Notes
Note H564
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
Sources:
Title: Conser Family Tree on www.rootsweb.com posted by Jim Bish
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Book
[Scott A Haney.GED]
[JohnConser1.FTW]
Info taken from the book "The Conser Family" by Col.. Joh n P. Horan[2485774[1].GED]
[JohnConser1.FTW]
Info taken from the book "The Conser Family" by Col.. Joh n P. Horan
Notes
Note H565
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
Sources:
Title: Conser Family Tree on www.rootsweb.com posted by Jim Bish
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Book
Notes
Note H566
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
Sources:
Title: Conser Family Tree on www.rootsweb.com posted by Jim Bish
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Book
Notes
Note H567
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
Sources:
Title: Conser Family Tree on www.rootsweb.com posted by Jim Bish
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Book
Notes
Note H568
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
[2485774[1].GED]
Kelista "Ellen" (Conser) Watson was born on September 23 to her parents, John and Mary (Gre noble) Conser at her parent's farm in Haw Creek Township, Knox County, Illinois. She joine d three brothers and three sisters in their home. Two more sisters and three more brothers w ould later be born into the Conser Family. Ellen grew to young adulthood at that farm with h er eleven brothers and sisters. At the age of fourteen, in 1874, Ellen's parents decided t o move west to Nebraska, following Ellen's two older brothers, William and Jacob, whom remove d to York County, Nebraska in 1871.
Ellen's parents sold their Knox County farm and purchased a farm near where William an d Jacob Conser homesteaded in Henderson Township, York County, Nebraska. While in York County , Ellen's youngest sister, Edith became ill and died. In 1875, Ellen's father went farther w est in Nebraska to search from available land to homestead for himself and his family. He fou nd it in Furnas County, Nebraska and the family removed to New Era Township, Furnas County, N ebraska in 1876.
Ellen found herself again in a new land surrounded by new neighbors, including the Enoc h Watson Family. The Enoch Watson Family, Enoch, Hannah, and five children including Willia m A. born in 1854, had migrated to Furnas County, Nebraska two years before the Conser Famil y arrived. William Watson took a timber claim near his parents and the Conser homesteads in 1 875 and when Ellen turned twenty-one, in 1881, she also took a homestead claim of 80 acres ne ar her parents home and just one-half mile west of Williams claim.
William Alfred Watson and Kelista "Ellen" Conser were married in Furnas County on Februa ry 28, 1882. After marriage, they moved onto Ellen's homestead. They received full title t o the homestead in 1890 and to the timber claim in 1893. Meanwhile, they built a frame hous e on the border of the homestead and the timber claim, probably aided by Ellen's father who w as a carpenter. The lumber for the house was hauled in from Kearney and it was there where t hey would raise their family.
Carl Andrew was born in 1882, followed by Lulu Ann in 1884, and then Mamie Myrtle in 1 893. All three of the children were raised on the farm north of Oxford. Carl later marrie d Anna Grealman, Lulu married John Wylie, and Mamie married Otto Schlatz. William and Ellen c ontinued to live on the farm, except for three years, 1899-1902 when they removed to Holdrege . In 1917, when rheumatism began to hamper William, they left the farm and removed to Oxford , Nebraska. Their son, Carl, took over the farming operation at that time.
In retirement, Ellen did much church work. She belonged to the United Brethren church a s a young woman and later became a member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church and guild. Will iam passed away in July 19, 1934 and Ellen passed away on March 22, 1937. Funeral service s for both were held at the Oxford Presbyterian Church and they are both buried at the Oxfor d Cemetery.
Notes
Note H569
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
[2485774[1].GED]
Leroy "Roy" Newton Conser was born at the farm home of his parents, Jacob E. and Mary A. (Co x) Conser, located just west of Lushton, York County, Nebraska on August 2, 1892. Besides hi s parents, he joined eleven-year old brother, Clarence. The following year, on September 13 , 1893, the family welcomed another son, Arthur Martin, into the household and Leroy had a b aby brother and a playmate. The family lived on that York County farm for only one more yea r after that, as in September 1894, Leroy's parents sold the farm and Leroy's family joined h is grandparent's, Harrison and Matilda Cox, and uncle Lyman Cox in removing to a farm near Al ton, Missouri in Oregon County.
