Bios: JOHN H. CONN, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
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JOHN H. CONN,
[p. 863] proprietor of the Wampum Hotel, at Wampum, Pa., an
establishment which has for many years enjoyed an enviable reputation
throughout this section of the state, came to Wampum in March, 1907. He
was born on his father's farm, near Williamsport, Pa., September 22,
1855, and is a son of John H. and Christiana M. (Mitchell) Conn.
John H. Conn, Sr., was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, where he
lived for many years. He followed agricultural pursuits on his farm of
160 acres, and also engaged as a lumber contractor. The latter years of
his life were spent in New Castle, Pa., where he died in 1882, at the
age of fifty-four years. He was united in marriage with Christiana M.
Mitchell, who died at the home of her youngest daughter, at McKee's
Rocks, Pa. They were parents of the following children: Jerry W., John
H., Washington, David I., Charles W., who died in 1881; A. Lewis,
Lucinda, Jacob, and Amanda Florence, wife of John Ellis.
John H. Conn, Jr., spent the first sixteen years of his life on his
father's farm, and received an educational training in the district
schools. He then, at that early age, went out to make his way in the
world, entering the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the
capacity of section hand. He continued as such one year, and gradually
worked his way up in the service of that company. He worked on the work
train for two years, was in the freight service from 1874 until 1895,
and then was passenger conductor until 1907. During these many years of
faithful service he never caused an accident, and was in but one of any
importance, that being at Sharpsville, Pa., where the engineer, James
Robinson, and the fireman, Charles McWilliams, were killed. He resigned
from the service in March, 1907, and purchased of Charles Stapf the
Wampum Hotel. Although he had never had any practical hotel experience,
his traveling experience made him familiar with the various details of
the work, and enabled him to step in and assume the management with the
same capability as an old hotel man. He knows the demands of the
traveling public, and has supplied them, and the Wampum Hotel today
enjoys greater popularity than ever. This has not been Mr. Conn's first
residence in Wampum. He first located there in June, 1863, when there
was but a row of five houses and a boarding house. He lived there until
1865, then at Lowellville, Ohio, until 1867; he then was at Hubbard,
Ohio, a short time; on a farm in Darlington Township, Beaver County two
years; on a farm near Enon Valley until 1881, and thereafter lived in
New Castle until he again took up his residence in Wampum.
December 23, 1877, Mr. Conn was united in marriage with Sarah E.
Johnston, a daughter of David Johnston, and they became parents of the
following children: Hallie G., wife of C. E. Kemp; Clyde O.; James R.,
who died in August, 1901; Cecil and Charles, twins, the latter of whom
is deceased; Lois; Sallie E.; Ada, deceased; and Anna B. Fraternally Mr.
Conn is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 243, at New Castle; Lodge No. 145,
B.P.O.E., at Greenville; and Wampum Lodge, K. of P. Politically he is an
active supporter of the principles for which the Republican party stands.
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20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and
Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Updated: 17 Jan 2002