CHARLES H. CONRAD
Was born at Barboursville, Orange county, Virginia, on September 22,
1849. His parents were Virginians. J. M. Conrad, his father, born in
Rockingham county, died August 23, 1881, at age of sixty-six
years. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah C. Sneed, was born
in Albemarle county, and died January 9, 1877, aged fifty-two years.
William Conrad, his brother, was four years in service, Otey's Battery,
C. S. A. The subject of this sketch, although then but a lad, had also
his war experience. He was taken a prisoner, at age of fourteen
years, at Chester Station, Virginia, on May 9, 1864, by Gen. Benj. F.
Butler, and after a thorough march through that general's army was
held by him three months at Fortress Monroe, then regularly
exchanged as a prisoner of war. Mr. Conrad in reviewing this experience
says that General Butler was particularly kind to him, supplying
his every want, and offering to adopt and educate him, if he would
consent. An occasional correspondence between the two was kept up,
after the war, and they met at the Democratic National Convention,
held in Chicago in 1884, where there was a mutual recognition and
conversation concerning their war experiences.
Mr. Conrad received a common school education in the city of Richmond.
At the age of twenty-one years he began business in Danville,
as a leaf tobacco dealer, in which he still continues, senior member of
the firm of Chas. H. Conrad & Co. In December, 1886, he bought Mr.
A. Y. Stokes' interest in the banking business of W. S. Patton, Sons &
Co., which he still holds, the business still conducted under the same
firm name. At Danville, November 8, 1876, Rev. G. W. Dame officiating,
he married Mary Parker Holland, daughter of John W. Holland,
now of Danville, born in Franklin county, Virginia. Her mother, who
was Mary L. Rosser, born in Culpeper county, Virginia, died February
18, 1887. Louise, born August 11, 1877, died July 16, 1878, was the
first of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad. They have four
daughters: Lucile, Lizzie, Grace and Myrtle, and one son, Holland.
Mr. Conrad is one of the councilmen of the city of Danville at the present
time.