Leroy's early boyhood years were spent on that Missouri farm as the family lived the nex t seven years there. During that time, Leroy and his younger brother, Arthur enjoyed all o f the experiences, such as fishing and farm chores, that went along with rural living at tha t time. When Leroy was three, on January 22, 1896, twin sisters, Matilda and Magdalena, wer e born stillborn resulting in a great amount of sorrow for the family. Three years later, Mar ch 25, 1899, a baby sister, Viva Cordelia, was born into the household. At that time, Claren ce was now nineteen years of age, Leroy was six, and Arthur was five. Two years later, Leroy 's parents decided to sell their Missouri farm and move back to Nebraska. Leroy's grandparent 's Cox and uncle Lyman Cox had already
moved back to Hampton, Nebraska and Leroy's parents agreed that it was time to rejoin them . During the spring of 1901 Jacob and Mary Conser sold their farm and purchased a home in th e village of Hampton, near where Mary's parents, Harrison and Matilda Cox lived. Leroy was n ow nine, Arthur was eight, and Viva was two. Clarence, now 20, moved back to Nebraska also , but was now working away from home.
Upon their return to Nebraska, Leroy began attending Hampton Public Schools. It was a t Hampton that Leroy grew to adulthood. During this period, Leroy lost two of his grandparen ts. Leroy's grandfather, John Conser, passed away the year before Leroy was born in Oxford , Nebraska leaving only three grandparents that he would know. On December 1, 1910, Mary Mag dalena (Grenoble) Conser passed away at the home of Leroy's Uncle Arthur Conser at Edison, Ne braska. She was buried in Oxford's Cemetery beside her husband. Harrison Cox, Leroy's mate rnal grandfather passed away January 23, 1913 in Hampton and was buried at Hampton's Cemetery . The death of Harrison left
Leroy with only one living grandparent, Matilda Cox.
Leroy completed his public school education in Hampton and began working at Miller's Har dware Store in Aurora, Nebraska. It was at this time that Leroy met Hazel Green about 1915 . She had just been hired to teach at Hampton High School. Hazel was the daughter of the la te Henry Clay Green, a Civil Warveteran, and Margaret Jane (Patterson) Green. She grew up o n a farm west of Miller, Nebraska, but a few years after her father's death her mother move d to Miller so that it would be easier for Hazel and her sister Hester to attend school. Haz el graduated from the tenth grade at Miller in 1910 and
then her mother moved to Kearney in order for Hazel to continue her education. Haze graduate d from Kearney High School in 1912 and then continued receiving an education in college at Ke arney Normal School. She obtained her teaching certificate at Kearney Normal in 1914 and secu red her first teaching position at Hampton in the fall of that same year. Hazel was then tw enty and Leroy was twenty-two. Leroy and Hazel became quite good friends during this time a s they went around with other young adults from the area of their age.
Their relationship gradually grew stronger over the years. Hazel taught at Hampton duri ng the 1914-15 and 1915-16 school years and during summers she returned to live with her moth er and sister at Kearney while continuing to take college courses in pursuit of a Bachelor o f Arts degree. In the fall of 1916, Hazel secured a teaching position in Edgar, Nebraska whi ch gave her about $15 a month more income. When Hazel and Leroy were apart the continued th eir relationship by writing many letters to each other and when they were able to see each ot her they enjoyed going to picture shows or local plays in addition to enjoying the company o f mutual friends. Leroy continued to work at the hardware store in Aurora, but by early spri ng of 1917, he accepted an offer
for a new job to work in a department store in Falls City, Nebraska where he would be in cha rge of the hardware department. The new job paid $100 a month and both, Hazel and Leroy seeme d happy with their new positions and their relationship. World affairs, however, were not a s good. World War I began in 1914 in Europe and America managed to avoid the conflict throug h 1916. In April, 1917, Germany announced unrestricted warfare on the Atlantic Ocean and Ame rica responded by declaring war against Germany. America's entry into World War I created m any changes in the lives of Leroy and Hazel.
