Veteran: Civil War (USA)
h/o Wilhelmina "Wilma" Isadora Flora.
Henry Wilford CONRAD was 10th born of ten known children, on a farm in Harrison county, Indiana to George CONRAD and Nancy WISEMAN, educated in country grammar and high school, then in 1862 to Hartsville University. April 1864 at age seventeen, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana infantry, where he became a corporal, was mustered out at the close of the war.
He then went west to what later became Liberty township, Montgomery county, Kansas with his older brother Capt Jacob Hendrix Conrad, 6th born on 1 AUG 1836, Daniel Rice Boon FLORA and Lafe HOLLINGSWORTH. Reportedly in 1868 they settled and made friends with the Osage Indians, who permitted them to take claims of 160 acres each, near Brown's ford, two years before the government purchased the Indian territory, government resold it to them for $1.25 a acre. This occurred in September 1870, during the week the government representatives and Indians were making the treaty and drawing the contract for the Osage Diminished Reserve.
Henry had lived among the Osage Indians who became his fast friends, as he was always honest with them in all dealings.
Henry's career includes achievements for Independence as well as Montgomery county, as he was active in organizing the county and held various state and county offices. He was among the earliest of settlers in this territory and helped reclaim it from an unsettled country. Became county clerk 1883-1887 (two terms), Was appointed Kansas State Cattle Inspector in 1891, in 1898 chosen state representative from the western half of the county. His service as a representative earned him a senator's post in 1900, he was then appointed postmaster of Independence following the close of his term as state senator in 1903. During his administration, the post office was made first class in 1911, and a year later, the present federal building which houses the post office was built. He retired at end of his second term in 1914.
As a veteran of the Civil War, he was an active member of the GAR, also was prominent in the Masonic and Elks lodges, and Sons and Daughters of Justice.
Henry W CONRAD had his full share of the dangers and hardships in the days when both he and the territory were young. During those years, among the many other hardships, were: 130 Kansas settlers slaughtered by Indians in 1867, a horrendous prairie fire occurred in 1868 when the night sky was said to be bright enough to read a book 1-mile away but, as pioneers. The CONRAD & FLORA families survived most hardships of early prairie living.
His friend and neighbor, my g,grandfather, John A FLORA (1845-1934) and wife Mary E SHULTS (1851-1874) gave birth to what CUTLER wrote in 1883 as the first white child born in Montgomery county, Harriette (Hattie A) Amanda FLORA (1869-1956), later w/o Carl R Gray (1867-1939), vice-chairman Union Pacific Railroad Systems, herself, American Mother of 1937, and other honors.
CONRAD & FLORA farms were:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)- until January 1871 in Verdigris Township,
2)- until September 1870 on Osage Indian Ceded Land before treaty of Drum Creek, with the CONRAD's furnishing beef for the celebration, treaty resulting from a long running battle with the railroads over these lands (so they could replace the Texas cattle trails that sprung up in 1867) in Washington City ending July 1870, under Ulysses Simpson GRANT
3)- until Thursday, 3 June 1869 in Wilson County, organized in 1855. County originally extended to the south line of Kansas Territory, and was named in honor of Colonel Hiero T. WILSON who lived in Fort Scott from September 1843.
Montgomery County Seat of Government, according to history books, was:
1st)- Verdigris City, Verdigris Township, In the beginning Verdigris City is said to have had about 50 people, located on west half, northwest quarter, section 22, township 33 south, range 16 east, reportedly farm of Henry Wilford CONRAD, HANBOOK OF THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE, 1901, Topeka : Crane & Co, 1900, states "Came to Kansas in
1868. He was one of the first four settlers of Montgomery County, Kansas."
proclaimed by fifth Governor of Kansas, James, "Old Honesty", Madison HARVEY (1833VA-1894KS), as provisional County Seat Thursday, 3 June 1869 for newly created, (now) 646 square mile, Montgomery County, carved from 1855 created Wilson County, named for General Richard MONTGOMERY who shouted "Death or Liberty" in Revolutionary battle where he died. Henry's farm was next to Will's father, Henry's United Brethren, Hartsville University (Indiana) school mates farm, John Andrew Flora , John's other neighbor was five foot seven inch, blue eyed brother Daniel Rice Boon FLORA (1838IN-1908CO). Father, Rev John FLORA (1800GER-1876IN) was five foot six and half inches tall with blue eyes, busy raising a second family back in Bartholomew County, Indiana, died October 1876 after falling from a son-in-law's apple tree.
