Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-05-24

war broke out. young Edwin was one OK
the first to enlist in his part of the cOui-
try upon the call for volunteers. Enter
ing the ranks as Il private he served with
honor and distinction until the close OF
the war, retiring with the brevet rank Of
ma or.
Forsakes Law for Finance.
After the war Mr. Conger devoted him.
self to the study of law, graduating at
the law school in Albany, n. Y, in 1866.
Upon receiving his diploma the young
lawyer hung out his Shingle in Gales
burg, H., and had an early and crafty
ing success, but it was destined that he
should vt continue the practice of his
pro- He was sent by his father
to 10 nr some large HOLDINGS of real
eStat jallas county. la. Successful
in th Conger became Il large stock
grove then a banker. His first
publ; was that of state treasurer
Of ich he held two terms.
was elected to the Forty
ninth. tltty-first and the F,ifty-third
Congresses. being succeeded by John y.
T. Hull 1t was while in Congress that
Mr.. Conger's friendship for President
Mckinley begun while they were fellow
students at the law school IN Albany,
was renewed and resulted in the naming
of Mr. Conger for the Brazilian mission.
Mr. Conger served three years as minis
ter To Brazil, retiring in 1893. In 1897
he was again named for the Brazilian
post. Upon the refusal of the Senate to
confirm the / residents first appointment
to China. Charles Page Bryan. who was
objected to because Of his youth and in
eXDerience. Mr.. Conger was transferred
from Brazil to Pekin
Became Known All Over World.
In 1900 came the Boxer" uprising in
China and Minister Conger for Il time
WAS one of the most talked about men
in the world For weeks the fate of the
legation people in the capital was
wrapped in all the mystery that Chinese
ingenuity could devise. There were har-
rowing tales o. death and torture, all
finally dispelled, fortunately, by their
rescue at the hands OF the international
forces. Mr.. Conger occupied the first
secretary's house Of the British leg. ,ion
and during the siege his perils we're
shared by his wife and daughters.
1t was then that the wisdom of trans
ferring Mr.. Conger from Brazil to China
was demonstrated. History was being
made rapidly in the orient. and a man
less astute. less experienced, less far
sighter might have involved his country
in many tangles. From the moment ne
presented his credentials in Pekin the
American minister took leading place
among his colleagues of the diplomatic
corps. His ability and sagacity were
early recognized, his opinions deferred
to, his advice sought. He stood well,
too. with the Chinese officials. and was
credited with having had great influence
with the Tsung-li-Yamen.
Gees to Mexico.
Mr.. Conger remained in China until
the last vcstige Of the Boxer troubles
disappeared. Worn out by his work
and worries he desired to retire pprma-
nently from public life and spend the re-
mainder of his days i'll quiet at his home
in Iowa. He was prevailed upon. how
ever TO take the post of ambassador to
Mexico for time. and this he did. He
was appointed to Mexico in 1903. but
retired = few months later because OF
failing health.
In appearance Mr.. Conger was Il most
imposing man. He stood over six feet.
had broad and stalwart frame and
weighed over POO pounds. He is sur
vived by his wife. Il daughter and his
ward and niece. who was Il member of
the household during the siege of Pekin.