Belconger, John

Sisler Locy Davis Bloomberg Genealogy - Person Page 70:

"John Belconger was born on 8 September 1633 at Suffolk, England. As of 1665, John Belconger was also known as John Conger Shortly after moving to Woodbridge he shortened his name to Conger. He was illiterate and always signed his name with an 'X'.

He married Mary Kelly, daughter of John Kelly, on 12 April 1666 at Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. John Belconger married Sarah Cawood circa 1689 at Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. John Belconger was born in August 1712 at Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He was buried in August 1712 at Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey."

Note: This is the website of Diane Joleen (Sisler) Conover. The URL takes you to the page of John Belconger (John Conger) the patriarch of the Conger family in America.

Conger, Omar Dwight

If you are interested in Omar Dwight Conger of Michigan contact me personally. I have a document about him that I am willing to share via Email. Look for my Email address in my profile. Find my profile in the About Me section at the bottom of the sidebar on the right.

Omar Dwight Conger on Wikipedia.

Mr. Dickie

Conger, Jerry

Rosiclare, Illinois Man, 36, Writes (Hard Way)
Jerry Conger, 36, is a writer.

He also is a quadriplegic. For the past 20 years he has not walked, played basketball, turned the pages of a book with is fingers. When he was 15, he dived to the bottom of the Ohio River and broke his neck.

He has no use of his legs or the fingers of his hands. His vehicle is a wheelchair. He can move his arms to some extent and is able, with the help of arm splints, to feed himself.

In the ensuing years the Rosiclare native has discovered his goal in life - to become a published author. He always has been interested in writing, but he became seriously interested about 10 years ago.

He devotes his afternoons to long sessions at his carriageless electric typewriter which is stationed in the living room of the home he shares with his mother, Mrs. Hazel Conger. Conger types by using a mouthstick.

The mouthstick is a quarter inch dowel stick capped with a teeth-moulded acrylic mouthpiece and tipped with an eraser. It was while he was in therapy at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Peoria, IL that an occupational therapist suggested the mouthstick.

The instrument has opened up a new world for Conger. It is the world of the mind. It is a world where he can go anywhere he wants, do whatever he feels like, and create a universe all his own. In the past 10 years he has written novels, a few dozen short stories, and a number of poems, as well as numerous other articles. It is with the articles and poems he has had success. An article he did on himself appeared in the June 1971, issue of "The Exceptional Parent." This is a magazine for parents of children with disabilities.

In the article he told of his mouthstick and his love for writing and his philosophy about himself. He does not live in the past, although the past is an important part of life for him and he draws some of his fiction from it. But this is not his dwelling place. He writes and his writing keeps him geared toward the future.

Conger was in the hospital for three months after his accident but he was able to receive his diploma with the rest of his graduating high school class. After high school, he took a number of correspondence courses through the University of Illinois. The courses included rhetoric, literature, and psychology.

Serious fiction is what interests Conger the most. He turns out an average of 2,000 words each afternoon. So far he has not been successful with having his fiction published. Fiction is the hardest market to break into and, with so many magazines folding, Conger finds the obstacles on the road to being published are large.

But he keeps writing. Two more articles have been accepted by "The Exceptional Parent." He received mention in recent issues of "Time" and the "Saturday Review" in connection with the new magazine. "Time" carried a quote from his article -- "One Adjusts to Realities. I Try to Forge Ahead."

Although fiction is his first love, Conger also writes articles which require a good deal of research. Although the Rosiclare library is small, there is a good library system in Illinois which allows libraries to borrow from larger libraries such as the one at Springfield. The research for his articles also comes from government books and brochures.

A writer must be willing to accept any assignment. Perhaps the oddest assignment Conger tackled was an article on the louse. Robert Burns wrote a poem on the louse, so Conger decided maybe there was a louse market somewhere out there in publishing land. To his dismay one magazine informed him that it had already published an article on the louse.

Like Ireland's famed Christy Brown, the author who is completely paralyzed and types out joyous novels such as "Down All the Days" with his left foot, Conger has overcome numerous obstacles. He is not bitter. He is not angry over what has come to be his fate. He adjusts as best he can.

