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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN MEREDITH CONRAD, son of Nathan and Martha (Lukens) Conrad, was born at the old homestead of the Conrad family in Whitpain township, February 18, 1848. He attended the public schools at Sandy Hill and the Ellis school on the DeKalb street road near Washington Square. He also was a student for some time at Treemount Seminary, then in charge of Professor John W. Loch, Norristown. He married, March 5, 1874, Elma B., daughter of Lee and Mary S. (Wood) Garrigues, of Jarrettown, in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county. Elina B. Garrigues was born March 1, 1850, and, after attending the public schools of the neighborhood, became a student at Millersville State Normal School, where she completed a course and returned to her home at Jarrettown.

John M. Conrad and wife have had five children: Mary Garrigues, born November 20, 1875, unmarried, resides with her parents; Ellie Wood, born April 2, 1878, unmarried and resides with her parents; Lee Garrigues, born June 12, 1881, met an awful fate, losing his life at the burning of Park Hotel, New York city, February 22, 1902, whither he had gone with his relative, Henry C. Conrad, his charred remains being afterwards found and interred in Plymouth Friends’ burying-ground; John Meredith, born February 12, 1889, resides at home and attends the Friends school at Plymouth Meeting; Ida Garrigues, born July 24, 1893, is a student at the same institution.

Nathan and Martha Conrad had the following children: Edwin, born May 17, 1840, married, February 14, 1867, Annie Yerkes; Ellen M., born December 24, 1842, unmarried; Ellwood, born August 27, 1844, married Mattie S. Wood, March 20, 1873, and (second wife) Hannah Edmunds, in 1879; Lukens B., born December 5, 1845, died September 26, 1852; John Meredith, born February 18, 1848, married Alma M. Garrigues, March 5, 1874; Rachel, born October 29, 1851, died September 26, 1852; Nathan, born December 26, 1854, died unmarried.

Nathan Conrad (father) was born March 11, 1808, on the old homestead now occupied by his son, John Meredith Conrad. He was the son of Henry and Anna (Osborn) Conrad. He married Martha Lukens Meredith.

Henry Conrad (grandfather) was the son of John and Ann (Rogers) Conrad, and married, February 27, 1787, Ann Osborn. John Conrad (great-grandfather) was the son of Henry and Catharine (Streypers) Cunreds, and died in Norristown township in 1793.

Lee Garrigues, father of Mrs. John M. Conrad, was the son of Benjamin and Ann (Lee) Garrigues, and was born August 1, 1819, and married, February 13, 1845, Mary Wood, born June 9, 1822, the daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Malone) Wood, and their children were: Anna Garrigues, born July 11, 1846, died July 11, 1847; Edward Garrigues, born December 29, 1847, died in 1867; Elma B. Garrigues, born March 1, 1850, married Mr. Conrad; James Sanford Garrigues, born September 9, 1855, married Ida F. Rittenhouse, they residing on Stanbridge street, Norristown.

The Conrad family have always been attached to the religious belief of the Society of Friends and take an active interest in its affairs. Nathan Conrad (father) was an overseer and elder of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting, of which John M. Conrad and his family are members, attending Plymouth Meeting. In politics John M. Conrad’s forefathers were Federalists and Whigs. He is a Republican, but has never sought or held office. The homestead on which he and his family reside contains ninety-eight acres. He devotes his attention to general farming, combined with a dairy.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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