America now became preoccupied with war and it also began to preoccupy the lives of Haze l and Leroy. Many of Hazel students at Edgar enlisted in the Army and school enrollment drop ped quickly. In addition to students, many of Hazel and Leroy's friends also began enlistin g in the service. It was thought that it would be much better to enlist than wait for the dr aft to come. Leroy enlisted in the U.S. Army, but, failed the physical and was refused entr y because of flat feet. This was disappointing to Leroy as many of his Hampton friends were e ntering including his brother, Arthur, and they wanted to go through the war experience toget her. After failing to get into the army, Leroy
enlisted in the U.S. Navy and he was able to pass their physical. Leroy's naval service bega n on December 14, 1917 at Omaha, Nebraska where he was inducted into the U.S. Navy and then s ent to aviation school as a member of Company F, 6th Regiment, at Camp Perry, in Great Lakes , Illinois located just north of Chicago.
At Great Lakes aviation training school, Leroy learned many new things as everyone did . Probably the most impressive to Leroy was learning how to fly an airplane. Aircraft and th eir uses in wartime were in their infancy, after all, it had been less than fifteen years sin ce the first successful air flight was completed by the Wright brothers in 1903. As part o f his job, Leroy learned how to fly airplanes, but his real training was for the repair of th e airplane as he was being trained as a Coppersmith. In March 1918 Leroy was transferred t o Company H in the 6th Regiment. He continued his training as a Coppersmith for the next thr ee months before his regiment was ready to ship out to Europe. In early June 1918, Leroy wa s transferred with his regiment to the Philadelphia
Navy Yard awaiting their turn to go to Europe. Less than a month later, Leroy was aboard a t ransport ship headed for England.
Every amount of free time given to Leroy seemed to be spent at picture shows, seeing nea rby sites, and writing letters to Hazel. Hazel was very busy as well. In addition to her ma ny teaching related duties, she was now providing aid for the Red Cross in her spare time. Sh e knitted sweaters, socks, and wrote letters to many servicemen that were away from home. S he saved some time about everyday to write to Leroy. While Leroy was away, their relationshi p seemed to get stronger. In late June 1918, Leroy arrived with
his regiment at Killingholme, England and worked the next six months as a Coppersmith atthe U nited States Naval Air Station which was attached to the North Sea bombing squadron. Just a s Leroy was arriving in England, Hazel was preparing to graduate in July 1919 from Kearney St ate Normal School with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Education.
American forces arriving in Europe in large numbers and they were beginning to have an i mpact on the war. U.S. Army forces arriving at the front in France were beginning to push ba ck the Germans. By late summer 1917, American forces in France had broken through the Germa n lines and by September American Forces launched the deciding Meuse-Argonne offensive. On N ovember 11, 1918, Germany signed an Armistice ending World War I. World War I was now over , but there would be many deaths yet to occur during what remained of 1918 through 1919. The se deaths were not because of problems with war, but because of an epidemic influenza virus t hat was now
sweeping across Europe and America. The virus became so bad in Nebraska in the Fall of1918 t hat a quarantine was announced all across Nebraska. This resulted in an unexpected six week v acation for Hazel as Edgar Public Schools were closed for six weeks that Fall resulting fro m the influenza outbreak. Many servicemen in Europe were also catching the disease as the ep idemic spread there. Just at a time when Americans could rejoice for having ended the war, A merican servicemen were dying in large numbers from influenza.
