CONANT, SULLIVAN
, was born Feb. 26, 1801, at Oakham, Worcester county, Mass. Lydia R. Heminway was was born November, 1803, in the same county. They were married Sept. 10, 1822, at Shutesbury, Mass., where they had three children, and moved to Amherst, where they had one child. They returned to Shutesbury, and from there started west, Nov. 2, 1830, traveling in wagons to Troy, N. Y., and from there to Rochester by canal, thence by wagon to Olean Point, where they embarked on a raft and floated to Pittsburg. There they took a steamboat down the Ohio, and up the Mississippi river to Chester, Randolph county, Ill., where the youngest child died. In January, 1831, Mr. Conant started with his family, in a sleigh, to visit some old friends near Carrollton, Greene county, Ill., going by Illinoistown, now East St. Louis. They continued their journey by Jacksonville to Springfield, arriving Feb. 18, 1831. When they left Chester the snow was about six inches deep, but when they arrived in Springfield it was on four feet of snow, being the height of the "deep snow." They had five children born in Springfield. Of their eight children--ABIGAIL A., born July 5, 1823, at Shutesbury, Mass., was married in Springfield to William W. Lee, who was born August 20, 1822, in Delaware. They had four children. LAURA A., born Oct. 15, 1844, in Springfield, was married May 7, 1867, to John T. Capps, who was born Dec. 30, 1841, in Clarke county, Ky. They have two children, OLIVE and WILLIAM L. Mr. Capps was a student at Illinois College, Jacksonville, when the rebellion began. He enlisted August, 1861, in Co. B, 10th Ill. Inf., for three years; reenlisted as a veteran January, 1864; was with Sherman in his "march to the sea;" served until July, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He graduated Feb. 6, 1866, with the degree of Master of Accounts, at Eastman's National Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He is now of the firm of Dickerman & Co., Springfield Woolen Manufactory. LYDIA E., born March 23, 1847, in Springfield, was married Dec. 21, 1869, to S. O. Stockwell, a native of Auburn, N. Y. They have one child, CLARA L., and reside in Columbus, Ohio. THOMAS S., born Jan. 9, 1849, in Bloomington, Ill., was married in Springfield, May 29, 1872, to Mary J. Eaton. They have one child, ADDIE. T. S. Lee is engaged with his father-in-law in the grain business, and resides in Edinburg. EDWARD W., born March 9, 1853, in Taylorville. He was married in Springfield, Oct. 6, 1875, to Lou. H. Pasfield, adopted daughter of George Pasfield, Sen., and resides in Edinburg. Wm. W. Lee died July 12, 1870, and his widow resides in Springfield.
WILLIAM S., born Feb. 27, 1825, at Shutesbury, Mass., was married in Springfield, Ill., to Mary Sykes. They had two children. JAMES was born in Petersburg, and is in business with his father. KATIE resides with her father. Mrs. Mary Conant died in Springfield, Feb. 12, 1864. Wm. S. Conant was married in Menard county to Eliza Kinkead, and reside in Petersburg, Ill. In 1844 W. S. Conant met with an accident from a falling derrick which slightly lamed him. A Mr. Brodie was killed by the same accident. They were raising a pole at a political meeting. Mr. Conant is extensively engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. He was the originator, and is now the owner, of Rose Hill cemetery, near Petersbury.
SUSAN E., born March 10, 1827, in Shutesbury, Mass., was married June 26, 1845, in Springfield, to George R. Connelly. See his name. He died, and she married Charles Dougherty. See his name.
LEVI J., born Oct. 25, 1831, in Springfield, was married there July 28, 1858, to Elizabeth Brodie. They had two children, JOHN B. and WILLIAM S. Mrs. Elizabeth Conant died Feb. 14, 1865, and L. J. Conant was married Mar. 1, 1875, at Vincennes, Ind., to Mrs. Sarah A. Baker, whose maiden name was Hargraves. She was born April 24, 1841, in Manchester, England. Mr. C. is in the grocery business, and resides in Springfield.
MARY A., born July 20, 1833, in Springfield, was married there to Cook S. Hampton. See his name.
PHINEAS H., born April 12, 1837, in Springfield, was married June 4, 1857. to Sarah J. Hobbs, who was born Dec. 1, 1838, in Jacksonville, Ill. They have three children, JULIA E., MINNIE L., and PEARL R., and reside in Springfield, Ill. P. H. Conant enlisted in Co. C, 124th Ill. Inf., for three years, and was mustered in as Corporal. Served until Feb. 6, 1864, when he was honorably discharged on account of physical disability. In the spring of 1866 he was appointed, by Mayor Dennis, deputy city marshal; served nearly three years. Was deputy sheriff under Shoup, and deputy U. S. collector under Harper. Sold goods at Illiopolis about three years, since which time he has been a commercial traveler for a Springfield grocery house, and lives in Springfield.
CAROLINE A., born Sept. 1, 1843, in Springfield, married Rev. Thomas M. Dillon, of the M. E. church. He is in the traveling connection, and resides (1874) in Martinsburg, Clarke county, Ill.
LYDIA J., born July 19, 1845, in Springfield, was married there, March 17, 1868, to George L. Dingle. G. L. Dingle was a soldier in an Illinois regiment, and did his part in aiding to suppress the rebellion. He is now deputy Postmaster at Santa Fe, New Mexico, and lives there.
Mrs. Lydia R. Conant died May 30, 1867, and Sullivan Conant was married again. He resides in Springfield.