabeth A., Apr. 16, 1807 -
Dec. 1, 1895
[Note: John Conger calculated birth date, 8 Jun 1808. REH]
(Source: Wayne Co., Iowa Cemeteries Book 1846-1978 - furnished by Joyce Posey)

Ernest Eugene "Gene" Conger - Family Webpage

Ernest Eugene "Gene" Conger Family Webpage:

"Enos Conger, descendant of John Belconger of England, came to Appanoose County, Iowa with his brother from Ohio fairly early on, about 1845-46. A census was taken in 1850 and the most persons of same name in Caldwell township were Congers. At that time there were 29 Conger souls in Caldwell with a few others here and there in that area and some were just across the state line in Missouri."

******

On 7 October 2009 I received an Email from Gene Conger informing me that he moved his webpages to Tripod. It was very nice to hear from Gene again. We'd been out of touch for a while. Conger family members are sure to enjoy Gene's very nice website.

Note: To reduce the size of the text when viewing the descendant pages on Gene's website you can try using the (Control and Minus) keys on your browser. This worked for me from Firefox.

Mr. Dickie

Conger, Moses

How Many Moses Congers Were There in Appanoose Co., IA?

One or more men named Moses Conger lived in Appanoose Co., Iowa. Three women married a man named Moses Conger. The research challenge is to determine whether all three of these women married the same Moses Conger? Can it be proven using the available information that the three women married the same man? If so, in what year was he born? In what state was he born? What was the date of death?

Here's a summary of census information, with birth dates calculated, which will then be discussed in more detail.
1840, age 30-40, b. Abt. 1800 to Abt. 1810
1850, birth state of PA, age 59, b. Abt. 1791
1856, birth state of PA, age 54, b. Abt. 1802
1860, birth state of PA, age 56, b. Abt. 1804
1870, birth state of NJ, age 64, b. Abt. 1806

It is troubling that the birth state listed in the 1870 census is NJ, and not PA.

In the 1840 Monroe Co., Ohio census Moses Conger was between 30 and 40 years old. Using those two ages we can calculate an earliest and a latest possible birth date . If he was 30, he would be born Abt. 1810 (This is not likely in light of information we have from later census records.). If he was 40, he would be born, Abt. 1800. This gives us a range for the birth date, Abt. 1800 to Abt. 1810.

Based on the 1850 Monroe Co., OH census record it appears that Moses Conger, was born Abt. 1791 in Washington Co., PA. Maxine Leonard in "The Conger Family of America" lists the date of birth as Abt. 1797 with no source citation. Maybe the age, 59, listed in the 1850 census, was in error, either when recorded or when extracted. Perhaps his age was actually, 49, rather than 59. If so, the calculated birthdate would be, Abt. 1801, which would be more consistent with the ages listed in the other four census records.

Using the birth dates calculated from the other censuses we have: Abt. 1802 (1856 census), Abt. 1804 (1860 census), Abt. 1806 (1870 census), thus narrowing the birth date down to a period of 5 years 1802-1806. That's probably what should be entered in his record, born Abt. 1802/1806, although Abt. 1801 also should be considered as a possibilty for the first date in the range.

We know from a biographical sketch of his son, Elias Milton Conger, that his father lived to be 75 years old. Adding 75 to the birth range of Abt. 1802/1806 we arrive at Abt. 1877/1881 for the date of death.

What do we know about the marriages?

Abt. 1828, in an unknown place, he married Elizabeth Powell, born Abt 1810 in OH. Source: No citations for either date.

On 27 Mar 1854, at age 53 (b. Abt. 1801), he married, in Appanoose Co., IA, to Mary Kitchen, age 45, who was born Abt. 1809. Source: Appanoose Co., Iowa Marriage Records, Book 1, page 119.

On 7 Jan 1863 (no age listed) he married, in Appanoose Co., IA, to Lucinda [sic, Lorinda] (Dale) Powell, who was born, Abt. 1822/1826 in Madison Co., KY. Source: Appanoose Co., Iowa Marriage Records, Book 2, page 111.

Moses and Lorinda Conger have an 1870 census record which says he was 64 and born in New Jersey which would make his birth year, Abt. 1806. Why does the 1870 census record give the birthplace as New Jersey?

Moses and Lorinda Conger had a child, Moses D. Conger born on 9 Apr 1864 in Appanoose Co., IA. Based on the 1870 census data, the father would have been 58 years old when Moses D. Conger was born.

If the women didn't all marry the same man this would create another research problem. For example, the Moses Conger who married Lorinda (Dale) Powell, didn't just drop out of the sky at the time of the 1870 census. If there was another Moses Conger why haven't other records of his existence been found?

In my genealogy file the Appanoose Co., Iowa, Moses Conger, is entered as one person with three marriages. His birth date is entered as, Abt. 1802/1806 and the death date, Abt. 1877/1881. If, and when, additional information becomes available this is subject to change.
(Written by Richard E. Henthorn, 5 May 2004)

Eddy Family Leaves Monroe County, Ohio

I never paid any attention to the fact that the Eddy family left Monroe County, Ohio and went to Appanoose County, Iowa. My interest was always in the McCoy and Conger families who made the move from Ohio to Iowa.

