Conover, James F. D. D. S. 1869 - 1955

CONOVER, BIGELOW

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 11:56:11

James F. Conover, who since 1903 has been located in Calmar, follows the dental profession and has built up a profitable practice along this line, becoming known as one of the substantial citizens of his city.

Born in New York in August, 1869, Dr. Conover is a son of Firman and Mary (Bigelow) Conover, the father a native of New York and the mother of Connecticut. Firman Conover was a pioneer of Allamakee county, Iowa, coming here in 1856, renting a farm and teaching school. He finally gave up school teaching and purchased land in Winneshiek county, Iowa, which he transformed into a valuable farm, operating the same for a few years, when he sold out in order to remove to New York, engaging there in the butcher business at Daynesville, Lewis county. After remaining there for some time he returned to Winneshiek county, where he farmed for some years and then again returned to New York, remaining there until 1871, when he again made Winneshiek county his home, operating a farm until 1906, in which year he removed to Decorah, where he resided until his death, being laid to rest on his eighty-third birthday. The mother, who is living, has attained an age of seventy-two years.

James F. Conover was but a year and a half old when his parents brought him to Winneshiek County, where he received his early schooling. When he was ten years of age the parents removed to Frankville, where he continued his attendance in the public schools until the age of sixteen. He then engaged for six years in school teaching, being connected with the country schools and those of Decorah at intervals. During that time he also conducted a general store in Frankville for two years, at the end of which period he entered the dental college of Northwestern University at Chicago, attending from 1897 to 1899, and then went to Elburn, Illinois, where he commenced to practice dentistry. He remained in that town for six years. He returned to Northwestern in 1903, however, finishing his course and graduating with that class. In 1905 he came to Calmar and opened an office, having since been engaged in practice there. He enjoys a gratifying patronage which extends beyond the city into the country and which has brought him gratifying financial results.

A man who deeply interests himself in the public welfare, Dr. Conover has closely associated himself with the public life of Calmar, of which city he has served as mayor for two terms, giving the community an excellent administration productive of many valuable and beneficial measures. He is still connected with the city government, being a member of the town council and continuing his valuable work in that capacity. Politically he is a democrat and fraternally a Modern Woodman of America. His offices, which are well and modernly equipped with all appliances of the latest type, are located in the Winneshiek County Bank building. His arrival in the city added a valuable citizen to the community life whose service has been of distinct benefit in the cause of advancement and development.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913

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