Robert Conrad was born on March 17, 1855 near Wilmore in Summerhill Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, the son of Henry and Mary “Polly” (Settlemyer) Conrad. He was baptized on August 28, 1853 at St. Bartholomews’s Catholic Church in Wilmore; his godparents were Jacob and Catherine Burke.

Robert grew up on a farm.

Robert's father fought in the Civil War in 1864-5. Soon after he returned from the War, the Conrad family relocated near Ashville in Clearfield Township, where his father operated a sawmill near Conrad's Dam.

Around 1878 Robert married Martha Donegan. Martha was born on March 8, 1857 in Clearfield Township, Cambria County, the daughter of Bernard and Catherine (Braniff) Donegan.

Robert and Martha were the parents of four adult children: Henry R. "Harry" Conrad, Herman Conrad, Flora (Conrad) Krise, and Francis "Frank" Conrad. Martha may have given birth to six additional children who all died in infancy. Two of those children were Thomas R. Conard and Robert Leroy Conrad. Thomas R. died in infancy in 1896, and and Robert Leroy died in infancy in 1898.

In 1880, Robert and Martha resided in Logan Township, Blair County. In 1896 they resided in Dean Township, Cambria County, and in 1900, they resided in nearby Clearfield Township.

Martha died on May 11, 1901 in Chest Springs, Clearfield Township. She was 44.

The following year Robert remarried. On November 22, 1902 he married Jane Mayer at St. Augustine Catholic Church, St. Augustine. Jane was born about 1855 in Pennsylvania.

In 1912 Robert and his wife resided with his son Harry in Cresson, Cambria County. Harry was married to Anna Karnes.

Robert died on February 29, 1912 at the lumber camp operated by his nephew Orlando Conrad in Woodvale Heights, Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, for which he worked part time. He was 56.

At the time of his death, his son Herman resided in British Columbia, Canada. His son Frank resided in the Phiilippine Islands, presumably under the employ of the US navy. Flora resided in Altoona, Blair County with her husband Silas Krise.

Robert had been a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cresson at the time of his death.

Robert is buried in St. Augustine Cemetery, St. Augustine.