J. H. Conrad, A Kansas Pioneer

Capt. Jacob Hendrix Conrad died at his home in Liberty on Wednesday, July 26th, at the age of sixty-seven years, eleven months and twenty-four days.

J. H. Conrad was a well known citizen and had had a more eventful career than most men. Born in Harrison county, Indiana, in 1838, he grew up a pioneer and before he was twenty came to “Bleeding Kansas” with an ox team in 1857 with Rev. Hugh Huston, a brother of the late Uncle Billy Huston, a former well known citizen of Liberty and last of this city, and located in Linn county, then a battle ground between the northern men and the border ruffians for the mastery, and he became intimate with John Brown, Jim Lane, Col. Montgomery and other heroes of Kansas freedom. Later on he went to the Pikes Pike gold fields of Colorado, and there when the rebels fired on Fort Sumter, and as soon as possible after the war news was received he shipped by way of Cape Horn and arrived home in the summer. Governor Morton gave him commission to recruit a company, and going into “the enemy’s country” around his old home he was successful. In a few months his captain was killed and Lt. Conrad was promoted, and served three years. After the war was over he took the Kansas fever again, and in 1868, with his brother, H. W. Conrad, now postmaster in this city, Bon Flora and Lafe Hollingsworth, they started westward in a “prairie schooner,” and walked most of the way. On reaching Kansas they found a boom on for the new Indian lands, and they continued their journey until they reached the domain of Big Hill Joe’s band of the Osages, in what is now Liberty township. They were delighted with the country and determined to locate, and soon after selected their claims, and were the first white men to located in what in now Liberty township. Mr. Conrad entered the claim he selected and lived upon it with the exception of two years when he was deputy county clerk under his brother, H. W. Conrad, until his health failed three years ago, when he sold the farm and moved to Liberty, where he could be near a physician.

Capt. Conrad naturally became a leader among the early settlers, and his acquaintance with Chief Big Hill Joe enabled him to avail for the tenderfeet as they came in search of homes. However, he had to endure great hardships, as the nearest railway station was Columbus, where they got their mail and supplies for a long time.

Four years ago he was converted to Christianity and united with M. E. church, and he has since, publicly and privately, assured his friends that he was happy in the love of Christ. The funeral was held at Liberty, his pastor, the Rev. Stiles, officiating, and interment under the auspices of the Grand Army.

Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence Public Library, Independence, Kansas.