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Henry Jerome Conrad (1827 - 1902)
Henry Jerome Conrad was born on August 7, 1827 in Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, the son of John George and Mary Ellen (Small) Conrad.
His father was an American of Irish ancestry, and his mother an American of German ancestry. He was baptized at Conewago Chapel–the first Catholic Church established west of Philadelphia–where his godparents were Joseph and Catherine Conrad.
Henry had an older brother Joseph M., and younger siblings John Anthony, Agnes, Mary Ann, and Catherine. Henry’s father was a shoemaker and a farmer.
When Henry was a boy, his family travelled by covered wagon to the Catholic settlement near St. Michael's Church in Allegheny Township, Cambria County in Western Pennsylvania, a trip of over 150 miles.
On Jun 26, 1850 Henry married Mary Pauline “Polly” Settlemyer at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Wilmore. Witnesses to their marriage were Silas Burgoon and Agnes Litltle. Polly was raised Lutheran and was baptized Catholic on the day of her wedding. Her sponsors were Thomas Monaghan and Susanna Young. Polly was five months pregnant at the time of her wedding.
Polly was born in 1830, the daughter of Jacob Settlemyer and Mary Helsel. Her grandfather, Godfrey Settlemyer, was a veteran of the American Revolution.
Henry and Polly were the parents of children: John William “J.W." Conrad; Andrew Jacob Conrad; Isaac Henry “Harry” Conrad; Robert Conrad; Martha Ann Conrad; James Anthony Conrad; Ellen Matilda (Conrad) Hart; Thomas Conrad; Lewis Edward Conrad; Mary Ann "Mollie" (Conrad) Swanhart; and Charles Augustus “Gus” Conrad.
Henry and his family resided near Wilmore in Summerhill Township, where Henry was a farmer.
It is believed that Polly's mother left her father in 1852. The cause of their marital strife is not known.
On June 28, 1854, Henry’s mother died at the age of 52. She had been the oldest of about twelve children, and her ancestors had lived in America since before the Revolution. Henry’s father resided with his brother Anthony and then his sister Mary until his passing on December 18, 1874 at the age of 78.
Their daughter, Martha, died when she was a young girl sometime during the 1860s.
In December 23, 1864, Henry volunteered for service in the Civil War at the age of 37. He told Polly that he had to go, that the war might go on for years and they had to go and help get it over with. It was December of 1864 when Henry got off the train in Wilmington, NC, with his brother, Joseph, and brother-in-law William Settlemyer and was escorted by an obnoxious Sergeant to Company F of the 76th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
Private Henry Conrad informed his company officers of his experience with horses, and hauling iron with a six-horse team. He was soon separated from his unit and put in a position to care for the horses and mules. The animals were awful jittery, since many of the men working with them didn't know horses, and seemed to think you could beat them into orderly beasts, rather than train them with a little patience. It was one of these confused days, when a rebellious mule let Henry have it with both hind feet, sending him through the air until he hit the wall of the stable and collapsed on the manure below. He came to with some very sore ribs and a bruised hip. He refused hospital care, and continued to work as a teamster the rest of the time he was in the service. He was honorably discharged June 30, 1865, at Raleigh, NC. He didn't know until he arrived home that his bother Joseph had died at Point of Rocks Hospital near Washington, DC, and [cousin??] Peter Sylvester [Conrad??] died in Libby Prison.
After the war ended, Henry returned home to his family and the farm. it is presumed that around this time they moved near Ashville in Clearfield Township.
In May 1869 Polly's brother, Jacob Settlemyer, was murdered in Wilmore. He was about 41 and left a widow and three young children. It is not known if his killer was ever brought to justice.
In 1870 Henry owned and operated a sawmill at Conrad's Dam in Clearfield Township. The Conrad Dam was washed away, along with the Sutton Dam, during the flood year of 1889.
In 1870 Henry’s oldest son, J.W. married Ellen McMullen, and Henry gave him a house and land for farming.
Henry was active in public service for northern Cambria County. He served as a constable for 2 years, a school director for 3 years, and as a road master for a number of years.
Henry and Polly had ten children who reached adulthood and all eventually married, many having large families.
Seen here is a portrait of Polly and their ten adult children (and beagle) taken around 1890.
On April 9, 1892, James died suddenly. He was only 32, and sadly, his wife had died just the year before at age 31. Their three orphaned children were raised by Lewis and Harry, who’s wives, the Sutton girls, were both first cousins to James's former wife.
On November 13, 1896 Polly passed away. She was 66. She is buried at St. Thomas Cemetery in Ashville.
In 1900 Henry's son Lewis took over his farm, and he resided with him.
On December 10, 1902 Henry died at his home near Ashville. He was 75.
Henry and Polly are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, Ashville, Cambria County, PA.
Henry and Polly’s ten adult children produced at least 61 grandchildren, and their descendants today are many.
Sources:
Preident, Soldiers, Statesmen. Volume II. New York: H. H. Hardesty, 1898.
Viewable online at http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacambri/books/PSS/pg1205.html
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Conrad Family 
