Kunders and Conard Family History

Wissahickon Valley Historical Society

the bullet that killed Levi Conard

Friendship Quilt

Friendship Quilt Panel

Ambrotype Photograph of Elwood Conard (34)

Conard Auger and bits made at the Conard Auger Mill in Fort Washington PA

At the Meeting:

Horsham Friends Meeting

Marty Van Doren Searight and Suzanne Wilson Carrp looking at the names of the 222 relatives and friends who signed Martha Wilson Van Doren's (Marty's Grandmother) wedding certificate. One of the signers was Harry C. Wilson. He was Suzanne's grandfather and Martha Van Doren's brother. All of her 11 siblings signed. The wedding took place at Newtown Friends meeting in 1911.

Inside the Meeting

3 Generations of Hallowells

President George L. Conard

Treasurer John Conard

Secretary Dottie Wiley

Mary Zeller receiving a gift as oldest woman present from Doris Beechwood

Doris Beechwood congratulating Sam Walker for his 76 years of entertaining us with his harmonica

Dinner at the Reunion

Family Members

Front Row, left to right: Jessie Hallowell holding Jane Hallowell, Cammy Wilson, Penny Hallowell, Dottie Wiley, Doris Beechwood, Edna Jean Farris

Second Row: Hannah Drake, _Kaitlyn Prickett, Mary Zeller, Judy Conard, Carolyn Bright, Trish Hallowell, Marty Searight, Sam Walker, Ted Beechwood

Third Row: George Conard, Tom Walker, Kenneth Zeller, Jack Farris, Keith Schumacher, John Conard, Kate Mueller, Kim Walker and Alex Trupp

Cammy’s New Foal

in barn getting ready for a riding lesson

Charles Wilson and Edna Jean Wilson Ferris give Kate Meuller her first riding lesson

Marty Searight and Cammy Wilson relax and talk over the days events

By all accounts we had a very productive Reunion. Most notably was the unanimous decision to print a 3rd supplement of the Conard book by 2013. The first order of business is to finish the genealogy update. Thanks to everyone who has sent in information. I hope to have the names I have added on the web site soon so you can check them over and let me know if anything needs to be changed.

Thanks to Peg Johnson from Ambler PA the mystery of our missing quilt has been solved. Please see her email below:

“With great joy and humility I can report that the quilt is here at the historical society. This morning we moved boxes and found it in its own big preservation box. I am so sorry for the worry we have caused you. The year of new roof, painting, etc. has taken its toll, but we are reorganizing.

I am sending a copy of the documentation and a newspaper article about the quilt to you in today’s mail.”

Peg Johnston, Wissahickon Valley HS

Conard 75th Reunion Quilt

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ARRIVE AT 10:30am TO SIGN IN
FAMILY MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 11:00am
POT LUCK LUNCH SERVED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MEETING
(PLEASE BRING YOUR FAVORITE ENTRÉE OR DESSERT)
GIFTS *MUSIC * FELLOWSHIP

The Executive and Planning Committee’s for the Conard Reunion met recently at the Cock and Bull Restaurant in Peddlers Village to make plans for the Conard Reunion.

President, George Conard, Flemington, NJ (in blue shirt) to his left are:
Sam Walker, Furlong PA, Committee member
Dottie Wiley, Doylestown PA, Secretary
Judy Conard, Flemington NJ, member of Committee
Marty Searight, Vermont, Newsletter Editor
Cameron Wilson, Richboro PA, Committee member
Doris Beechwood, Huntington Valley PA, Committee member

Robert Comly and
Esther Shallcross Comly
(Great Grandparents to the Wilson Dozen and my Great, Great, Great Grandparents)

Robert and Esther Comly lived between Frankford and Bustleton just off Bustleton Pike. The homestead was about 7 miles from center Philadelphia. Together they had 11 children, two died when babies and one daughter died at 18.

Robert was a very good vegetable farmer and sold them in the Philadelphia market. One year he had a big crop of TURNIPS and off he went to try his luck selling them. When he got to the market with his load, there was not another turnip in sight and soon a crowd gathered around wanting to know how much they were. One man offered $1.50 a bushel but Robert thought that was too much so he sold them for $1.25 a bushel.

When Esther heard this story she said, “Well Robert if thee can’t charge $1.50 I can, and tomorrow I’ll go to market.” So farmer Robert loaded more turnips and the next day wife Esther took them to market and sold every bushel for $1.50 All winter long you could see Esther going down to market with her turnips and returning with a pocket full of money.

There were 7,000 bushels in all. Every once in a while Robert would ask “Esther, does thee think the Lord will forgive thee for charging that much for those turnips?” “Now Robert”, she answered, “thee attend to thy business and get those turnips ready for me and I’ll do the selling, thee can take the money to the bank.”

LAST YEAR AT THE REUNION

Youngest child - Jacquelyn Adams
Eldest lady - Judy Conard
Eldest gentleman - Cameron Wilson
Longest married - Trish & Penny Hallowell
Newlywed - Jennifer Walker Wade
Furthest traveled - Patti McKinny - Tenn.

And Sam Walker played on.
75 years of entertaining us with his harmonica!

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1904 the first Conard Reunion was held at Willow Grove Park with over 100 people present. We have held a reunion every year since, with the only exception being 1943 when gas was rationed and pleasure driving was not allowed.

In 1935 Samuel C. Walker, Jr. made his debut with his harmonica, playing the Gypsy Love Song and the World is Waiting for the Sunrise. As a matter of fact we are still enjoying his performances.

In 1939 the Conard genealogy was published due to the efforts of Martha Van Doren, Emma Wilson, Carroll Morris and Albert Mammel. The sale price was $3.00.

In 1949 a block and gavel was presented to the Reunion that was made from an Ash tree from the Plymouth Meeting where many a reunion was held and many family members worshiped.

1983 marked the 300^th Anniversary of Conards in America. A commemorative stamp was issued by the US Post Office honoring the occasion.

2003 marked our 100^th Conard Family Reunion. It was celebrated at the Gwynedd Friends Meeting with close to 200 family present.

Since then we have been holding our reunion at the Horsham Meeting House in Horsham PA.