2nd)- Liberty, Verdigris Township, when in fall 1869 Verdigris City merged with Montgomery City to create Town of Liberty becoming County Seat,
3rd)- Newly created Independence, Independence Township, after a hotly contested election November 1870 when Independence was chosen by the people as County Seat (which in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, had more millionaires per capita than any place else in the United States).
"The site of Independence was bought from the Indians by George A. BROWN in September, 1869 [month Hattie A FLORA was born as 1st white child in Montgomery, county], before the land had been acquired by the government." (1912, Frank W. Blackmar)
Independence was created six miles northerly of Liberty on west bank of river.
"During the winter of 1869, the banks of the Verdigris [river] were alive with camps and campers. Families spent the winter, living in covered wagons or in huts constructed of hay.", so wrote Cutler in his 1883 publication.
Population exploded from a hand full in 1867 to 7,564 in 1870, 13,017 in 1875, 18,213 in 1880, 49,475 in 1910 but only 36,252 in 2000.
The river at state line, is lowest elevation in Kansas at 680 feet above sea level!
Verdigris Township was redefined then renamed Liberty in January 1871, later Town of Liberty moved a few miles east to new railroad, the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Fort Gibson RR which started operating January 1872, after 1880, was Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern RR then 1882, Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe RR.
MARRIAGE: 27 y/o Henry Wilford CONRAD, married on the 28 November 1875 by J H VANCLEAVE to 18 y/o Wihleimina "Wilma" Isadora FLORA (1857-1937) d/o Wolney Pulaski "V P" FLORA who shortly thereafter followed brother Daniel (who married his wife's sister), taking family, to the high country of Colorado Territory, returning to die in daughter Wilma's home.
The Conrad's lived a very active life in Montgomery County, Kansas, he, one of earliest settlers into what would later become Montgomery county, an early county clerk, a state representative, state senator, postmaster, having three daughters and four grand kids, Maud, January 1877, married William Hamilton in 1897 with at least one son Earl, Mary F, February 1879, married local grocer Walter Salathiel, with at least a daughter Wilma (Wilhelmina?) and Opal M, September 1886, married Guy White. They lived a good life until the local newspaper'e front page read:
INDEPENDENT DAILY REPORTER
Monday October 8, 1928
~~~~~~~~~
HENRY CONRAD PIONEER, DIES 7 A.M. TODAY
Was 83 Years of Age, had Been Ill for Some Time;
Funeral 2 P.M. Tuesday
Father: George Conrad b: 22 MAY 1806 Washington county, Pennsylvania.
Mother: Nancy Wiseman b: 8 SEP 1804 Shenandoah, Virginia.
Marriage: Willeimina "Wilma" Isadora Flora Flora b: 1857 Hartsville, Indiana.
Married: 28 NOV 1875 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Known Children
Maud Conrad b: JAN 1977 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Mary F Conrad b: FEB 1879 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Opal M Conrad b: SEP 1886 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
h/o Wilhelmina "Wilma" Isadora Flora.
Henry Wilford CONRAD was 10th born of ten known children, on a farm in Harrison county, Indiana to George CONRAD and Nancy WISEMAN, educated in country grammar and high school, then in 1862 to Hartsville University. April 1864 at age seventeen, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana infantry, where he became a corporal, was mustered out at the close of the war.
He then went west to what later became Liberty township, Montgomery county, Kansas with his older brother Capt Jacob Hendrix Conrad, 6th born on 1 AUG 1836, Daniel Rice Boon FLORA and Lafe HOLLINGSWORTH. Reportedly in 1868 they settled and made friends with the Osage Indians, who permitted them to take claims of 160 acres each, near Brown's ford, two years before the government purchased the Indian territory, government resold it to them for $1.25 a acre. This occurred in September 1870, during the week the government representatives and Indians were making the treaty and drawing the contract for the Osage Diminished Reserve.
Henry had lived among the Osage Indians who became his fast friends, as he was always honest with them in all dealings.
