Paul Conrad, was born in Hachy, Belgium (near Arlon), April 23, 1846. His mother, Barbara, died when he was 10 months old. When he was eleven years old, in June 1857, his father, William Conrad, brought the family to the United States and settled on a farm at Port Washington, Wisconsin. His oldest sister, Marie Catherine Conrad, raised him. "Grandpa Con", as he was called in his later life by his family, received no schooling in the U. S. In 1872, he bought a farm near Lake City, in Goodhue County, where he lived six years. The 1877 Plat Map for Goodhue County shows that Paul Conrad had 80 acres in section 34 of Belvidere Twp., Goodhue County, Minnesota described as follows: East half of the SW quarter of Section 34 (80 acres). This land included a structure, probably the house, on the south edge of the property. The house was 1.6 miles east of the Bellechester Catholic Church. This may have been the property described as being "near Lake City," although it was significantly closer to Bellechester.

On February 24, 1873, he married Maria Katherine PONCELET, daughter of Adam PONCELET and Maria Katherine MAJERUS. In about 1878, he sold that property and purchased one-fourth of section 20, Chester Twp., Wabasha County, near Bellechester, Minnesota.

The CONRAD family moved to Montana in 1895, homesteading southwest of Stockett, Montana. Louis PETERS journal recorded the move. "Nov. 13, 1895 - "Conrods moved to Montana with their stock and other implyments. Frank Conrad and Will Brusch went with the car, the car cost $104 from Goodhue to Great Falls, Montana" and "Nov. 15, 1895 - "Will, Mary and Susie Conrod started for Montana this morning." Frank took up a homestead next to him, and Mary also took up a hundred and sixty acres joining." (portions from "History of Wabasha County...". 1884, as well as recollections by Walter Steyaert)

Walter STEYAERT, grandson of Paul CONRAD, wrote, "These three pieces of land eventually were joined together and were always farmed by Frank and Paul CONRAD after the family had grown up. Will Conrad took up a homestead farther east. They all worked hard on the farm and some of them went to Great Falls to work when they were old enough. I heard my folks tell of grandpa harvesting ten acres of wheat with a hand scythe. It was called a cradle. It sort of windrowed whatever was being cut. Maria Katherine PONCELET was born on February 1, 1851 in Niederfeulen, Luxembourg. One of the grandchildren (probablt Walter Steyaert or Mae Fetsko) wrote a family biography. In it they described Katherine, "I don't know much about Grandmother except what her girls have told me. She was a native of Luxemburg and a very delicate woman. A hard worker and neat housekeeper. She taught all of her girls the correct way of doing things. When they lost their farm in Minnesota and moved to Montana she always said she would never go back because she liked the Montana people so much better. She died of diphtheria when quite a young woman. Her last wish was that she could take her baby with her because she was not strong enough to live in this world. Katie, then twelve years old followed her in death a few days later of the same disease. Grandmother had a crippled hand caused from erysipelas."

Katherine CONRAD died on June 3, 1901 in Eden, Cascade Co., Montana, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Great Falls. After Katherine and her daughter's deaths, the rest of the family struggled on, the older girls going to work in the city to help buy clothes for the young ones at home. Those at home worked hard, too. Grandpa and the boys milked cows and the girls churned the butter made from the hand skimmed cream, putting the butter in prints and wrapping it with wax paper. On market days they had to leave for town at 3 o'clock in the morning to get to market on time, and to travel in the cool of the day. The distance to Great Falls from the Conrad house was twenty-two miles, which took over four hours.

Grandpa Con was a devout Catholic. If he didn't get to church on Sunday he always read the mass from his prayer book with children sitting on the floor beside him. He was very good natured and loved by all. He made his home with Louisa and Frank from 1906 until he died. He was well known for his jokes and never failed to tell a story during the course of any conversation. At Christmas time he tried to give all of his Grandchildren a silver dollar each. In later years this got to be quite a task. He died on December 12, 1928 and was buried Dec. 15, 1928 in Calvary Cemetery in Great Falls. (Much of the above biographical material was taken from writings by Mae Fetsko and Walter Steyaert).

Obituary
Paul Conrad Dies at 84; Lived Near Stockett
34 Years Paul Conrad, 84 year-old pioneer of the Stockett district died here Wednesday. He had been a resident of this district for 34 years, most of which time he spent on a ranch. A son, Frank Conrad, lives at Stockett, and another son William lives in Washington state. Five daughters also survive. Mrs. Mary Gallagher and Mrs. N.S. Frank live in Great Falls. Mrs. Ben Stephens and Mrs. John Steyaert reside at Stockett and a fifth daughter Mrs. Lewis Peters, lives in Washington. Mrs. Conrad died in 1901.

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1. William M. CONRAD was born on April 27, 1873 in Goodhue Co., Minnesota (Belvidere Twp.). He died on February 18, 1952 in Mt. Angel, Marion Co., Oregon. He was married to Mary Ann PETERS, daughter of Frank PETERS and Maria WEBER, on June 27, 1906 in Bellechester, Minnesota. Mary Ann PETERS was born on February 10, 1867 in Wolkrange, Belgium. She died on July 31, 1957 in Linn Co., Oregon, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Mt. Angel, Oregon.


2. Frank CONRAD was born March 22, 1875 in Bellechester, Minnesota. He was married to Louisa KRIEBICH, daughter of Frank KRIEBICH and Elizabeth BAHR, on May 8, 1906 in Great Falls. Louisa was born November 21, 1885 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She died on September 27, 1975 in Hamilton, Montana, and was was buried in Riverview Cemetery. Frank died November 5, 1945 in Missoula, Montana, and was buried in Riverview Cemetery, in Hamilton.

Obituary
Hamilton, Montana Thursday, November 8, 1945 Frank Conrad Dies
Lived in Montana for Half-Century
Funeral services for Frank Conrad were held at St. Francis Catholic church in Hamilton this morning by Rev. M.J. Donohue with interment being made in Riverview Cemetery. The pallbearers were Charles Carlstrom, Carl Granke, P.A. Pedersen, Joe Nicholson, L E. Downing, and Joseph Haigh. Frank Conrad was an old timer in Montana, having been a resident of the state for more than 50 years. He was engaged in farming in the Great Falls district until he came to Hamilton nine years ago to make his home. He was in ill health when he came to the bitterroot, a condition which gradually became worse until he was claimed by death in a Missoula hospital Monday, November 5. Survivors are his widow Louise, and a daughter, Mrs. Mike Stanco of Hornitos, Cal., as well as the following: Mrs. Mary Gallagher, Great Falls; Mrs. Susan Peters, Chewelah, Wash., both sisters; a brother William of Mt. Angel, Ore. The deceased was born at Bellechester, Minn., March 22, 1875. He was an industrious man, a good citizen, and held in high esteem by all with whom he was acquainted.

3. Mary Louise CONRAD was born on February 14, 1877 in Bellechester, Minnesota. She died October 9, 1950 in Great Falls,and was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. She married Michael P. GALAGHER, son of William GALAGHER and Bridget DOUGHERTY, on May 22, 1902 in Great Falls. Michael P. GALAGHER was born on May 2, 1873 in Ponca, Nebraska. He died on July 31, 1931 in Great Falls, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery.

4. Anna Maria CONRAD was born March 29, 1879 in Bellechester, Minnesota. She was married to Benjamin STEPHENS, son of Benjamin STEPHENS and Laura LENT, on September 23, 1895 in Great Falls. She died on September 29, 1944, in Great Falls, and was buried in New Highland Cemetery, in Great Falls. Benjamin STEPHENS was born June 1, 1866 in Minnesota, and died on December 21, 1933 in Stockett, Montana, and was buried in Highland Cemetery.

Obituary
Anna Stephens Funeral Slated At 9:30 Tuesday Funeral services for Mrs. Anna Stephens, 65 of 612 Second Avenue South will be held from Our Lady of Lourdes church Tuesday morning at 9:30. Burial will be in the family plot at Highland Cemetery beside her husband Ben Stephens, who died in 1933. Rosary will be said Monday night at the O'Connor chapel. Mrs. Stephens died Friday afternoon at a local hospital. She was born March 29, 1879, at Belle Chester, Minn., and had been a resident of Stockett and vicinity for 50 years. A year ago she moved to Great Falls to make her home. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Michael Herbert of Clinton and Mrs. Lloyd Hayes of Stockett; one son Ben F. of Eden; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Gallagher of Great Falls and Mrs. Susan Peters of Chewela, Wash.; two brothers, Frank Conrad of Hamilton and William Conrad of Mt. Angel, Wash.; four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

5. Rose Mary CONRAD was born December 13, 1880 in Bellechester, Minnesota. She was married to John C. STEYAERT, son of Charles STEYAERT, on November 25, 1902 in Montana. She died on May 14, 1937 in Great Falls, and was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. John C. STEYAERT was born Oct 1875 in Iowa. He died on March 29, 1954 in Great Falls, and was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, in Great Falls.

