- CHARLES H. CONRAD, was born at Long Point, Canada, April
25, 1806, and died at
- Janesville, Wis., April 27, 1876. When what is known as the
Clerical Rebellion broke out in Canada, in 1837, caused by the
attempt of the English Government to establish a State Church,
and by the collection of tithes and endowments of crown lands
to build Rectories, Mr. CONRAD shouldered his musket and with
many of his neighbors, under the lead of McKenzie, resisted.
The Rebellion failing, he was taken prisoner and lodged in jail.
Many of his compatriots were tried, convicted of treason, and
some of them were hanged. By a fortunate change in the administration
of the Home Government, Mr. CONRAD was released from imprisonment
and in 1839, moved to Rockford, Ill., where he engaged in business,
but subsequently returned to Canada. After remaining some time
and becoming dissatisfied with affairs, political and financial,
he again returned to Rockford, whence he removed to Janesville,
Wis., in 1846. Being a millwright and carpenter by profession
he built the "Big" mill. The following year he commenced
merchandising, on the site now occupied by a part of the Myers
House. From the time he first commenced business until he retired
in 1863, he was eminently successful.
- Possessed only of the most ordinary education, yet he had
intuitive faculty in regard to values and
- a nerve in investment, that in these later days would have
made him a prince among merchants. In politics he was an original
Abolitionist and a Republican until 1872, when he joined the
Liberal party, that led to the nomination of Horace Greeley.
From that time until his death he was an Independent, and wore
no party collar. Mr. CONRAD was a member of the first City Council
and several subsequent Councils, and was for many years a member
of the Board of Supervisors and a Director in the First National
Bank. He was a man of positive ideas, strict honor, great integrity,
and in his death the State lost a man of decided natural ability.
Of his family three children are yet living - J. Henry CONRAD,
of the firm of Bell, Conrad & Co., Chicago, Ill.; and Charles
B., and William B., of the firm of Conrad Brothers, of Janesville,
Wis.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 510-511.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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