Arthur Martin Conser became ill with influenza just weeks after the armistice was signed . After joining the U.S. Army in 1917 he was sent to New Mexico for basic training and the n was sent to Europe in the Spring 1918. He participated in the movements against Germany an d was involved in the entire Meuse-Argonne Offensive that led to the German Armistice. He wa s then ordered into Germany as part of an American Occupationally Force in Germany. It was w hile stationed here that he became ill. By February 1919, the influenza had turned into pneu monia and he died on February 21, 1919 in Coblenz, Germany. The end of the war and the untim ely death of Leroy's brother, Arthur, brought mixed emotions for the entire Conser Family.
Just before Christmas, 1918 Leroy was ordered back to the United States and he left Kill ingholme, England. He arrived as a member of Company B, 4th Regiment at the U.S. Naval Stati on at Pelham Bay, New York. Leroy spent the next five months here doing repair work as a Cop persmith. In May 1919, Leroy was sent to the U.S. Naval Station at Rockaway, New York in pre paration for discharge. From there he was sent to Minneapolis, Minnesota and was honorably d ischarged as a Coppersmith, Second Class, from the U.S. Navy on May 18, 1919. He then move d back to Falls City, Nebraska.
While Leroy served in the Navy, the steady correspondence with Hazel made their relation ship much stronger. After his discharge, they began to see much more of each other when the y could make the arrangements. Leroy went back to work in Falls City at Crook Hardware stor e after turning down a more lucrative job in a farm implement dealership in Aurora. He jus t liked the hardware business and did not see himself working with farm equipment. Hazel con tinued teaching at Edgar. By the Fall of 1918, Leroy was making monthly payments on a diamon d engagement ring he was purchasing for Hazel. Hazel accepted the engagement diamond later th at year and the couple began planning a June 1920 wedding while Hazel was out of school.
On Wednesday morning June 30, 1920 Hazel became the bride of Leroy Conser at the home o f Hazel's mother, Margaret Green, in Kearney, Nebraska. The ceremony was performed by Revere nd E. F. Wagner, former Miller, Nebraska minister and then of Meadow Grove, Nebraska. It wa s a small ceremony with only immediate family members present. After their wedding, Leroy an d Hazel spent a honeymoon trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado, a place earlier visited by Lero y on his 24th birthday. The couple returned to Falls City to make their home. Leroy continu ed to work at Crook Hardware and Hazel secured a job in Falls City High School for the 1920-2 1 term.
Leroy and Hazel were very busy in their early married years. In addition to their full- time jobs, they kept very busy with community events and service. Leroy was becoming more in volved in the Masonic Lodge, an organization he joined while living in Aurora. Likewise, Haz el kept busy with the Eastern Star. Both were very active in the Presbyterian Church of Fall s City and Leroy served the church as an elder. In many of their spare moments they would b e at the church. Leroy also kept himself very busy with the American Legion. Just after tha t war, he assisted in the organization of the Arthur M. Conser Post at Hampton, Nebraska an d was made a charter member of that post named in honor of his brother. In Falls City, Lero y took and active role in their Legion. In 1923 he was elected Commander of the Falls City L egion Post. The couple seemed to enjoy their life at Falls City, however Leroy longed to ow n a hardware store of his own. As early as 1922, he was searching all over the Nebraska an d the entire Midwest region for an available hardware business for sale.
In the early spring of 1923, Leroy located an available hardware business for sale in Bl ackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma. After checking it out, he decided it was what he was searchin g for and the couple purchased the business. During May 1923, after Hazel completed her scho ol year at Falls City, the couple moved down to Blackwell to operate what would be known as C onser Hardware Company. The years in Blackwell would be the happiest of their lives. Leroy , became known as "Roy" while living in Blackwell, and Hazel opened up their business known a s Conser Hardware Co., Inc. at 117 South Main Street during the summer of 1923. Roy and Haze l immediately got involved in many social and civic organizations of Blackwell. Roy quickl y joined the Blackwell American Legion Post and became quite active. Hazel joined the Americ an Legion Auxiliary and also became an active member. Roy then continued his membership in t he Masonic Lodge and Hazel continued her membership in the Eastern Star. Roy soon joined th e Lions Club, the Elks Lodge, and the Chamber of Commerce. They both joined Blackwell's First
Presbyterian Church.
