BIO: John P. CONDO, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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472  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

  JOHN P. CONDO, ex-sheriff of Centre county, has made his way to 
popular favor by genuine worth and merit, his personal character 
inspiring and retaining the confidence and esteem of all who come 
within his influence. He is a born leader of men, and especially 
qualified for public life, to which inclination and ability both point 
as a suitable sphere. He has a good education, which with his 
refinement attract to him the best class of people, while his geniality 
makes all sorts and all conditions of men at ease in his presence.
  Our subject was born at Spring Mills, Centre county, August 11, 1855, 
and his parents, Daniel and Sarah (Lutz) Condo, were both natives of 
Penn's Valley, the father born February 11, 1821, and the mother in 
1835. Daniel Condo followed the blacksmith's trade during his life, and 
he was one of the nation's gallant defenders in the Civil war, serving 
three years with marked courage and devotion. He died February 11, 
1871, and the widowed mother now resides with her daughter Sarah. Of 
their numerous family seven children live to maturity, our subject 
being the youngest. The others are: (1) Cyrus, who had been a resident 
of California since 1875, and died in May, 1897; (2) James C., now 
living at Penn Hall; (3) Harriet, the wife of Amos Koch, a farmer of 
Ferguson township, Centre county; (4) Lot C., a blacksmith at Potters 
Mills; (5) Jonathan, a merchant at State College; and (6) Mary, who 
married James Rouch, a blacksmith of Penn township.
  John P. Condo left home at the early age of nine years to do for 
himself, going to live with James G. Evans, a farmer, with whom he 
remained six years, receiving for his services his board and clothes. 
When fifteen years of age he began working out, on wages, for different 
farmers, being two years of this time with J. W. Evans, son of his 
former employer. He worked in this line until he was twenty, when he 
returned home; however, he had during all the time assisted in the 
support of the family, there being three children younger than himself. 
On his return home he went to a select school under Prof. Wolf. He next 
began clerking in a store at Logan Mills for Thomas L. Elgin, remaining 
so occupied for two years. Following this he went to Lock Haven, and 
there clerked in a general store for J. W. Bridges. In 1878 he became a 
traveling salesman for W. J. & I. Smith, grocers of Philadelphia, his 
territory being in central Pennsylvania. He remained with this firm 
until 1894, when he was elected sheriff of Centre county. He ably and 
very satisfactorily filled this office until the expiration of his term 
of office, January 1, 1897, and did not lose a prisoner throughout his 
term.
  Mr. Condo has taken an active part in politics from early manhood, 
beginning when only twenty-three years of age. He was an advisor in 
party affairs, often being a delegate to conventions. In 1877 he was a 
delegate to the State Convention. For three years after his marriage he 
made his home in Clinton county, and while there was offered the 
nomination in that county for the office of register of wills and 
recorder of deeds, which he declined. His next place of residence was 
at Penn Hall, then at Spring Mills, where he resided until elected 
sheriff. Since retiring from the sheriffalty he has made his home at 
Millheim, where he is engaged in the mercantile business.
  Mr. Condo's wife, formerly Miss Lucilla Miller, who is referred to in 
the sketch of John S. Miller, of Sugar Valley, Clinton county, is a 
native of Clinton county, Penn., born September 21, 1861. Two children 
- Lizzie May and Harry K. - make the home merry. Mr. Condo is a member 
of the Evangelical Church; socially he is identified with the Masonic 
order, being a member of Old Fort Lodge No. 527 at Centre Hall, and of 
the Royal Arcanum at Bellefonte.