The Republican journal., 1909-09-09
William Tell
JOSEPH A. CONANT.

JOSEPH A. CONANT.
We published last week brief obitu-
ary of Joseph A. Conant, brother of
Elisha H. Conant of this city. The Fort
Fairfield Review gives the following in
teresting sketch of the deceased:
Joseph A. Conant, one of Fort Fair
fields oldest and most respected citizens,
died at 10 o'clock Sunday morning,
August 18th, aged more than 70 years.
Mr.. Conant had been very lame with
rheumatism for several years, his health
failing gradually. Last March he had a
slight shock of paralysis, and after that
time was confined to his bed. From the
effects of rheumatism his right leg was
drawn up most painfully all this time,
but early in June the surgeon cut the
cord, releasing the bound leg and giving
relief from the terrible pain. Mr.. Con-
ant retained his mental faculties to fair
degree and was able to recognize his
friends, very nearly to the end.
The funeral occurred Tuesday after
noon at the residence of his son Isaac on
the old homestead, where Mr.. Conant
had for many decades made his home.
George E. Baxter of Andover, an old
time friend, officiated at the funeral,
which was conducted by K. C. Haycock.
The pail bearers were Joseph Pearce, N.
H. Martin, Edmund Burke and George
w. Eastman. Interment was made In
Union cemetery in the family lot.
Mr.. Conant was married in lS4S, when
only Is years old, to Miss Julia Johnston
of Fort Fairfield, sister OF Alonzo Z.
Johnston of this town. Mrs. Conant died
in July, 1878. Mr.. Conant' 5 second wife,
was Miss Maria Flannery, who died in
the spring of 1902. Only one child re-
suited from the second marriage, and
that child died in infancy. There were
II children, however, from the first mar
rage, and all of them grew up. They
were: Benjamin W., who died February
IS, 1891; Abbie N, who married John H..
Avery, and died in April, 1905; Stephen
R., Fort Fairfield; Edward, Eureka, Cali
fornia; William and Lyman, Peshtigo,
Wisconsin; Dudley A, killed in Pennsyl-
vania on lumber jam, April 26, 1876,
aged 10; Adella NJ, now Mrs. Charles NJ.
Waldron, Fort Fairfield; Joseph A, Jr. :,
Presque Isle; Abraham Lincoln, who died
August 6, 1889, aged about "a; Isaac,
Fort Fairfield, who lives on the home
stead. There are also 36 living grand
children of Mr. Commits and 46 great
grandchildren.
This family OF sons was surely re-
markable one physically. The nine sons
averaged nearly six feet in height and
quite nearly 200 pounds in weight, form
ing one of the strongest and most rugged
family of boys ever known in this region.
Mr.. Conant himself was large and
remarkably strong man physically, and
also of strong intellect and the courage
of his convictions. His mother died when
he was only nine years old, and his early
opportunities were very limited, but he
was a man who kept abreast of the times,
found it easy to think, and did not deem
| it necessary to think the way other peo-
pie thought, or to be the intellectual
slave of others. He was a kind man
in all the relations of life an excellent
citizen, one who will be much missed
| from his community and town. His life
was an eminently useful one, and Fort
Fairfield will for generations feel the
benefit of his successful activities.
The following statement was written
by Mr.. Conant some seven years before
his death, and sealed by him, with in
structions to open and read after his
death:
To MY FELLOW MEN. Admonished by the
physical infirmites which attend on long
wears l. Joseph Conant, while in possession Of
my mental faculties make the following state
ment of my history and my wishes concerning
NV funeral when shall have ceased to exist
1 was born in Hope, Waldo county, in the State
of Maine June s. 1880. / came to this town OF
Fort Fairfield, in the county of Aroostook, or
the 2Sth day of April 1916, and have lived
here since that time with these exceptions:
enlisted in the army on September 10, 1862, ano
| fought the battles of my country until August
Ia, 1868, when l received my discharge. l was
also in the State of Pennsylvania from Deem
Der. 1870. to February, 1872. / started in life
without a dollar, l leave behind me as an evil
dence of my industry the farm on which my
son Isaac resides. l found it forest, l leave
it broad fields of tillage land. have raised to
manhood and womanhood nine sons and two
daughters. NV record as father, a husband,
write On my death (if it should occur in this
town. | wish my funeral to be conducted on
Liberal principles, without prayer want r.
L. Baker, if living and able, to conduct my fu-
neral wish George E. Baxter to make the
funeral address, l want Joseph Pearce, Mel
son H. Martin, Frank Grant and Samuel Jewett
to be my pall-bearers. Should my Grand
Army friends wish to be present when l am
laid away, it is my wish that they fire the
usual salute over soldier and comrades
grave And now, my friends, have built my
bridge it lies athwart the horizon of time to
be seen of all who choose to look. How have
builded remains for others to say. 1t is almost
finished cannot rebuild it if l would. Let its
strength be a guide as well as its weakness.
Know that have built the best knew. With
the few facts herein set forth leave it to my
friends to carry out my wishes and to keep my
memory green. With faith in the kindness of
all, am Yours,