Roy could hardly have picked a better location in America for a hardware store in 1923 . Oklahoma, especially Blackwell, soon had a booming economy based on oil. Overall, Americ a was entering a golden age of prosperity and optimism, often referred to as the "Roaring Twe nties" that lasted seven years. Roy opened his hardware business at the beginning of that p rosperous time. Oklahoma and Blackwell were especially prosperous. It was simply because o f oil. After World War I, Americans began to enjoy consumer goods as never before. Over hal f of Americans now had electricity in their homes by 1923. American ingenuity and inventiv e spirit used the new technology to introduce new electric gadgets and devices to make life e asier, and of course most were sold at hardware stores. Americans now enjoyed the ease at wh ich these devices made their lives. The economy was strong. Life was easier and better an d Americans had more free time, primarily as a result of the time saving benefits of the elec trical appliances.
As a result of having more time and more money, many Americans thought of traveling fo r the first time and vacations became popular. Automobiles became the means of traveling pref erence in the 1920s. Automobiles, mostly because of Henry Ford, were more dependable and affo rdable then ever. Unlike train travel they allowed people to have more freedom. Americans c ould drive exactly where they wanted to go without the
confinement of a railway schedule. Americans developed a love affair with the automobile i n the 1920s. Of course, one item that was needed to "fuel" this automobile craze was oil. Oi l became a most sought resource of the 1920s. Oklahoma sat on tremendous oil reserves and a s the name suggest, Blackwell, was near the heart of those underground reserves. What bette r of a location to could there have been to own a hardware store in the 1920s then Blackwell . Both consumers and the oil industry needed the goods sold at the hardware store and becaus e of oil, economic conditions in Blackwell were extremely good and most people prospered wit h plenty of expendable money available.
It seems that Conser Hardware Company prospered immediately and Roy and Hazel reaped th e benefits of that success. Roy quickly became one of the most respected business leaders i n the community. Roy was elected as Commander of the Russell Litchfield American Legion Pos t at Blackwell in 1924, a position he held for two years. During this time he was elected a s a member of the board of trustees at the First Presbyterian Church and vice-president of th e Lions Club. He was also elected as generalissimo in the Commandry of the Masonic Lodge an d to the board of directors of Blackwell's Chamber of Commerce. Hazel also was active in soc ial and civic duties. She continued her involvement in the Eastern Star and became quite ded icated to the American
Legion Auxiliary. Hazel served as treasurer of the Blackwell Auxiliary during much of this t ime and became quite good friends with Blackwell's Auxiliary President, Mrs. Roy Cox. Hazel' s dedication to the Auxiliary earned her the respect from members throughout Oklahoma and i n 1927, she was elected to serve the Oklahoma State Auxiliary board as its statewide secretar y. One item of sad news during this time was that Roy's only living grandmother, Matilda Co x passed away in March 1926 in Hampton, Nebraska. She had lived a long live of 86 years an d was buried next to her husband in Hampton's Cemetery.
Roy and Hazel were becoming quite well known and well liked in Blackwell resulting fro m their hardware business and their continuing community service. In the winter of 1926-27 , incumbent Blackwell Mayor M. M. Lively decided not to seek re-election in the April 1927 ma yoral race and many of Roy and Hazel's friends asked Roy to consider running for mayor. Afte r examine the support he had from friends concerning a mayoral race, Roy decided to run for t he office and in February 1927 he announced his candidacy to the citizens of Blackwell. Th e primary election was held on March 15th and
Roy was elected to advance to the General Election on April 5, 1927. Oscar J. Neal also succe eded in the primary election and became Roy's opposition for the April general election.
