My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL S. CONOVER. This name is borne by one of the most honored and highly esteemed residents of Seneca County. He is also a popular official, and since 1894 has been Superintendent of the County Poor. A native of this state, he was born in the city of Brooklyn, March 7, 1847, his parents being George S. and Augusta (Jeroleman) Conover. The former, now residing in Geneva, N. Y., was born in the City of Churches, November 7, 1824, and was there reared to manhood, his father, Grandfather Peter Conover, being a well-to-do merchant there. He was given a collegiate education, and must have married very soon after leaving college, as we find that he was but nineteen years of age when that important event was celebrated. His wife, to whom he was united November 9, 1843, was also born in Brooklyn, on the 7th of October, 1821.

Upon engaging in business for himself, George S. Conover became a member of the firm of Parker & Conover, flour merchants in Brooklyn, the partnership existing until about 1850. That year he disposed of his interest in the business, and, on coming to this county, invested in fifty acres of farming land in the town of Varick, on the banks of Lake Seneca, where he made his home for some time. His wife died soon after locating here, June 5, 1852, and her remains were taken back to her native city and laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery.

The parental family included five children, two of whom died in infancy. The other three were living at the time of the mother’s decease, but one is now deceased. Augusta married Clarence E. Spence, and died in the town of Varick a few years after that event, leaving a daughter, Lillie A. Spence. Our subject’s only brother living is Peter Conover, a resident of Geneva, N. Y. He is married and has one son, Leslie J.

George S. Conover was a second time married, and of this union one daughter is living, Evelyn T., who is at home. He moved from the farm to Geneva in the year 1870, and has ever since been identified with the interests of that flourishing city. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and while living in the town of Varick held the office of Supervisor. Since taking up his abode in Geneva he has been President of the Board of Village Trustees, and has held the responsible office of Police Justice. Of late years he has paid considerable attention to compiling a history of the early days in this county, and is especially interested in Indian history. He has always been a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and during his younger days was an active worker in the Sunday-school, which he served as Superintendent. He has also held the official position of Deacon of his congregation.

Samuel S., of this sketch, was in his third year at the time his parents came to Seneca County. He was therefore reared on the farm in this community, and, like other lads of that day, gained his education in the schools of the district. February 13, 1864, during the progress of the late war, he offered his services as a soldier, telling the enlisting officer he was eighteen, whereas he was not quite seventeen years old. He was accepted, however, as a new recruit and placed in Battery L, First New York Light Artillery, commonly known as Reynolds’ Battery, as it was organized by Captain Reynolds. The command formed a part of the Army of the Potomac. He bore a part in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Weldon Railroad, and was present at the fall of Richmond. At the battle of Weldon Railroad he was slightly wounded on the left elbow by a minie-ball, but the wound was not serious enough to prevent his reporting for duty. He participated in thirteen battles and engagements, serving faithfully and well from the time of his enlistment until the establishment of peace, and with many of his comrades was honorably discharged June 17, 1865.

On his return home from the field of battle young Conover attended school at the academy at Ovid for about a year, after which he worked out by the month on neighboring farms for a few years. During this time he saved the greater part of his wages, and in 1869 purchased eighty acres of land in the vicinity of the old homestead.

May 24, 1871, he was married to Miss Mary E. Dey, who was born in the town of Fayette, this county, her parents being Peter B. and Mary (Dey) Dey, natives of New Jersey.

Mr. Conover made his home on the above farm from 1872 until 1894, in which latter year he was elected to his present responsible office. He gives entire satisfaction to those most concerned, and is proving himself to be the right man in the right place. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and on this ticket served as Commissioner of Highways for a period of nine years.

He has also been the delegate of his party to the various conventions held in the county and state, and never loses an opportunity to use his influence for its further success. A Grand Army man, he belongs to Tyler J. Snyder Post No. 72, at Waterloo. To our subject and his estimable wife there has been born a daughter, Mary E.