Source: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L.M. Crist, 1914.

RUFUS CONRAD Farming is the biggest business in the world, but there is room for
great improvement, and there is much that the farmers of Indiana and everywhere can
learn, although our farmers are already capable workmen, and constructive work that will
permanently benefit agriculture must be planned on a big, broad, comprehensive basis.
Co-operating with the farmer as an individual does not seem to be sufficient and does not
reach the heart of the problem. The more important work can be done only through
organization. There should be a partnership between industries and each line of organized
industry within its own orbit. The bankers can render a service by working out a system
of credits better adapted to the business of fanning; the transportation lines can help the
tillers of the soil by locating markets and reaching them in best condition at the lowest
expense; the agricultural departments of government by co-ordinating supply and demand
and the study of market conditions and methods.

One of the most progressive farmers of Marion township, Boone county, who has proven
his ability to succeed unaided under existing conditions, is Rufus Conrad, who was born
in Clay township, Hamilton county, August 26, 1860. He is a son of Martin and Phereba
(Bishop) Conrad, the father born in Forsyth county, North Carolina, in 1819, and the
mother was born in Edinburg, Indiana, in 1832. It was in 1834 that the father of our
subject came to Clay township, Hamilton county, with his parents, Daniel and Johanna
(Lineback) Conrad. However, they had spent the preceding winter in Boone county. The
grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania and the grandmother was born in North
Carolina. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Mary (Denidger)
Bishop, and were both natives of Tennessee, from which state they came to Indiana in an
early day. Both grandfathers entered land from the government and here established their
future homes. Martin Conrad, mentioned above, established his home after his marriage
on a farm on the line of Hamilton and Boone county, and a year later he purchased a farm
of his father in Hamilton county. He first married Juliann Carter, and spent ten years
engaged in merchandising in Indianapolis, but after his second marriage, followed
farming, but moved to Zionsville three different times, spending a year there each time.
He was in the grocery business there about three years. His death occurred in 1897, his
widow surviving until 1900. He had two children by his first wife and eight by his
second.

Rufus Conrad grew up on the home farm and there worked until he was twenty years old,
during crop seasons, attending the common schools in Hamilton county and the high
school at Westfield, during the winter months. He then lived with his brother on the old
home place with the exception of one summer, 1881, which he spent on the State Fruit
Farm of Minnesota, of which Peter M. Gideon was superintendent. On April 8, 1885, he
married Mattie Hawkins, who was a native of Union township and a daughter of Rev.
John and Elizabeth (Stoghill) Hawkins, of Kentucky. The father was a minister of the
Baptist denomination and he established the church at Elizaville, Indiana, and preached
for years at different places in this locality. After spending six months on his father's farm
in Eagle township, Boone county, Rufus Conrad moved on the old farm of his
grandfather Conrad, which he rented two years, later buying fifty-five acres in section 13,
Union township, this county. He began at once to make substantial improvements, and
erected splendid buildings, good fences and did many things in making this one of the
valuable and desirable places in the township, and as he prospered through good
management and close application he added to his original holdings until he became
owner of two hundred and thirteen acres of fine land which constitute his present
holdings in Union township, comprising three farms, all of which he rents except ten
acres. He makes a specialty of raising Chester White hogs.

Mr. Conrad and wife have the following children: Hazel, wife of Glenn Bradshaw, of
Union township; Cecil Hadin died in infancy; Magelle is attending high school at
Zionsville.

Politically, Mr. Conrad is a Democrat and has been a loyal supporter of the party. He was
elected trustee of Union township in 1908 and has held the office ever since. Previous to
that he was a member of the advisory board. As a public servant he has been most faithful
in the discharge of his duties. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and religiously belongs to the Christian church, in which he has been a deacon since 1903
and is active in church affairs.

BISHOP BRADSHAW CARTER CONRAD DENIDGER GIDEON HAWKINS
LINEBACK STOGHILL

Submitted by Amy K Davis