I own a copy of the book, Monroe County Ohio Families. On pages 131-132 there are several articles about the Eddy family and three photographs. The piece about the Eddy - McCurdy family mentions Appanoose county, Iowa. Here's a little bit from the article that mentions Appanoose county, Iowa emigration.

Azel Eddy and Sarah Piles (dau. of Zachariah and Rachel (Wright) Piles) had a son Isaac:
Isaac and Lucretica (McCurdy) Eddy married and they had:
Mahala Eddy who married James J. Seals, she died in 1886 in Appanoose county (great-grandparents of Capitola Seals
Henry who wrote the piece about this family)
Alpheus who married Elizabeth Jefferies, he moved to Appanoose County
John (married and killed in an accident)
Joseph who married Elizabeth Goudy
Rachel married John Culverhouse
Mary married Stephen Gadd
Moses married Mary Grant
Baby who died young
Nathaniel who married Margaret Nixon, went to Ottawa county, Kansas, his mother went too
Leander who married Hethy Garrett, went to Ottawa county, Kansas and later lived and died at Lawrence, KS
Lucretia who married John Fisher

A place called Tescott in either Ottawa or Franklin county, Kansas is mentioned in the paragraphs about the folks who moved to Kansas.

Some of the other Eddy families went across the Ohio River to Tyler and Wetzel counties in West Virginia.

Dick Henthorn

Tags: Eddy, Genealogy, Appanoose County Iowa, Monroe County Ohio

Isaac Conger

Introduction

As one who has a significant interest in Rooks County, the town of Codell, and the Conger Cemetery, I thought possibly that you did not have the following information regarding the CONGER family which resided in Paradise Township.

The quoted information is taken from "Lest We Forget" published by the Rooks County Historical Society, Stockton, KS, printed by the Osborne Publishing Co., Osborne, KS, 1980 (reprinted in 1998 by Western Books, Woodston, KS). Pages 111-113.

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ISAAC CONGER

Isaac Conger was born at Marietta, Marion County, Ohio on July 26, 1847.
[Note: The birthplace is in error. He was born in Maryette, Monroe Co., OH. Richard E. Henthorn]

His parents, James and Elizabeth, were the parents of eleven children, which included two sets of twins; Isaac had a twin brother, John.

When Isaac was nine years of age, the family decided to go on west and settled on a homestead near Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, where he lived until his marriage on March 12, 1871, to Emma Jane Thompson. She was born near Bradyville, Page County, Iowa on February 12, 1850. Her father was killed when Emma was very young and her mother, Eliza, married Wesley Farrens.

Isaac and Emma ventured farther west, homesteading on the banks of White Rock Creek near Burr Oak, Jewell County, Kansas in 1871. Their trip was made in a covered wagon drawn by two oxen, and their possessions were a few pieces of walnut furniture made by Emma's step-father, Wesley Farrens. They also had a dog, pig, and a cow.

Their first home was a dugout where their first son was born. It was not unusual for friendly, but curious, Indians to visit them. Most of their meat was buffalo meat. Isaac would sometimes be away for several days at a time hunting buffalo, leaving his young wife and son alone at the dugout. Pioneers accepted these things as the usual type of occurrences.

In 1878 they sold their claim and migrated to Rooks County where they purchased land near a little town known as Old Motor. Here the first home was in a dugout, also, until a stone house could be constructed. Later a larger frame house was built, and in time the little stone house became a bunk house for ranch help. In this east Paradise Township home, in the southeastern part of Rooks County, the nine children were reared. Cattle and crops were the order of the times in this part of Kansas, and the size of the ranch increased over the years to indicate prosperity and industry.

Ike, as he was known, served his community as a leader, as a commissioner, and twice as a member of the state legislature. Such successes of early times could seldom happen but for the strong support of a wife and mate such as Emma. She was the hub of the wheel around whom her family and friends gathered for strength and guidance. T he Conger family were members of the Codell Methodist Church, later transferring to the Natoma church when a storm destroyed the Codell church building. They were active members always.

On March 12, 1921, Isaac and Emma celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with many relatives and dear friends coming long distances to congratulate them. Seven of the nine children were with them. The two sons missing from the family circle were Russell A. and Isaac, Jr., both of whom died as young men.

The Congers, their children and families have taken part in, and seen many beginnings and developments in Rooks County since 1878 wh en they first came to call this good area "home". Their lives have gone with this growth. Today none of the children are living, but five of their grandchildren remain to remember Isaac and Emma.

Isaac died March 28, 1932, near Codell, Kansas. His wife, Emma, died May 15, 1929 at the home near Codell. Burial was in the East Paradise Cemetery.

James Lloyd Conger was born in a dugout on the homestead in Jewell County, near Burr Oak, Kansas on October 15, 1871. He moved with his parents to Rooks County in 1878, where he grew up at the family home. He was a teacher as a young man, and later a rancher-farmer on his own ranch which joined his parents' ranch on the east.