Henry's career includes achievements for Independence as well as Montgomery county, as he was active in organizing the county and held various state and county offices. He was among the earliest of settlers in this territory and helped reclaim it from an unsettled country. Became county clerk 1883-1887 (two terms), Was appointed Kansas State Cattle Inspector in 1891, in 1898 chosen state representative from the western half of the county. His service as a representative earned him a senator's post in 1900, he was then appointed postmaster of Independence following the close of his term as state senator in 1903. During his administration, the post office was made first class in 1911, and a year later, the present federal building which houses the post office was built. He retired at end of his second term in 1914.
As a veteran of the Civil War, he was an active member of the GAR, also was prominent in the Masonic and Elks lodges, and Sons and Daughters of Justice.
Henry W CONRAD had his full share of the dangers and hardships in the days when both he and the territory were young. During those years, among the many other hardships, were: 130 Kansas settlers slaughtered by Indians in 1867, a horrendous prairie fire occurred in 1868 when the night sky was said to be bright enough to read a book 1-mile away but, as pioneers. The CONRAD & FLORA families survived most hardships of early prairie living.
His friend and neighbor, my g,grandfather, John A FLORA (1845-1934) and wife Mary E SHULTS (1851-1874) gave birth to what CUTLER wrote in 1883 as the first white child born in Montgomery county, Harriette (Hattie A) Amanda FLORA (1869-1956), later w/o Carl R Gray (1867-1939), vice-chairman Union Pacific Railroad Systems, herself, American Mother of 1937, and other honors.
CONRAD & FLORA farms were:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)- until January 1871 in Verdigris Township,
2)- until September 1870 on Osage Indian Ceded Land before treaty of Drum Creek, with the CONRAD's furnishing beef for the celebration, treaty resulting from a long running battle with the railroads over these lands (so they could replace the Texas cattle trails that sprung up in 1867) in Washington City ending July 1870, under Ulysses Simpson GRANT
3)- until Thursday, 3 June 1869 in Wilson County, organized in 1855. County originally extended to the south line of Kansas Territory, and was named in honor of Colonel Hiero T. WILSON who lived in Fort Scott from September 1843.
Montgomery County Seat of Government, according to history books, was:
1st)- Verdigris City, Verdigris Township, In the beginning Verdigris City is said to have had about 50 people, located on west half, northwest quarter, section 22, township 33 south, range 16 east, reportedly farm of Henry Wilford CONRAD, HANBOOK OF THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE, 1901, Topeka : Crane & Co, 1900, states "Came to Kansas in
1868. He was one of the first four settlers of Montgomery County, Kansas."
proclaimed by fifth Governor of Kansas, James, "Old Honesty", Madison HARVEY (1833VA-1894KS), as provisional County Seat Thursday, 3 June 1869 for newly created, (now) 646 square mile, Montgomery County, carved from 1855 created Wilson County, named for General Richard MONTGOMERY who shouted "Death or Liberty" in Revolutionary battle where he died. Henry's farm was next to Will's father, Henry's United Brethren, Hartsville University (Indiana) school mates farm, John Andrew Flora , John's other neighbor was five foot seven inch, blue eyed brother Daniel Rice Boon FLORA (1838IN-1908CO). Father, Rev John FLORA (1800GER-1876IN) was five foot six and half inches tall with blue eyes, busy raising a second family back in Bartholomew County, Indiana, died October 1876 after falling from a son-in-law's apple tree.
2nd)- Liberty, Verdigris Township, when in fall 1869 Verdigris City merged with Montgomery City to create Town of Liberty becoming County Seat,
3rd)- Newly created Independence, Independence Township, after a hotly contested election November 1870 when Independence was chosen by the people as County Seat (which in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, had more millionaires per capita than any place else in the United States).
"The site of Independence was bought from the Indians by George A. BROWN in September, 1869 [month Hattie A FLORA was born as 1st white child in Montgomery, county], before the land had been acquired by the government." (1912, Frank W. Blackmar)
Independence was created six miles northerly of Liberty on west bank of river.
"During the winter of 1869, the banks of the Verdigris [river] were alive with camps and campers. Families spent the winter, living in covered wagons or in huts constructed of hay.", so wrote Cutler in his 1883 publication.
