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Joseph M. Conrad (1827 - 1865)
Joseph M. Conrad was born on April 11, 1865 in Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, the son of John George and Mary Ellen (Small) Conrad. He was the oldest of six children, three boys and three girls.
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 Small and Sarah (Conrad) Melhorn.
Joseph's father was a shoemaker and a farmer. When Joseph 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 August 3, 1846 Joseph married Mary Ann Long at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Loretto, Allegheny Township, Cambria County. Mary Ann was born around 1823 in Pennsylvania.
Joseph and Mary Ann had the following eleven children: Mary Conrad, Simon P. Conrad, Catherine Elizabeth (Conrad) Eichenlaub, Rachel (Conrad) Benden, Ann Margaret "Maggie" (Conrad) Morrison, Augustus Silas Conrad, James A. Conrad, Andrew J. Conrad, Gabriel Thomas Conrad, George W. Conrad, and Sarah Isabella Conrad.
Joseph and Mary and their growing family resided on a farm in Clearfield Township, Cambria County. Joseph was a farmer, and Mary was a farmer's wife. Joseph also worked part time for the railroad.
At the age of 39 Joseph walked a number of miles to enlist as a private in the Union Army on September 22, 1864 at Hollidaysburg, Blair County and was placed with Company H of the 199th Pennsylvania Regiment. Not long after enlisting, he fell ill, due in part to malnourishment, for the soldiers had nothing to eat but mush. He died on January 7, 1865, purportedly of typhoid fever in a union army hospital either at Point of Rocks, Virginia or in Wilimington, Pender County, North Carolina. Joseph is buried at the National Cemetery, City Point, Virginia.
When Joseph died, Mary Ann had 10 minor children and was pregnant with their 11th. After his death, Mary Ann and her children moved temporarily to Altoona in nearby Blair County. Their youngest daughter, Isabella, was baptized at St. John's Catholic Church in Altoona.
In 1868 Mary Ann purchased 45 acres of land in Chest Springs, Cambria County, PA, presumably with monies obtained from a Civil War widow’s pension. After enormous effort, she had finally received a pension of $8 a month nearly three years after Joseph's death. She received an additional $2 a month while her children were still minors. Her eldest son Simon ran the farm and cut timber.
In 1870 Mary Ann resided in Allegheny Twp, Cambria County with seven of her children: Simon, Silas, Rachel, Andrew, Thomas, George, and Isabella. Her daughters Catherine and Maggie were married, Maggie at the tender age of 15. It is presumed that her son James was “bound from the home” i.e. living with foster a family. (In 1888 James resided in Spruce, Green Township, and Silas resided in Kenwood, Pine Township, both in Indiana County, PA.)
In 1880 Mary resided in Chest Springs, Cambria County, Pa with their three youngest children Gabriel, George, and Sarah. Their son Simon resided on a farm in Chest Springs with his growing family.
Mary's fate is unknown.
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Conrad Family 