During the two weeks following the primary election, mayoral campaigning was in full swi ng. Both candidates appeared in daily newspaper advertisements in Blackwell. As a businessm an, Roy stressed a "Conservative but Progressive" campaign of economic development for Blackw ell and felt that Blackwell should get the most out of its tax dollars and resisted that th e city should ever become indebted. He also stressed an administration of law enforcement wi th an effective police force designed to protect the citizens rather than to be rewarded by p olitical patronage. He especially condemned and promised to clean up the immoral behaviors o f some citizens, primarily bootleggers and prostitutes, that were affecting the whole communi ty. Meanwhile, Oscar Neal stressed that he was the only candidate that had the real concern s of families in mind as he had children. As the only candidate with children, Neal's "Wit h a Family" campaign had meaning as a majority of Blackwell's citizens were young couples wit h children in their public schools.
An important endorsement for Roy came on election day as the editor of the city newspape r, The Blackwell Tribune, supported Roy for mayor of Blackwell stating: "All who know Roy Con ser know his promise and pledge is as good as a bond, and that he is fearless in doing that w hich he believes to be right and just. The Tribune believes that Roy Conser possesses both t he will and the ability to serve the city well in the capacity of mayor, and that is why thi s paper is supporting him for the office." That day a large turnout of voters made their wa y to the polls. The Conser - Neal mayoral race turned out to be one of the closest and mos t controversial in Blackwell's history. As the polls closed that evening, both candidates ha d exactly 1,265 votes. The local election board, in the late evening decided to thrown ou t a partially torn ballot which was cast for Conser which placed Roy at one vote behind Nea l as the controversy and results became known the following morning. It was also learned th e next morning that a similar torn ballot was counted for Neal which added to the controversy . As all ballots were to be marked in pen, the legality of pencil marked ballots also becam e an issue as Roy had five such ballots thrown out with Neal only three. Other voting irregul arities included votes that were marked just by but not in the marked box for the candidate a nd the legality of some absentee votes. The final outcome of the election was given by the e lection board three days later after checking out what they felt would hold up in court chall enges which were sure to follow. They decided that Neal's vote count of 1265 over Roy's 126 4 votes would hold up and then they let the court challenges take their course through the Ok lahoma State court system. Neal was to assume the duties of Mayor on May 3, 1927.
Now the legal challenges to the election began to take their course. Roy's lawyers file d challenges in the local courts claiming the local election board erred in their determinati on of a legal ballot cast. The slow wheels of justice were now turning. This was an importa nt case as never before in Oklahoma had a challenge like this been needed resulting that ther e was no clear definition of what constituted as a legal ballot. When this question is settl ed then the clarification of legal votes in the mayoral race would be answered. The challeng es to the race were not able to make it to the higher Oklahoma Courts by the time the legal d ay of transfer of mayoral power was to take place, May 3, 1927. This resulted in another un usual set of legal dealings. On that day outgoing Mayor Lively filed a suit in court that h e was not vacating the office of mayor on account that Neal claims the office on an illegal e lection. The city commission backed Lively's stand on this issue and so did the court as the y postponed the transfer of duties of the Mayor until a later date. Neal immediately appeale d these decisions, but Judge Claude Duval refused to grant the writs asked by Neal. All no w awaited the state court system to make their decision.
One great moment of joy in Roy and Hazel's life occurred on May 29, 1928 as their only d aughter, Jane Ann Conser was born. Hazel described her at the time as having heaps of dark b rown hair, long enough to bob, and dark blue eyes. She was also very strong as she turned ov er and rolled wherever she wanted to go at only seven weeks of age. On that July 4th weekend , Jane Ann's Conser grandparents, Jacob and Mary Ann Conser, came to Blackwell to see their n ew grandchild. They were excited to see her. It was one of the few times that Jacob would g et to see his granddaughter, as he passed away in January 1930 while Jane Ann was only one an d one-half years of age. This left Jane Ann with only two grandmothers surviving. Jane Ann c ontinued to receive her family's attention as she was the only child that Roy and Hazel woul d have. From a political standpoint, no candidate could now charge that Roy was not a famil y man any more as with Jane Ann in the house, they were a full family.