Population exploded from a hand full in 1867 to 7,564 in 1870, 13,017 in 1875, 18,213 in 1880, 49,475 in 1910 but only 36,252 in 2000.
The river at state line, is lowest elevation in Kansas at 680 feet above sea level!
Verdigris Township was redefined then renamed Liberty in January 1871, later Town of Liberty moved a few miles east to new railroad, the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Fort Gibson RR which started operating January 1872, after 1880, was Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern RR then 1882, Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe RR.
MARRIAGE: 27 y/o Henry Wilford CONRAD, married on the 28 November 1875 by J H VANCLEAVE to 18 y/o Wihleimina "Wilma" Isadora FLORA (1857-1937) d/o Wolney Pulaski "V P" FLORA who shortly thereafter followed brother Daniel (who married his wife's sister), taking family, to the high country of Colorado Territory, returning to die in daughter Wilma's home.
The Conrad's lived a very active life in Montgomery County, Kansas, he, one of earliest settlers into what would later become Montgomery county, an early county clerk, a state representative, state senator, postmaster, having three daughters and four grand kids, Maud, January 1877, married William Hamilton in 1897 with at least one son Earl, Mary F, February 1879, married local grocer Walter Salathiel, with at least a daughter Wilma (Wilhelmina?) and Opal M, September 1886, married Guy White. They lived a good life until the local newspaper'e front page read:
INDEPENDENT DAILY REPORTER
Monday October 8, 1928
~~~~~~~~~
HENRY CONRAD PIONEER, DIES 7 A.M. TODAY
Was 83 Years of Age, had Been Ill for Some Time;
Funeral 2 P.M. Tuesday
Father: George Conrad b: 22 MAY 1806 Washington county, Pennsylvania.
Mother: Nancy Wiseman b: 8 SEP 1804 Shenandoah, Virginia.
Marriage: Willeimina "Wilma" Isadora Flora Flora b: 1857 Hartsville, Indiana.
Married: 28 NOV 1875 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Known Children
Maud Conrad b: JAN 1977 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Mary F Conrad b: FEB 1879 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Opal M Conrad b: SEP 1886 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
Veteran: Civil War (USA)
h/o Wilhelmina "Wilma" Isadora Flora.
Henry Wilford CONRAD was 10th born of ten known children, on a farm in Harrison county, Indiana to George CONRAD and Nancy WISEMAN, educated in country grammar and high school, then in 1862 to Hartsville University. April 1864 at age seventeen, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana infantry, where he became a corporal, was mustered out at the close of the war.
He then went west to what later became Liberty township, Montgomery county, Kansas with his older brother Capt Jacob Hendrix Conrad, 6th born on 1 AUG 1836, Daniel Rice Boon FLORA and Lafe HOLLINGSWORTH. Reportedly in 1868 they settled and made friends with the Osage Indians, who permitted them to take claims of 160 acres each, near Brown's ford, two years before the government purchased the Indian territory, government resold it to them for $1.25 a acre. This occurred in September 1870, during the week the government representatives and Indians were making the treaty and drawing the contract for the Osage Diminished Reserve.
Henry had lived among the Osage Indians who became his fast friends, as he was always honest with them in all dealings.
Henry's career includes achievements for Independence as well as Montgomery county, as he was active in organizing the county and held various state and county offices. He was among the earliest of settlers in this territory and helped reclaim it from an unsettled country. Became county clerk 1883-1887 (two terms), Was appointed Kansas State Cattle Inspector in 1891, in 1898 chosen state representative from the western half of the county. His service as a representative earned him a senator's post in 1900, he was then appointed postmaster of Independence following the close of his term as state senator in 1903. During his administration, the post office was made first class in 1911, and a year later, the present federal building which houses the post office was built. He retired at end of his second term in 1914.
As a veteran of the Civil War, he was an active member of the GAR, also was prominent in the Masonic and Elks lodges, and Sons and Daughters of Justice.
Henry W CONRAD had his full share of the dangers and hardships in the days when both he and the territory were young. During those years, among the many other hardships, were: 130 Kansas settlers slaughtered by Indians in 1867, a horrendous prairie fire occurred in 1868 when the night sky was said to be bright enough to read a book 1-mile away but, as pioneers. The CONRAD & FLORA families survived most hardships of early prairie living.