In his article for "The Exceptional Parent," Conger wrote: "One does not accept the unacceptable. One adjusts to realities, living always with hope. I try to forge ahead as everyone else does, fully aware that life may never be full, but determined never to accept less than I must. This doesn't mean I never despair. Depression, a sense of frustration and failure, lurk just outside conscious thought, ready to spring when something goes wrong."
(Source: probably Conger Family of America)

Conger, Abraham

Abraham Conger

Pension file documents of Abraham Conger:

1. Marriage Certificate
2. Soldier's Declaration for Pension
3. Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions - Questionnaire
4. Drop Order and Report

The State of Ohio, Franklin County, SS.
I Certify That I this day solemnized the Marriage of Abraham Conger with Elizabeth Brintlinger.
Witness my Hand, this 21st day of Dec A.D. 1871
s/Wm G. Heyl J.P.

The State of Ohio, Franklin County, SS.} Probate Court.
I, SAMUEL L. BLACK, Judge of the Probate Court, within and for the County of Franklin, and State of Ohio, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full and correct copy of the Certificate of Marriage of the parties therein named, as the same appears of record and on file in said Court, to-wit:
Marriage Record, No. 12 Page 91
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court, at Columbus, this 17" day of June 1905.
s/Samuel L. Black, Probate Judge.
s/Alexr Carpenter, Deputy Clerk.
(Source: Civil War Pension Record - furnished by Robert Guilinger - extracted by Richard E. Henthorn)

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Soldier's Declaration for Pension
Under Dependent Act of 51st Congress, Approved June 27, 1890.

State of Ohio, County of Franklin, ss:
On this 14th day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety, personally appeared before me, W.P. Dunlap, Notary Public in and for said County and State aforesaid, Abraham Conger aged 54 years, a resident of Columbus County of Franklin State of Ohio, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Abraham Conger who served the full period of ninety days in the military service of the United States in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, who enlisted first for three months in Co "G" 15th Ohio Inft Vols; then 3 months in Co. K 86th Ohio then at Bucyrus Ohio, on the 8th day of September 1863, as a Saddler (Boyfol) in company "A" in the 12th regiment Ohio Cavalry vols. , and was honorably discharged as a Corporal or Saddler at Nashville, Tenn on the 14th day of November 1865.

That his personal description at the time he last enlisted was as follows: Age 27 years; height 5 feet, 7 3/4 inches; complexion light; color of hair Sandy; color of eyes Brown; was born at Seneca County Ohio; occupation when enlisted, a Saddler.

That he is at this time afflicted with a disability which is not the result of his own vicious habits, and as he verily believes is permanent in character.

That said disability is first a Sunstroke at Parkersburg, W Va while in the Service, effecting him ever sincere also piles since his return, and these diseases so debilitate him that he cannot labor much.

That by reason of said disability he is incapacitated from the performance of manual labor, which renders him unable to earn a support about three fourths disability at least.

That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being inscribed upon the Pension Rolls of the United States as a disabled ex-soldier of the last war, being incapacitated from performing manual labor to earn his support as provided for under the act passed by the 51st Congress of the United States for disabled soldiers and sailors, approved June 27, 1890, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation,

T.W. Tallmadge, of Washington, DC
his true and lawful attorney to prosecute this claim and obtain a certificate for pension under the act foresaid.

That he has not received or applied for a pension under the laws of the United States.

That he has ever been a loyal citizen of the United States and will support the Constitution of the United States.

That his post-office address is at Columbus County of Franklin State of Ohio or at Mifflinville, Franklin Co, Ohio.

Attorneys fee to be ten Dollars.

s/Abraham Conger (Signature of claimant)

s/Joel L. Skillen
(Two persons who can write sign here.)

******

Certificate No. 935504
Name: Abraham Conger
Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions.
Washington, DC, January 15, 1898
Sir:
In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below.
Very respectfully,
s/Melay Evans; Commissioner

First. Are you married? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer. Mrs. Elizabeth Conger, Elizabeth Brintlinger
Second. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer. Dec. 21st 1871. Columbus O.Squyre Kyle
Third. What record of marriage exists?
Answer. Franklin Co. O. Probate Court
Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
Answer. No.
Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer. Yes
Grant Conger born Oct. 12th 1872
Letta Conger " Sept. 14 1875
John Conger " Dec 19 1877
s/Abraham Conger (Signature. )
Date of reply, June 4, 1898.
(Source: Civil War Pension Record - furnished by Robert Guilinger - extracted by Richard E. Henthorn)

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Drop Order and Report
Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Finance Division.
Washington, DC, June 23, 1905
Pensioner: Abraham Conger
Certificate number: 93550
Class: Invalid
Soldier: Act of June 27, 1890
Service: A-12-O.V.Cavy
U.S. Pension Agent: Columbus
Sir: You are hereby directed to drop from the roll the name of the above - described pensioner who died May 31, 1905.
s/V. Warner (Commissioner)