He was married married August 3, 1898 to Serena Bromley at Plainville, Kansas. Two sons were born to this couple: Ralph Lloyd and Halbert Mark.

Jim, as he was known, was active in community affairs, and as an adviser in business. He was well liked and a friend to many.

After living about forty years at his home, he died there May 23, 1940, the third son of Isaac and Emma to pass away.

Lida Estella Conger, daughter of Isaac and Emma, was born in Iowa at Bradyville in Page County on December 20, 1874, and soon traveled with her parents to their homestead in Jewell County, Kansas. In 1878 she moved with her family on westward to a new and permanent home in Rooks
County, east of Codell, Kansas, where she spent the rest of her life.

When Lida was about seven years old she suffered a very serious illness with whooping cough which greatly damaged her health. She was never a strong, healthy person again. Her life was devoted to be a kind helper in the family home with its many activities and needs. She passed away at the family home on January 10, 1932.

Russell Addison Conger was born in Jewell County, near Burr Oak, Kansas, August 1, 1877. He moved with his parents to Rooks County in 1878 and grew up at the family home east of Codell. He was a teacher before going to Wyoming where he worked on a ranch before volunteering for service in the Hispano-American War. He was a member of General Torrey's "Rough Riders" in Company "A", Troop "E", 2nd U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. While in the service he became ill with typhoid fever and was sent home on a furlough to recuperate. He was unable to regain his health and died on November 11, 1898. He was the first of the Conger children to pass away.

Jennie Nevada Conger, daughter of Isaac and Emma was born April 16, 1880, at the family home east of Codell, where she grew to womanhood. She was married to Walter W. Sidwell on September 20, 1903. This couple were the parents of three children, a daughter and two sons: Vera Arlene, Milo Roscoe, and Richard Dean.

Jennie and Walter lived on a farm south and east of Plainville most of their years together. Jennie was a most loving wife and mother, and devoted much of her time and energies caring for members of her family who were invalids or ailing. She was a faithful and enduring woman. She was loved by all who knew her, but lost her own battle with life on October 10, 1940.

William Thompson Conger, son of Isaac and Emma, was born August 7, 1882, at the family home near Codell. He grew up helping on the home ranch. He was married to Bethena Hoskins, April 6, 1910, and they moved to their own home which joined the homes of both her parents and his. Four children, two boys and two girls, were born to this couple: Grant Vester, Ardna LoRee, Mildred Ruth, and William Duane. Bill, as he was known by his friends, was a helpful neighbor, and a good friend to all who knew him well. He spent the rest of his life at this same home as a successful rancher-farmer. His life ended December 23, 1964, the last of the five sons of Isaac and Emma.

Marshall Martin Conger, son of Isaac and Emma, was born December 7, 1884, east of Codell in the family home. He grew up learning the role of rancher-farmer with his father and brothers. As others left home, his help was needed more and more, so in time it became necessary for him to manage the ranch affairs and perform the farm duties. Marsh, as he was known by his friends and family, married Meta Hires on July 25, 1917 at Stockton, Kansas. Lager they adopted a daughter, Peggy Lou, who was a great joy in the home. A better neighbor than Marsh would be hard to find, and his friends were many. He passed away October 3, 1951, the fourth son of Isaac and Emma.

Isaac Conger, Jr. was born March 18, 1887 at the family home of Isaac and Emma Conger near Codell. At just sixteen years of age, as a brilliant pupil of Codell High School, he suffered a severe attack of what would be called appendicitis today. Medical science was unable, at this time, to cope with this situation and he passed away on May 8, 1903. He was the youngest son of the family, and the second to die.

Cloie Ethel Conger, daughter of Isaac and Emma, was born January 19, 1890 at the family home east of Codell. She attended Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. It was a severe blow to Cloie when the man she was to marry was killed in the service of his country. The many duties of the home and services to her church and community gave Cloie a full and busy life. After the death of her parents she left the family home and married Leonard C. Uhl on August 14, 1937. Smith Center, Kansas was her home for the remainder of her life. She passed away on December 7, 1968. She was the last of the nine children of Isaac and Emma Conger.

Vesta Lee Conger, daughter of Isaac and Emma, was born at the family home east of Codell, April 22, 1893. She was the youngest of the nine Conger children. After local schools, she went to a Kansas City school from which she graduated as a deaconess. Lee was married to Clarence P. Ellis, August 2, 1916 at the family home. To this union were born a son and a daughter: David Clarence and Elfra Maralee. This talented couple spent most of their years together working as evangelists in many different states. Their work was very rewarding and their friends were many. After retiring they moved to Pasadena, California where they spent their last years. Lee passed away on May 9, 1961.

--Submitted by Ardna L. Miller

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Conclusion

Hope this information will be of use to you. I have several relatives buried in the Paradise Cemetery. Those surnames of interest are JOHNSON, McCORD, RICHMOND.

Best of luck in your research.

Clarence E. Lott, in the Mile High City, Denver, CO, and a native of Hill City, Graham Co., Kansas. Mon, 29 Mar 2004
(Shared With Joyce Posey)

Tags: Conger, Genealogy, Monroe County Ohio, Appanoose County Iowa