John M. Conard, vice-president of the Franklin County State Bank of Ottawa, Kan., a prosperous agriculturist and stock raiser of Hayes township, Franklin county, and prominently identified with the business and commercial life of that community, is an example of the alert, progressive and successful business man and his biography is well worthy of record for the achievements attained. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, Jan. 24, 1867, to William H. and Sarah Belinda (Dominy) Conard, the former a native of Licking county, Ohio, born Nov. 9, 1843, and taken with his parents to Illinois at the age of three years. He was reared and educated there and began his independent business career as a stock raiser, selling and shipping stock as well. He now lives retired, but continues to enjoy the high regard of all who came to know him during his active career, when he became an influential citizen and a prominent factor in the public and business life of La Salle county, Illinois. He is also one of the revered patriots of the Civil war and his descendants may point with pride to the following record of his services with the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois infantry:

"Sergt. William H. Conard; age 18; born in Ohio; farmer; enlisted from Serena, Aug. 14, 1862; was in the Kentucky campaign and at the battle of Hartsville; in the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns; was present at Elk River and Davis Cross Roads, and the battle of Chickamauga; in the battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge and the skirmishes following. Promoted corporal for meritorious services, May 1, 1864; was in the Atlanta campaign at Buzzard Roost, the battle around Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, and Peachtree Creek. In the latter battle was severely wounded in the right shoulder and was sent to hospital, thence home. On recovering he rejoined the regiment at Goldsboro, N. C., and participated in the last campaign. Promoted sergeant, April 7, 1865, for meritorious services. Mustered out June 6, 1865. A soldier who could be counted upon in a tight place."

On his return home he was tendered a commission as lieutenant in the regular army by Hon. B. C. Cook, then a member of Congress from the Ottawa (Ill.) district, but declined. The Conard ancestry is undoubtedly of German descent, but the direct lineage can be traced back only to John Conard, of Virginia. His son, Anthony, the great-grandfather of John M., was born at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains, in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1760, and was a mere boy when he enlisted as a soldier in the Revolution. His residence after the war was near the plantation of General Washington, with whom he was personally acquainted. Anthony Conard, Jr., grandfather of John M., was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, Oct. 16, 1799, and immigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 1828, remaining there until 1847, when he immigrated to La Salle county, Illinois, and died in Crawford county, that state, Dec. 26, 1851. He married Nancy Gregg, a native of Virginia, Jan. 8, 1821. She was born Oct. 15, 1802, and died in La Salle county, Illinois, Dec. 16, 1847. William H. father of John M., was the thirteenth of fourteen children born to his parents. Shortly after the close of the Civil war, or on Feb. 20, 1866, William H. Conard was united in marriage with Sarah Belinda Dominy, born March 13, 1845, to Lorenzo and Sarah A. (Gurnea) Dominy, natives of New York, the former born in Clinton county, June 22, 1822, and the latter in Montgomery county, April 21, 1826. Lorenzo Dominy was a son of Ezra Dominy, born on Long Island, May 13, 1786, and the latter was a son of Henry Dominy, also a native of Long Island, born Dec. 26, 1746. Henry's father was Nathaniel Dominy, one of three brothers who came to America from England and settled on Long Island. The maternal grandmother of John M. Conard was a daughter of William F. and Isabelle (Peck) Gurnea, natives of Montgomery county, New York, the former born Sept. 15, 1796, and the latter April 6, 1807. Both died in LaSalle county, Illinois.

John M. Conard is the eldest of five children born to his parents and he was given the best educational advantages to be obtained in the public schools of his locality, which were supplemented by a course in the Plumb Commercial College, at Streator, Ill. Until his majority he was associated with his father in the stock business in Illinois, but at that time he came to Kansas, where he and his father had purchased 850 acres, partly in Hayes and partly in Ottawa townships, Franklin county, and established himself as an agriculturist, but later engaged also in the live stock business. In 1890 he bought his father's interest in the property and still retains the whole of it. In 1893 he leased the farm and moved to Ottawa, where he lived for six years. In 1898 he and E. W. Hume became heavy stockholders in the Franklin County State Bank, of which Mr. Conard is now vice-president. He also owns an interest in the Quenemo Milling Company of Quenemo, Kan., and is president of the milling company. They manufacture the famous "Kansas Chief" brand of flour. In 1899 he erected on his farm one of the finest modern residences in eastern Kansas, of pressed brick and frame, 58 by 36, which, with its stained shingle trimmings and fine interior equipments, surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences of modern civilization, meets the ideal for beauty and comfort, both without and within. The loveliness of this home is complete with the presence of his gracious wife, who was Esther A. Shinn, born Dec. 5, 1869, to whom he was married Jan. 21, 1891. Her educational and social qualities are such as have made her a leader in the highest circles of the community. Her parents are Albert C. and Frances E. (Bride) Shinn, the former a native of Harrison county, West Virginia, born Oct. 12, 1842, and the latter of Hancock county, Illinois, born Oct. 19, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Conard have two children: Alberta B., born March 2, 1899, and Frances R., born Sept. 10, 1907. Mr. Conard's political sympathies are with the Democratic party, and he affiliates fraternally with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is especially interested in raising high bred trotting horses and has the best in the county and some of the best in the state, some of his horses having record in the state and county fairs. One of them, "Kewanna Queen," has raced sixty times, taking first money eighteen times, second money eighteen times, and has been out of money but four times. Her record is 2:10 3/4. Mr. Conard's breeding of light harness horses has been mainly of the Kewanna stock, which, including "Kewanna Queen," are the following leaders: "Kewanna Riley," 2:08; "Kewanna Kate," (3) 2:19; "Kewanna Medium," (3) 2:16 1/4, and Black Squaw (trial), 2:11 1/4. Mr. Conrad is an enthusiastic motorist, and enjoys touring the country with his fine Stoddard Dayton automobile.