Commissioner of Pensions:
Sir: The name of the above - described pensioner, who was last paid at $10 per month to 4 Mar, 1905, has this day been dropped from the roll of this agency.
s/illegible signature; U.S. Pension Agent
June 27, 1905
(Source: Civil War Pension Record - furnished by Robert Gulinger, extracted by Richard E. Henthorn)

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Personal Ancestral File - Future

Genealogy's Star: Personal Ancestral File -- only mostly dead:

"So where are we going with PAF? In a fairly recent article in Mormon Times, David E. Rencher, FamilySearch's Chief Genealogical Officer is quoted as saying as follows:"

This is a very interesting blog posting, by James Tanner, about what the future may hold in store for the very popular (free) genealogy program Personal Ancestral File (PAF). I recommend taking the time to read this blog posting.

Mr. Dickie

Everton Judson Conger and John Wilkes Booth

Everton Judson Conger and John Wilkes Booth

Some say there was blood on the moon that awful April. President Lincoln's martyred body lay in a black coffin. Men wept and cursed in Washington's muddy streets. Flags draped at half staff. Bells tolled.

Panic stricken officials send soldiers and secret service men scurrying off in all directions on a hell-bent hunt for a crazed actor who had assassinated the President at Ford's Theater the night of April 14.

Somewhere in southern Maryland John Wilkes Booth was hiding. His flight with a co-conspirator, David Herold, was delayed by a broken leg, smashed when he arose from the kill in the Lincoln box and jumped to the stage.

Peace, then Rage

Five days before a triumphant nation had hailed a peace at Appomattox. Now an enraged North was baying like a bloodhound.

Every April, Carmi, Ill., feels close to that scene in the swamps along the Potomac, the winding roads around Port Tobacco, the swollen Rappahannock, a certain tobacco barn near Port Royal, Va.

There's a house on Carmi's Main Street to remind folks of that hunt for John Wilkes Booth. There's a Carmi family bearing the name of the man who caught Lincoln's assassin.

Used Reward Money

Remodeled and beautified; the house at 302 West Main Street was built 105 years ago by Col. Everton J. Conger. He paid for it with part of the money he received as a reward for commanding the troops who cornered and killed Booth.

Col. Conger lived in Carmi for 11 years, from 1869 to 1880. Here he studied law in the office of a brother, the late Judge Chauncey S. Conger. Here he was admitted to the bar in 1871, elected police magistrate. He practiced law in Carmi until 1880, when President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him to the Federal bench in Montana territory.

Was Ohio Dentist

When the Civil War started, Everton Conger was a 26-year-old dentist in Fremont, Ohio. He enlisted, raised a company in his state, was commissioned captain and attached to the West Virginia cavalry. He was a handsome, slender, black-bearded man with high forehead, large expressive eyes and a dashing mustache.

He was his hardest fighting at Petersburg and during the Richmond campaign, being wounded several times. In one battle he was on the ground when an enemy attacked with a broad sword. He raised an arm to ward off the blow and his arm was cut off.

Recovering from his wounds, Conger returned to duty and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He was with the First District of Columbia Cavalry when Lincoln was assassinated. His chief was Col. LaFayette C. Baker.

Human Ferret

Col. Baker, brown-haired, grey-eyed, was a human ferret; more of a spy or secret agent than he was a military man. He had served with the San Francisco vigilantes. When war came he was sent to Richmond to spy for Seward's State Department. He was so successful as a detective that he was taken over by Secretary Stanton and made chief of the War Department's large force of secret agents. It was then that he was given a Colonel's commission.

And so, the stage was set that fateful April.

Booth and Herold escaped into Maryland on horseback. They crossed the Navy Yard bridge over the Anacostia River, hoping to reach Virginia. Booth's broken leg was swelling in his boot. The throbbing pain forced the fugitives to turn from their escape route and make for the Maryland home of Dr. Samuel Mudd.

Capitol in Chaos

When Lincoln died the morning of April 15 Washington was in chaos. Secretary Steward was unconscious from knife wounds inflicted by another conspirator, Lewis Paine. War Secretary Stanton took command as a dictator, ignoring the new President, Andrew Johnson. Stanton issued orders to soldiers, policemen and secret service agents. The hunt was on. Col. Baker rushed back from New York on orders from Stanton, who greeted him tearfully with these words: "My entire dependence is upon you."