His friend and neighbor, my g,grandfather, John A FLORA (1845-1934) and wife Mary E SHULTS (1851-1874) gave birth to what CUTLER wrote in 1883 as the first white child born in Montgomery county, Harriette (Hattie A) Amanda FLORA (1869-1956), later w/o Carl R Gray (1867-1939), vice-chairman Union Pacific Railroad Systems, herself, American Mother of 1937, and other honors.
CONRAD & FLORA farms were:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)- until January 1871 in Verdigris Township,
2)- until September 1870 on Osage Indian Ceded Land before treaty of Drum Creek, with the CONRAD's furnishing beef for the celebration, treaty resulting from a long running battle with the railroads over these lands (so they could replace the Texas cattle trails that sprung up in 1867) in Washington City ending July 1870, under Ulysses Simpson GRANT
3)- until Thursday, 3 June 1869 in Wilson County, organized in 1855. County originally extended to the south line of Kansas Territory, and was named in honor of Colonel Hiero T. WILSON who lived in Fort Scott from September 1843.
Montgomery County Seat of Government, according to history books, was:
1st)- Verdigris City, Verdigris Township, In the beginning Verdigris City is said to have had about 50 people, located on west half, northwest quarter, section 22, township 33 south, range 16 east, reportedly farm of Henry Wilford CONRAD, HANBOOK OF THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE, 1901, Topeka : Crane & Co, 1900, states "Came to Kansas in
1868. He was one of the first four settlers of Montgomery County, Kansas."
proclaimed by fifth Governor of Kansas, James, "Old Honesty", Madison HARVEY (1833VA-1894KS), as provisional County Seat Thursday, 3 June 1869 for newly created, (now) 646 square mile, Montgomery County, carved from 1855 created Wilson County, named for General Richard MONTGOMERY who shouted "Death or Liberty" in Revolutionary battle where he died. Henry's farm was next to Will's father, Henry's United Brethren, Hartsville University (Indiana) school mates farm, John Andrew Flora , John's other neighbor was five foot seven inch, blue eyed brother Daniel Rice Boon FLORA (1838IN-1908CO). Father, Rev John FLORA (1800GER-1876IN) was five foot six and half inches tall with blue eyes, busy raising a second family back in Bartholomew County, Indiana, died October 1876 after falling from a son-in-law's apple tree.
2nd)- Liberty, Verdigris Township, when in fall 1869 Verdigris City merged with Montgomery City to create Town of Liberty becoming County Seat,
3rd)- Newly created Independence, Independence Township, after a hotly contested election November 1870 when Independence was chosen by the people as County Seat (which in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, had more millionaires per capita than any place else in the United States).
"The site of Independence was bought from the Indians by George A. BROWN in September, 1869 [month Hattie A FLORA was born as 1st white child in Montgomery, county], before the land had been acquired by the government." (1912, Frank W. Blackmar)
Independence was created six miles northerly of Liberty on west bank of river.
"During the winter of 1869, the banks of the Verdigris [river] were alive with camps and campers. Families spent the winter, living in covered wagons or in huts constructed of hay.", so wrote Cutler in his 1883 publication.
Population exploded from a hand full in 1867 to 7,564 in 1870, 13,017 in 1875, 18,213 in 1880, 49,475 in 1910 but only 36,252 in 2000.
The river at state line, is lowest elevation in Kansas at 680 feet above sea level!
Verdigris Township was redefined then renamed Liberty in January 1871, later Town of Liberty moved a few miles east to new railroad, the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Fort Gibson RR which started operating January 1872, after 1880, was Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern RR then 1882, Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe RR.
MARRIAGE: 27 y/o Henry Wilford CONRAD, married on the 28 November 1875 by J H VANCLEAVE to 18 y/o Wihleimina "Wilma" Isadora FLORA (1857-1937) d/o Wolney Pulaski "V P" FLORA who shortly thereafter followed brother Daniel (who married his wife's sister), taking family, to the high country of Colorado Territory, returning to die in daughter Wilma's home.
