Condit, Clarence M.

CONDIT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 14:15:27

CLARENCE MILTON CONDIT
born Aug 8, 1860, Iowa

Clarence Milton Condit, efficient and popular cashier of Citizens’ Bank of Milo, is numbered among the native sons of county. He was born in Liberty township, August 8, 1860, and is a son of Daniel M. and Sarah (Martindale) Condit. They had but two children, one of whom, Esther V., married Enoch Trimble, a farmer of township, and died in her forty-fifth year, leaving seven children; and a monument her last resting place in the cemetery of Liberty Center. The father, Daniel M Condit, was born in Orange county, New Jersey, May 9 1819, served an apprenticeship as a millwright, and followed that occupation throughout his business career. He was one of a family of four sons and three daughters, and accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1856, locating in Jasper county, whence after a short time they came to Warren county. Here Mr Condit purchased eighty acres of prairie land in Liberty township and began the development of a farm. There were few families living in the locality, the region was yet quite wild and he had ample opportunity of indulging his taste for hunting, bringing down many fine deer. He built a small frame house, made from timber that was sawed by the mill erected in 1854 and owned by Lawrence & Childs. Mr Condit was an old line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks. He served as Postmaster during the war and carried the mail on horseback, a distance of twelve miles, to Indianola. For eighteen years he was part owner in the grist and saw mill known as the Lawrenceburg Mill, carrying on business along this line in connection with farming. He took an active part in the development of this region and was recognized as one of the prominent citizens of the community during the early days. He died September 1, 1873, and was buried in the cemetery of Liberty Center. His widow still survives him and at the age of seventy-five makes her home with her son. She is a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her earnest Christian life is an example that might well be followed. C. M. Condit was reared in the township of his birth and began his education in a school in the Lawrenceburg district, his sister being his first teacher. He afterward attended the Ackworth Academy for two years. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until the latter's death, when the management and care of the old homestead devolved largely upon his young shoulders. He resided there until 1887, when he went to Liberty Center and entered in mercantile pursuits for a year, removing thence to Belmont township, Warren county, where he became associated in business with J. M. Turner, a farmer and stockraiser, handling Percheron and Norman horses and shorthorn cattle. He followed this business until the spring of 1893, when he removed to Milo and took an active part in the organization of the Citizens’ Bank, which was established on the 27th of March. He has since been its cashier, and the success of the institution is due in no small degree to this wide-awake and enterprising young business man who possesses superior ability and a determination that carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. On the 2d of March, 1881, Mr Condit married Miss Emma Turner, a native of Warren county and a daughter of J. MM. Turner. of Belmont township. Three children grace this union: Geraldine, born January 12, 1882; John T., born October 7, 1883; and Gilbert H., born April 21, 1886. They have a pleasant home on South street. which is presided over by Mrs. Condit, an accomplished lady who extends warm hospitality to their many friends. The political support of Mr. Condit is given to the Republican party, with which he has been connected since casting his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. He is deeply interested in educational affairs and all that pertains to the advancement of schools, and is the efficient president of the Milo school board, under whose direction there is now being erected, at a cost of $9,000, a school building designed as a high school. There are three rooms below, with a seating capacity of 285 pupils, and two recitation rooms above. He has also served as township Clerk of Belmont township, and was Justice of the Peace in Liberty township for one term. His entire life has been passed in Warren county, and he typifies the true Western spirit of progress. Socially Mr. Condit is a member of Milo Lodge, No 413, I.O.O.F., and Lilly Lodge, No 160, K. of P. [Knights of Pythias], of Milo.
Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.223