Notes for Samuel Conn: There was an Esther Conn married 1 Mar 1812 to Jacob Beeler in Wayne Co, IN that is probably a part of this family but I haven't determined how. ------- He volunteered for militia duty in the Continental Virginia Army but was judged to serve better collecting cattle,hogs, and food to feed the army which he did (VA Calendar of Papers). After the war he despaired at ever being in a position to educate his eight children so he decided to go to Kentucky and look for the land that had been given to him for his war service adn if possible either sell it or perhaps settle his family on the land. He left home wearing a new coat which his wife had spun and woven and sewed for him. He had money, but he always carried "large" sums of money on him as a drover. When he had not been heard from for a considerable (?) time a search was instituted and his almost decomposed body was found at the foot of the mountain. The body was wearing the new jacket that Mrs. Conn had made for her husband. Whether or not he had been killed and robbed was a matter of conjecture, but the pockets were empty of everything. (Irene Van Sandt) ---------------------------- State Normal School and Teachers College U.S. Conn, President Wayne, Nebrasksa
April 18, 1922
Mr. N. O. Conn Champaign, Illinois
Dear sir:
I have your communication of April 14 inquiring about the Conn family. I am very much interested in your letter. My ancestors likewise came from Kentucky and my great-grandfather from Virginia to Kentucky. My grandfather's name was Adam E. Conn. I think he had a brother or possibly it was a cousin by the name of John Conn.
I have never made any attempt to trace our geneology but my brother, L. M. Conn of Middletown, Indiana, has been interested in this and has been doing quite an amount of writing for several years in regard to the matter. My father's name was Charles L. Conn and he had two brothers - Adam Eli, and William. William was the older brother and was killed in the Civil War. Adam Eli and my father spent all their lives in Henry County near Middletown, Indiana. My father's mother's name was Polly Clary. She was also from Kentucky.
I think if you will write to my brother he would very greatly appreciate it and possibly each of you may have some information that will help the other. I have been trying in a sort of indifferent way for sometime to trace my ancestry back to the Revolutionary War period in order to determine whether my daughter is eligible to membership in the D.A.R
I am pleased to hear from you and think you for calling my attention to the possibilities of ascertaining more definitely in regard to my ancestry.
Very truly, U.S. Conn (Letter from RootsWeb posting) -------------------------------------------------------------
Middletown, Ind May 14th 1922
Mr. N. O. Conn Champaign, Ill
Dear Sir: Your of Apr 22 received and noted with pleasure. I am always glad to hear from anyone by the name of Conn. I have learned of several families by te name of Conn but cannot trace relation with but two or three, however they all trace back to the Scotch-Irish and seemed to be among early emigrants from Scotland and northeast Ireland, coming to America, some settling in Connecticut Valley, some in Pennsylvania, and some in Virginia. My great grandfather was Samuel Conn, born in Rockingham Co., VA, where he married Mary Myers. He lived there till his death, which was supposed to be by the hand of a murderer. I do not know that he was a revolution soldier, but he received a grant of land in Tenn. from the government, which leads me to believe he was in the revolution. He left eleven children, 4 sons and 7 daughters. Samuel the younger son died in Union Co., Ind when a young man. The other sons and daughters all married in Indiana. After the death of my great grandfather, my great grandmother went with her family to an Uncle Notley Ely with whom they made their home, moving with the uncle to Kentucky near Cythana and later to Union Co., Ind, where they lived until married and moved to other places. My grandfather was Adam E. Conn, born in Rockingham Co., VA, 1802. He had two brothers and some sisters older, and one brother and two or three sisters younger. My great Uncle John Conn went to Fulton Co., Ind. where his descendants still live. Of the younger generation, they are pretty generally scattered. In my efforts to get more information about Conns, I have learned of several families and have written some who replied and several who did not answer. I talked with a lady who was visiting my cousin and wife her niece a few years ago. She told of visiting in Ireland about every two or three years and knew a community there in Northeast Ireland where some of her people lived, and nearly everyone was Conn, but pronounced the name more like Cone but spelled the name as we do. There are Conns on the Ohio-Ind near Richmond, Ind, and College Corner, Ohio, also at Indianapolis, Van Wert Co.(?) We have be holding a reunion each year for the past eleven years, and by that means have gathered considerable about our family. Our reunion is second Sunday in Aug 1922. My great Uncle's folks hold their reunion the last Saturday in Aug. at Peru, Ind. There will be a Conn reunion at Muncie Ind. Sept. not sure of date but think it is the first Sunday. They are descendants of George Conn who had the following children: Sena Conn, S??? Ephrian, Ezra, William, and Stephen. Stephen last of the family died in 1908 aged 80. If you can do come would be pleased to have you with us at our reunion, and would like to hear from you again.
Your truly L. M. Conn (Letter from RootsWeb posting) ----------------------- Samuel and his wife(wives) and the children cause big confusion obviously. L.M. Conn claims that Mary Myers was Samuel's wife. Irene Van Sandt also gave me information, supposedly from the family Bible that identified Mary Myers. The land transfer papers from Union Co, IN make it pretty obvious that his wife was Hannah Eli. Of course the Eli name makes all kinds of sense since Adam carries that middle name and both L.M. Conn and Irene Van Sandt refer to a Uncle Notley Ely/Mattie Eli. Then the number of children is also a problem. Irene gave me a Family Group Sheet, again from the family Bible, that does not mention Anna, Esther or Mary (three Conn girls that were married in that area of Indiana in the 1810-1818 time period). She says Samuel had 8 children. L.M. on the other hand says that Samuel LEFT 11 children, 4 boys and 7 girls. If we add in Anna, Esther, and Mary, that would account for the 11. Then the Union County document comes into play again. It names the children of Samuel and Hannah (Eli) Conn as: John, William, Adam E., Hannah (Scott), and Eve (Paris). Add to this Samuel Jr and Matilda, who were both dead at the time of this instrument and we have seven children. Mahala, who was identified by Irene is not mentioned in this document, nor are Anna, Esther and Mary.
More About Samuel Conn: Occupation: Drover.
More About Samuel Conn and Hannah Eli: Marriage: Abt. 1790
Children of Samuel Conn and Hannah Eli are:
+Adam Eli Conn, b. 29 May 1802, Rockingham Co, VA129, d. 12 May 1869, Henry Co, IN130.
Samuel Conn (b. Abt. 1765, d. Abt. 1806)
Notes for Samuel Conn: