Charles Brandiff Conover was born on 1. Sep. 1855 at Port Elizabeth, Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was the son of
Henry S. Conover and
Sarah Brick. Charles Brandiff Conover married
Clara Ludlam, daughter of
John C. Ludlam, on 26. Jul. 1876 at Cumberland County, New Jersey.
Charles Brandiff Conover was shown in the census on 23. Jun. 1880 as keeps dry goods store.
Charles Brandiff Conover and
Clara Ludlam appeared on the census of 23. Jun. 1880 at Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey.
Charles Brandiff Conover was shown in the census on 7. Jun. 1900 as a merchant.
Charles Brandiff Conover and
Clara Ludlam appeared on the census of 7. Jun. 1900 at Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey,
; 4 children, 4 living.
Charles Brandiff Conover was shown in the census on 21. Apr. 1910 as real estate and fire insurance.
Charles Brandiff Conover and
Clara Ludlam appeared on the census of 21. Apr. 1910 at Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey,
; 4 children, 4 living.
Charles Brandiff Conover was shown in the census on 3. Jan. 1920 as an insurance agent.
Charles Brandiff Conover and
Clara Ludlam appeared on the census of 3. Jan. 1920 at with their daughter Nellie, Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey.
CHARLES BRANDRIFF CONOVER, of Millville, a leading dealer in goods and notions, was born September 1, 1855, in Port Elizabeth, N.J., son of Henry S. and Sarah E. (Brick) Conover. The founders of this family came from Holland. Reuben Conover, the grandfather of Charles B., was for some years a resident of Cedarville, Cumberland County; but at a later period he lived in Millville. He was united in matrimony,' with Miss Rose Culp, and became the father of Henry S. Conover.
Henry S. Conover was a native of Cedar-ville, where he spent his younger days. Later he came to Millville, and was employed in the glass works. Subsequently he was occupied in the same business at Port Elizabeth for some time, after which, about 1857, he re-turned to Millville. Hi 1865 he moved to Bridgeton; but after two years he came back again to Millville, where he has since remained. Through these changes of residence he was employed in the same business, serving most of the time as glass blower. I le is now foreman of his department, which position he has filled for some years. lie is a Republican in politics, while he has never sought political honors. He is an old member of the Millville Lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he has served as Past Grand Master. His wife, Sarah, was a daughter of Joshua Brick an old resident of Port Elizabeth, who kept a general merchandise store. He was a son of the Hon. Joshua Brick, one of the most prominent men in the vicinity, who represented his district in the State legislature for a number of terms. Mrs. Henry S. Conover has had five children, four of whom are living, namely: Charles B., the subject of this sketch: Reuben, a resident of Millville; Frank, who was drowned at the age of nineteen: Ada, now Mrs. Frederick Calhoun, of this city: and Howard, who is a resident of Philadelphia. The parents were members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the father officiated as steward for some years. The mother died in 1882
.
Charles Brandriff Conover attended the public schools of Millville until he was twelve years of age. He was then hired as clerk in the boot and shoe store of Joseph R. Wells for some time. He spent a few more months in school, and was subsequently employed in the grocery business by Thomas Wilson until he sold out to Wilson S.: Smith. John Wright druggist, was his next employer. Later he worked for Harris S Cory, grocers, and for Mulford & Hogate, who kept a general merchandise store. He had been two years with Mulford S.: Hogate when they opened a store exclusively for dry goods and notions, and placed him in charge of it. This was in 1877, when he was twenty-one years old. Two years after Mr. Conover opened a store on his own account, in a room twelve feet by twenty-five. Next year he moved into quarters measuring fifteen by fifty. Three years later his rapidly increasing business obliged
him to take store space in ell form, twenty-five feet by seventy-five. In 1888 he moved into the store he now occupies at 102 High Street. This he bought and enlarged in 1890, making it twenty-two feet by one hundred. Since then he has taken a new room on the second floor, twenty-two by fifty, for a cloak department, with a stairway leading from the main store. The building is a two-story brick edifice, desirably located. From five to eight people are employed in it. Mr. Conover served the community for three years as a member of the Board of Education. At one time he helped to form a Board of Trade, and was its Secretary while it existed. This body secured from the national government an appropriation for river and harbor improvements. Mr. Conover is a member of Shekinah Lodge, A. F. S A. M., and of Richmond Chapter and Olivet Commander. He is also identified with Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Fame Council.
On July 26, 1876, Mr. Conover was united in marriage with Miss Clara Ludlam, daughter of John C. Ludlam, of Millville. Her paternal grandfather, who was a prominent man of Cape May County, owned many slaves and eight or ten vessels. Her father, who was a carpenter, came to Millville from Cape May Court-house, and married Mary B. Cheesman. Mrs. Conover is a native of this city. She has had four children - Nellie W., Sallie E., Frank S., and Charles B., Jr. Both parents are members of the First Church, in which the father has been a steward for seventeenyears. Mr. Conover is also a teacher in the Sunday-school and the Treasurer of the Mis-sionary Society. The family residence is at 310 Pine Street.