V. M. CONRAD
V. M. Conrad is a native of Tioga county, New York, born September 15, 1815. His parents, Joshua and Eva (Rothfund) Conrad, had a family of nine children, of whom V. M. was the sixth. He was reared and educated in his native State, and on attaining manhood, followed clerking in a hotel and store. In 1831 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was [a] clerk in a hotel one year; then went to Detroit, Michigan, and there was alternatively in the grocery business, for himself, and clerk in a hotel, until 1840. He moved, in that year, to Hancock county, Illinois, where he remained till 1846; then removed to VanBuren county, Iowa, and, soon after, to Dubuque, and was there engaged in prospecting and lead-mining. In the spring of 1850 he left that city with a team of horses and wagon, bringing his wife and one child, and household goods, to Cass county, where he settled with the intention of making a permanent home for himself and family. He built a log cabin, fifteen by thirty-two feet, on the site of the present residence of Jacob Stevens. In the fall of 1850, their supply of provisions ran short, and they decided to return to Dubuque for the winter. The following spring (1851) they made all preparations to return to their new home in Cass county, but on account of the unusually high water that year, they were unable to carry out their intention until th espring following (1852). They then came back with an ox team. Mr. Conrad had left upon his place a man named Weeks, a Mormon, who left, shortly after the return of Mr. Conrad and family, going farther west. In the early years of his residence here, Mr. Conrad engaged in farming; later, in the entertainment of emigrants and new-comers. In connection with this business, he carried on merchandising. This was at Indiantown. In 1859 he again engaged in Farming, which occupation he followed until the fall of 1883. Since that time he has rented his farm, which is located in section 9, of Cass township. Mr. Conrad is an old member of Lewis Lodge No. 140, I. O. O. F., and a charter member of the Rebecca Degree Lodge of the same order, and has held all of the elective office in both lodges. He was the first recorder in Cass county, and recorded the first deed. He held the office one term, and filled the office of justice of the peace several times in an early day. He at present holds the offices of justice of the peace and major of Lewis. The former he has held for many years. He has been sub-director, and for nine years has held the office of secretary, of the board of directors of Cass township. Mr. Conrad was united in marriage, in VanBuren county, Iowa, in 1840, with Miss Mary J. Eighmey, a sister of C. H. Eighmey, cashier of the First National bank at Dubuque. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad have nine children living: Orson, Mary, Lemon, Nettie, Alice, Fred, Clara, Vincent M., Jr., and Laura. One daughter, Emeline, died at the age of twelve days, on September 2, 1854.
From "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 355-356.
The first man to take up land within the present township of Cass with the intention of making a permanent settlement was V.M. Conrad. He came to this locality in the spring of 1850, from Dubuque where he had been engaged in mining, bringing with him his family and household goods. He took up a claim on section 9, where he erected a log cabin 15x32 feet in size, in which he installed his furniture and family. He found no people here but the remnants of the Mormons, who yet lingered in this county. In the fall of the same year running out of provisions, it was determined in family council, to go back to Dubuque to spend the winter, so putting the house and stock in charge of a man by the name of Weeks, a Mormon, they left, with the intention of returning when spring had opened. In the early part of 1851, the heavy rains, and melting snows so swelled the numerous rivers and streams between him and his farm, that he found it utterly impossible to make the journey, so waited until the spring of 1852, when he once more ventured, and succeeded in reaching this vicinity, where he is still living, one the few surviving memorials of the early days of Cass county. A detailed biographical sketch of Mr. Conrad, is given in the chapter entitled, National, State and County Representation, under the sub-head of recorder, he being the first to occupy that office.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 503.