After Lincoln's funeral train started wending its way back to the Illinois prairies, Stanton seemed to get a grip on himself. The hunt for the conspirators had been a frustrating farce. April 20 Stanton offered rewards totaling $100,000, a sum of $50,000 for Booth and $25,000 each for Herold and John H. Sturrat.

Col. Baker Ignored

Lack of coordination between the hunters in their hopes to grab the rewards enabled Booth and Herold to make their way to the Potomac. Col. Baker was ignored at General Christopher Augur's military headquarters. For a week he made little progress, while certain Army sleuths were in full cry on a hot trail in Virginia.

By Monday, April 24, Col. Baker received secret information that Booth and Herold had crossed the Potomac and that Major James R. O'Beirne's search party was closing in on the fugitives.

Conger On Trail

It was then that the wily Baker pulled strings which put him and Col. Conger on the trail. Major O'Beirne was suddenly recalled and Baker was put in charge of the hunt.

He sent for Col. Conger and Lieut. L.B. Baker, a cousin, both of whom were in the First Cavalry. Conger and the lieutenant watched while Col. Baker showed them a map, pointing out where the fugitives had crossed the Potomac and the route he believed they would take.

He ordered Conger and Baker to leave at once and to search the area around Port Royal, Va. Col. Baker asked Stanton for some troops to support his two officers and he was assigned a detachment of Sixteenth New York Cavalry.

Trail Grew Hot

Mindful of the huge reward, Col. Baker placed Conger in command of the expedition. By evening of the 24th, Conger's hard riding horsemen were warm on the trail in the swamps of St. Mary's County, Maryland. On April 25 they found a Confederate officer who had helped Booth and Herold cross the Potomac. It was he who hinted where Booth might be found.

It was after midnight. There was an April chill on the night air. Horses and men were bone tired, but there was no time to lose. Guided by the Confederate captain, the weary horsemen hurried toward the farm of Richard Garrett.

It was 2 a.m. when the troops halted at Garrett's gate. Col. Conger have quiet orders for the cavalrymen to surround the. ... When the soldiers were in place their carbines poised, Conger told Lieut. Baker to rap on the kitchen door. He knocked and gave a loud halloo.

Hiding in Barn

In drawers and nightshirt. ... man Garrett opened the door looked into the night, and the of Baker and Conger. He said and Herold had left, but his John, spoke up and blurted out the fugitives were hiding in the barn.

Trooper Seized Young Garrett

They held cocked pistols at and led him toward the Soldiers surrounded the hide Conger and Baker went up to barn door. Calling out loudly told those inside that they sending Garrett's son into get their weapons; that they the fugitives to surrender arms and come out or they set the barn on fire.

Herold Seized

Pushing the boy inside, Conger and Baker heard Booth curse and refuse their proposal terrified boy retreated After haggling for a few minutes with Booth, they heard him call that Herold wanted to surrender. Unarmed Herold came through door. He was seized and handcuffed. When he started whining innocence, Conger threatened to have him gagged.

While Booth was still arguing a chance to make a run for his Col. Conger slipped around the and set it afire. The barn ablaze inside when Conger looked through a crack. He saw Booth standing in the glare of the flames his broken, infected leg supported by a crutch. Booth held a carbine intent on shooting the man who had set fire to the barn.

Corbett Disobeys

Suddenly he turned, rifle and made a dash for the determined to shoot it out. Just Sergeant Boston Corbet disobeyed orders. Peering though a hole in the barn, he raised his and shot Booth, the bullet entered the back of the neck.

Booth collapsed in the burning barn. Col. Conger and sergeants rushed in, picked Booth and carried him outside placing him on the grass.

"Bring water," Col. Conger ordered. They threw some on the assassin's face. He opened his eyes for the last time. His lips moved, "Tell mother.. I did.. for

Leonard, Helen Maxine (Crowell)

H. Maxine (Crowell) Leonard

In Volume I, of "The Conger Family of America," H. Maxine (Crowell) Leonard wrote of her involvement in Conger genealogy.

"You could say these records [of Charles Leslie Conger which had been filmed at the Library of Congress for Elijah Hagens Conger] were handed to your compiler on a "Silver platter," thanks to Era (Conger) Jones [sister of Elijah Hagens Conger], who let me copy the books one at a time. Why did I, Helen Maxine Crowell Leonard, get involved, when I am not a Conger -- my closest relationship is that of my great grandmother, Mary (Conger) Croel, born 1814, in Monroe county, Ohio?