The Conrad's lived a very active life in Montgomery County, Kansas, he, one of earliest settlers into what would later become Montgomery county, an early county clerk, a state representative, state senator, postmaster, having three daughters and four grand kids, Maud, January 1877, married William Hamilton in 1897 with at least one son Earl, Mary F, February 1879, married local grocer Walter Salathiel, with at least a daughter Wilma (Wilhelmina?) and Opal M, September 1886, married Guy White. They lived a good life until the local newspaper'e front page read:
INDEPENDENT DAILY REPORTER
Monday October 8, 1928
~~~~~~~~~
HENRY CONRAD PIONEER, DIES 7 A.M. TODAY
Was 83 Years of Age, had Been Ill for Some Time;
Funeral 2 P.M. Tuesday
Father: George Conrad b: 22 MAY 1806 Washington county, Pennsylvania.
Mother: Nancy Wiseman b: 8 SEP 1804 Shenandoah, Virginia.
Marriage: Willeimina "Wilma" Isadora Flora Flora b: 1857 Hartsville, Indiana.
Married: 28 NOV 1875 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Known Children
Maud Conrad b: JAN 1977 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Mary F Conrad b: FEB 1879 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Opal M Conrad b: SEP 1886 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
h/o Wilhelmina "Wilma" Isadora Flora.
Henry Wilford CONRAD was 10th born of ten known children, on a farm in Harrison county, Indiana to George CONRAD and Nancy WISEMAN, educated in country grammar and high school, then in 1862 to Hartsville University. April 1864 at age seventeen, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana infantry, where he became a corporal, was mustered out at the close of the war.
He then went west to what later became Liberty township, Montgomery county, Kansas with his older brother Capt Jacob Hendrix Conrad, 6th born on 1 AUG 1836, Daniel Rice Boon FLORA and Lafe HOLLINGSWORTH. Reportedly in 1868 they settled and made friends with the Osage Indians, who permitted them to take claims of 160 acres each, near Brown's ford, two years before the government purchased the Indian territory, government resold it to them for $1.25 a acre. This occurred in September 1870, during the week the government representatives and Indians were making the treaty and drawing the contract for the Osage Diminished Reserve.
Henry had lived among the Osage Indians who became his fast friends, as he was always honest with them in all dealings.
Henry's career includes achievements for Independence as well as Montgomery county, as he was active in organizing the county and held various state and county offices. He was among the earliest of settlers in this territory and helped reclaim it from an unsettled country. Became county clerk 1883-1887 (two terms), Was appointed Kansas State Cattle Inspector in 1891, in 1898 chosen state representative from the western half of the county. His service as a representative earned him a senator's post in 1900, he was then appointed postmaster of Independence following the close of his term as state senator in 1903. During his administration, the post office was made first class in 1911, and a year later, the present federal building which houses the post office was built. He retired at end of his second term in 1914.
As a veteran of the Civil War, he was an active member of the GAR, also was prominent in the Masonic and Elks lodges, and Sons and Daughters of Justice.
Henry W CONRAD had his full share of the dangers and hardships in the days when both he and the territory were young. During those years, among the many other hardships, were: 130 Kansas settlers slaughtered by Indians in 1867, a horrendous prairie fire occurred in 1868 when the night sky was said to be bright enough to read a book 1-mile away but, as pioneers. The CONRAD & FLORA families survived most hardships of early prairie living.
His friend and neighbor, my g,grandfather, John A FLORA (1845-1934) and wife Mary E SHULTS (1851-1874) gave birth to what CUTLER wrote in 1883 as the first white child born in Montgomery county, Harriette (Hattie A) Amanda FLORA (1869-1956), later w/o Carl R Gray (1867-1939), vice-chairman Union Pacific Railroad Systems, herself, American Mother of 1937, and other honors.
CONRAD & FLORA farms were:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)- until January 1871 in Verdigris Township,
2)- until September 1870 on Osage Indian Ceded Land before treaty of Drum Creek, with the CONRAD's furnishing beef for the celebration, treaty resulting from a long running battle with the railroads over these lands (so they could replace the Texas cattle trails that sprung up in 1867) in Washington City ending July 1870, under Ulysses Simpson GRANT
3)- until Thursday, 3 June 1869 in Wilson County, organized in 1855. County originally extended to the south line of Kansas Territory, and was named in honor of Colonel Hiero T. WILSON who lived in Fort Scott from September 1843.
