Charles Harrison Condon

CONDON METZ

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 18:41:59

Woodbury County History 1984

Charles Harrison Condon
By Charles Condon

Charles Harrison Condon was born November 29, 1905, at Fort Worth, Texas. He moved to Sioux City, Iowa, with his widowed mother in October 1920. They lived in one of the first homes in the Country Club Addition to Sioux City. He graduated from Sioux City High School in June 1924, and worked for the Buckwalter Company, Real Estate and Insurance, for one year before attending State University of Iowa for two years.

Charles married Marie Metz, October 15, 1927, daughter of Henry Metz, Sr and Virginia Fachman. Marie was born March 9, 1907, and graduated from Cathedral Girls School and Sioux City High School in 1927.

Charles held a variety of jobs after 1927 until becoming Assistant Sales Manager for Kari-Keen Manufacturing Company, maker of automobile trunks. The company failed in the depression of the ‘30’s’ when car manufacturers built trunks into car bodies. He then sold automotive accessories on the road for himself form 1931 to 1934, and then moved to California on the promise of a job. No job developed, so he went to work for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and transferred to Oakland, California. Returning to Sioux City in 1935, Charles became Sales Representative for Wincharger Corporation. Later he worked for Metz Baking Company in the Sales office.

Charles opend Conon Motor Company in May of 1945 at 306 West 7th Street with a White Truck franchise. In 1953, new facilities were built at 3200 North Highway 75 in what came to be known as ‘The Roundhouse of the Highway’, thanks to a newspaper reporter of the time. In 1970, the size of the original building was doubled to better servee the customers with a body shop for freightliner trucks.

Three children were born to Charles ‘Chuck’ and Marie Condon: Charles Henry, August 18, 1932: Kathleen Francis, March 12, 1934; and Mary Susan, August 30, 1939. Eleven grandchildren were born to these.

Charles married Patricia K Smith in 1953. Of this union eight children were born: Mark Charles, Steven Joseph, Lisa Marie, David Stewart, Amy Joann, Christy Kay, Daniel Scott, and Rebecca Susan.

Mary Susan married Patrick J Feathers in 1961. They had three children: Timothy, Michael, and Betsy. Kathleen married Leonard Saxe in 1958. They had no children.

Great grandchildren number three. Steven married Barbara Backer and had two boys, Heath and Adam. Lisa Marie married Patrick Considine and they had a daughter, Jessica.