I have been "Conger Conscious" since about the age of eight. I, with my folks, visited the cemetery in Monroe county, Iowa, where Mary is buried with her son, Wilbur, and his wife, Margaret, my grandparents. As I stood beside her grave I had the strongest feeling about her -- the urge to know her. I liked the sound of the name CONGER. I knew that in some say she was very special.

In 1956, I was stricken with Rheumatoid Arthritis and was bed ridden for three months, as stiff as a board. Through prayer, food supplements, exercise and diet I was able to assume a fairly normal life. Five foot operations alleviated a lot of pain, and both hands and wrists were restored to good use through surgery. Through all this I needed something to occupy my time and mind and genealogy seemed to be the answer.

I "met" Era Jones through correspondence, and in 1962 we had the opportunity to visit her. It was then I began copying her books. When I finished I thought, "Someone should index all this," for it was impossible to find anything specific. And so, I made file cards for everyone, and recorded the Conger spouses. Every place my husband's Army travels took us, I looked for Congers and interviewed them.

My husband retired from the service in 1967 and we settled in Janesville, Iowa. I had no idea what to do with the records, for I really didn't know any Congers. I thought of typing all the material and sending copies to the Library of Congress and the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City, UT and keep a copy for myself.

Then in July 1968 I received a letter from Beach Conger of Pleasantville, New York. He was planning to update his line, that of Job, which Charles Greenwood Barker Conger had published in 1903. He heard of me through correspondence and wondered if I could help him. When he learned what I had, he offered to finance the publication if we worked together to put all the Conger material into one book.

Since Beach lived near a large library, I suggested he search telephone directories for Congers throughout the country. This he began to do and contacted about 150 people of this name. For six months he sent material to be cataloged -- and then he died on 6 Jan 1969. Marion, his widow, sent me his files, which contained the booklets of "Job A. Conger and his Descendants, by Ivan Albert Conger and the story of "Norman Hurd Conger," by Roger N. Conger (included in Volume One of CFA, with their permission).

Lauren Tenney Conger of Lake Forest, Illinois, came to my rescue by helping with the telephone directory search in Chicago - and my slipping me a couple of $10.00 bills to help defray the gigantic postage costs. Later, I spent an entire day in the St. Louis library to finish the project. About a 1,000 Congers were contacted; over 2500 letters have been written. In this way the past three or four generations have been added to the existing records.

Special credit goes to the following people for many hours of research -- reading census reports on microfilm, checking courthouse records, writing letters and personally interviewing people: Marion Barton for checking all the Vermont Vital Statistics and libraries; Geneva Clark, finding and identifying the Congers of Marion county, Kentucky; Willa Dean Eaves for research in Georgia; Beulah Frehner and daughter, Connie Money for finding the missing link to establish Jonas Conger in Georgia; Leona Robertson and Lesba Thompson for finding the descendants of Jonathan Conger of Pike county, Indiana and proving him for DAR; (William) Russell Conger for further search of the Ohio branch; and Geary H. Worth and Don Ruth Merritt for checking Tennessee census films.

(Joseph) Clyde Conger went that extra mile to round up the descendants of Lucius Lee Conger in Mississippi; Sidney Conger Mendenhall has kept records of James Westfall Conger's descendants from Kansas. Mary E. Woods has done a splendid job in preserving the records of the descendants of Abijah Conger from Athens, Georgia. Many letters were written by Noel William Conger to find the descendants of Colvin Conger of New York. Ivan Albert Conger kept the descendants of Job A. Conger together by an annual family reunion at his home in Owoso,
Michigan.

Although Abraham H. Conger, 1810, of Lowndes county, Georgia, cannot be linked to John Belconger, his prolific posterity has kept in close contact and John Robert Conger prodded them into submitting their records.

There are many others too numerous to mention.

Now, after 120 years, several thousand dollars, and the devoted efforts of many kinsmen, "THE CONGER FAMILY OF AMERICA" is assembled into one cover. I personally have not done much research; I make no claims of any kind. I have compiled the existing material, which undoubtedly contains errors. In many instances additional children have been found, so the reader must bear in mind that these records are not necessarily complete; none probably ever will be. When known, the religious denomination is given as an aid in directing further search and verification.

This is only the beginning! There should be a supplement every five years, giving additions and corrections. The family should become "Conger Conscious" and make sincere efforts to keep individual records henceforth. There should be more family reunions to preserve our rich heritage. Seek out your Conger cousins wherever you go. Unless there is another volunteer, I promise to continue in the roll of "compiler" so long as I am able. If I have no successor, the records will be donated to the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, UT.