Jefferson S. Conover was born on 20. Apr. 1841 at Cato, Cayuga County, New York. He was the son of
George M. Conover and
Fannie Carter. Jefferson S. Conover married
Mary I. Wharton on 13. May. 1863. Jefferson S. Conover resided at at Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan, in Jul. 1866. He was the President of Conover Engraving and Printing Company.
Jefferson S. Conover and
Mary I. Wharton appeared on the census of 10. Aug. 1870 at Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan,
; his real estate 600.00
her real estate 2,800.00, personal property 500.00.
Jefferson S. Conover and
Mary I. Wharton appeared on the census of 16. Jun. 1880 at Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.
Jefferson S. Conover died on 15. Apr. 1903 at age 61.
Jefferson S. Conover, long known as one of the distinguished citizens of Michigan, active in business circles of Coldwater and prominent in the state as a representative of the Masonic fraternity, was born in the village of Cato, Cayuga county, New York, April 20. 1841. He was a son of George M. Conover, who traced his ancestry in the paternal line back to the Dutch Koven Hoven family that settled in New Jersey about 1650. In the maternal line he was descended from a son of Lord Reader of Ireland, who, having been disinherited for marrying a girl in the lower station of life. came to America, where such class condition was unknown. George M. Conover wedded Fannie Carter, whose parents removed from Vermont to New York at an early day, establishing their home near Cato.
Jefferson S. Conover spent his boyhood days in Cayuga and adjoining counties and was a student in the district schools until about fifteen years of age, after which he spent two terms in Perry Academy, at Perry, New York. A few years later he pursued a brief business course and this terminated his advantages in school, but through experience and observation his knowledge was greatly broadened and he became a man of wide, general information and of much force of character. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school and in the spring of 186o he accompanied his parents on their removal to the west, settling with them in South Bend, Indiana. The Civil war was inaugurated early in the following year and Jefferson S. Conover was among those who early responded to the country's call for aid, but his constitution proved unequal to the hardships of a soldier's life and after less than a year of service, three months of which had been passed within the walls of army hospitals, he was discharged and resumed the profession of teaching. In July, 1866, he became a resident of Coldwater, Michigan, where he continued to make his home until his death. Through the succeeding five years he conducted a business college here and then devoted a year or two to journalism. On the expiration of that period he established the business of fine job and color printing, to which he gave his attention for fifteen years, establishing an enterprise which has developed into the Conover Engraving & Printing Company. Upon its organization he was chosen president and continued at its head until his demise, making this one of the large and profitable productive industries of the city.
Mr. Conover was a man of varied activities, resourceful and energetic. and his loyalty to the Masonic tenets and teachings combined with natural ability led to his selection for high honors in connection with the fraternity. He became a Mason in 188o, taking the three initial degrees in Coldwater Lodge, No. 260, and after two and a half years he was elected master, serving until the consolidation of that lodge with Tyre Lodge, No. 18, about 1898. He became a Royal Arch Mason in Temple Chapter, No. 21, November 7, 1881. He received degrees of royal and select master in Mount Moriah Council, No. 6, March 11, 1882 ; dubbed and created a Knight Templar, March 2, 1882; received the Scottish Rite grades to S. P. R. S; thirty-second degree in Michigan Sovereign Consistory, June 17, 18, 19, 1883, and was crowned an honorary member of the supreme council, thirty- third, degree, at Cleveland, Ohio, September 16, 189o. On the 18th of June, 1892, he joined a caravan that crossed the burning sands of the desert at that time, and became entitled to wear the fez and sport the tiger-claws of the " Shriner." He presided over all the Masonic bodies of his home city, and at one time occupied the three responsible positions of worshipful master, high priest, and eminent commander. In 1892 he was elected grand commander K. T. of Michigan, and served for one year with zeal and earnestness. When William P. Innes was elected grand master, in January, 1892, Mr. Conover was elected to succeed him as grand secretary, and to that responsible position he was annually elected for eleven years. After accepting this office, he withdrew from all active participation in business matters and devoted his undivided attention to his official duties as grand secre?
tart'. Upon the death of William P. Innes, in August, 1893, Mr. Conover, who was then grand king in the grand chapter, was appointed grand secretary of that body, and, resigning the office of grand king, took up the work of grand secretary for the Royal Craft in this state, and in January, 1897, he was elected grand recorder of the grand council Royal and Select Masters. The duties of these three offices occupied his whole time and to them he gave the best energies of his nature. Mr. Conover was also an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star, was elected grand patron of Michigan, October 9. 1884, and re-elected in 1885. The following year he was elected most worthy grand patron of the general grand chapter 0. E. S. of the United States.
On the 13th of May, 1863, Mr. Conover was married to Mary I. Wharton of South Bend, Indiana, and they resided in that city and in Lafayette and Indianapolis for short periods. In July. 1866, however, they came to Coldwater, Michigan, which was thereafter his place of residence. His devoted wife preceded him to the home beyond only a few months, passing away December 25, 1902. Their children were as follows : Charles A.. L. Lenore, Kate B.. Mara W. and George W.. but the last named died in infancy. Mr. Conover became a member of the Christian church when a young man and for thirty-six years was an active member of the Presbyterian church of Coldwater, his funeral service being held in this house of worship. He departed this life April 15, 1903, and the burial service was conducted by the officers of the grand lodge of his beloved fraternity.
History of Branch County.