Obituary
Rose Steyaert of Stockett Called
Mrs. Rose M. Steyaert, 56, wife of John C. Steyaert of Stockett, died in this city Friday morning following a week's illness. The body is at the O'Conner chapel. Mrs. Steyaert was born Dec. 13, 1880, at Belle Chester, Minn., and came to Montana in 1894. She was married in 1902 to John Steyaert, the couple residing since that time on a ranch near Stockett. There survive the husband; a son, Walter; a brother, William Conrad of Mount Angel, Ore., and a brother, Frank Conrad of Hamilton; three sisters, Mrs. Susie Peters of Washington, Mrs. Anna Stephens of Stockett and Mrs. Mary Gallagher of Great Falls, and one granddaughter.

6. Susan Agatha CONRAD was born January 21, 1883 in Bellechester, Minnesota. She was baptized on February 20th of that year, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Bellechester. She was married to Louis PETERS, son of Franz (Frank) PETER and Maria WEBER, October 2, 1906 at St. Mary's. She died on February 16, 1970 in Chewelah, Washington. and was buried at St. Mary of the Rosary Cemetery, in Chewelah. Louis PETERS was born on March 20, 1869 in Wolkrange, Belgium. He died on October 31, 1931 in Chewelah.


7. Peter Victor CONRAD was born April 18, 1884 in Bellechester, Minnesota. He died May 7, 1908 in an industrial accident.

Obituary
Death Was Accidental Inquest over the Body of Peter Conrad
Body Terribly Mangled Funeral Sunday
An inquest conducted Friday by Coroner Fairfield at Georges undertaking rooms over the remains of Peter Conrad, the young smelterman who was instantly killed in the morning about 12:30 o'clock in the concentrator at the Boston & Montana smelter, Friday a verdict that death was accidental, was caused by the clothing od the deceased catching upon a rapidly moving belt, and placing no blame upon the smelter's management. The remains are now at McAllister's from where will be held the funeral tomorrow afternoon. Services will be conducted in St. Ann's cathedral and interment will be made in Calvary Cemetery. The body of the young man was frightfully crushed and mangled and he sustained a score of injuries any one of which would have caused death. Both of his arms were torn off and his legs were severed just below the knees. His body was crushed, his skull fractured and there is hardly a bone in his body which was not broken. Deceased was 23 years of age and was the son of Paul Conrad, a well known rancher residing south of Stockett. He had been employed at the smelter but a short time and was engaged as a tableman on the concentrator. Previous to entering the employ of the Boston & Montana company he worked at the Montana brewery. He was unmarried and made his home with a sister, Mrs. Mike Gallagher, residing on the South side. Word of his death was communicated to his parents and they arrived from their home last evening.

8. Henry CONRAD was born on October 19, 1885 in Bellechester, Minnesota. He died on November 8, 1885.

9. Frances Regina CONRAD was born December 14, 1886 in Bellechester, Minnesota. She was married to Nicholas S. FRANK, son of Nicholas FRANK and Elizabeth "Lizzie" PONCELET, on May 8, 1906 in Montana. Nicholas S. FRANK was born July 1, 1872 in Mazeppa, Wabasha Co., Minnesota. He died on July 24, 1931. Frances died December 15, 1930, in Great Falls and was buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

10. Catherine C. CONRAD was born on August 5, 1888 in Bellechester, Minnesota. She died June 8, 1901 in Eden, Cascade Co., Montana.

Obituary
Katie Conrad, aged 12 years, the youngest daughter of Paul Conrad, living four miles south of Stockett, died yesterday morning, the cause of death being diptheria. Her mother died last Sunday morning, of pneumonia, and three other children of the family are now ill of diptheria. She was buried in Calvary Cemetery.