Montgomery County Seat of Government, according to history books, was:
1st)- Verdigris City, Verdigris Township, In the beginning Verdigris City is said to have had about 50 people, located on west half, northwest quarter, section 22, township 33 south, range 16 east, reportedly farm of Henry Wilford CONRAD, HANBOOK OF THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE, 1901, Topeka : Crane & Co, 1900, states "Came to Kansas in
1868. He was one of the first four settlers of Montgomery County, Kansas."
proclaimed by fifth Governor of Kansas, James, "Old Honesty", Madison HARVEY (1833VA-1894KS), as provisional County Seat Thursday, 3 June 1869 for newly created, (now) 646 square mile, Montgomery County, carved from 1855 created Wilson County, named for General Richard MONTGOMERY who shouted "Death or Liberty" in Revolutionary battle where he died. Henry's farm was next to Will's father, Henry's United Brethren, Hartsville University (Indiana) school mates farm, John Andrew Flora , John's other neighbor was five foot seven inch, blue eyed brother Daniel Rice Boon FLORA (1838IN-1908CO). Father, Rev John FLORA (1800GER-1876IN) was five foot six and half inches tall with blue eyes, busy raising a second family back in Bartholomew County, Indiana, died October 1876 after falling from a son-in-law's apple tree.
2nd)- Liberty, Verdigris Township, when in fall 1869 Verdigris City merged with Montgomery City to create Town of Liberty becoming County Seat,
3rd)- Newly created Independence, Independence Township, after a hotly contested election November 1870 when Independence was chosen by the people as County Seat (which in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, had more millionaires per capita than any place else in the United States).
"The site of Independence was bought from the Indians by George A. BROWN in September, 1869 [month Hattie A FLORA was born as 1st white child in Montgomery, county], before the land had been acquired by the government." (1912, Frank W. Blackmar)
Independence was created six miles northerly of Liberty on west bank of river.
"During the winter of 1869, the banks of the Verdigris [river] were alive with camps and campers. Families spent the winter, living in covered wagons or in huts constructed of hay.", so wrote Cutler in his 1883 publication.
Population exploded from a hand full in 1867 to 7,564 in 1870, 13,017 in 1875, 18,213 in 1880, 49,475 in 1910 but only 36,252 in 2000.
The river at state line, is lowest elevation in Kansas at 680 feet above sea level!
Verdigris Township was redefined then renamed Liberty in January 1871, later Town of Liberty moved a few miles east to new railroad, the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Fort Gibson RR which started operating January 1872, after 1880, was Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern RR then 1882, Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe RR.
MARRIAGE: 27 y/o Henry Wilford CONRAD, married on the 28 November 1875 by J H VANCLEAVE to 18 y/o Wihleimina "Wilma" Isadora FLORA (1857-1937) d/o Wolney Pulaski "V P" FLORA who shortly thereafter followed brother Daniel (who married his wife's sister), taking family, to the high country of Colorado Territory, returning to die in daughter Wilma's home.
The Conrad's lived a very active life in Montgomery County, Kansas, he, one of earliest settlers into what would later become Montgomery county, an early county clerk, a state representative, state senator, postmaster, having three daughters and four grand kids, Maud, January 1877, married William Hamilton in 1897 with at least one son Earl, Mary F, February 1879, married local grocer Walter Salathiel, with at least a daughter Wilma (Wilhelmina?) and Opal M, September 1886, married Guy White. They lived a good life until the local newspaper'e front page read:
INDEPENDENT DAILY REPORTER
Monday October 8, 1928
~~~~~~~~~
HENRY CONRAD PIONEER, DIES 7 A.M. TODAY
Was 83 Years of Age, had Been Ill for Some Time;
Funeral 2 P.M. Tuesday
Father: George Conrad b: 22 MAY 1806 Washington county, Pennsylvania.
Mother: Nancy Wiseman b: 8 SEP 1804 Shenandoah, Virginia.
Marriage: Willeimina "Wilma" Isadora Flora Flora b: 1857 Hartsville, Indiana.
Married: 28 NOV 1875 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Known Children
Maud Conrad b: JAN 1977 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Mary F Conrad b: FEB 1879 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Opal M Conrad b: SEP 1886 Montgomery county, Kansas.
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
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