WILLIAM C. CONDIT. The pioneer ancestors of this family date back to 1678, when the name of John Condit was first heard. He located in the town of Newark, Essex Co., N. J., in 1689, and in 1691 was married to a widow, Mrs. Catherine Barton, a niece of Sir Isaac Newton, whose estate she inherited. Mr. Condit succeeded Sir Isaac as Master and Warden of the English Mint. His wife died May 27, 1737, and on January 20, 1739, Mr. Condit passed away, leaving the estate to his son Peter, whose eldest son, Samuel, inherited it in turn. In 1885 there were 1623 descendants of Samuel Condit, first grandson of John, living in the United States. Peter, the fifth grandson of John (the ancestor, who resided in Morristown, N. J.) was the individual to whom the Condit family in Amwell township trace their genealogy. Philip Condit was born in Newark, N. J., in April, 1709, and passed his life near Morristown, same State, where he died December 3, 1801, aged ninety-two years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Jabez Condit, son of Philip, was born February 8, 1739, and was married to Phoebe Smith, of Morristown, N. J. He passed his life on his father's farm, and the old home is filled with sacred mementoes of these ancestors of the past century. He died November 22, 1804, followed by his wife March 6, 1813. Jonas Condit, son of Jabez and Phoebe (Smith) Condit, was born January 14, 1769, and came to Washington county when about twenty-five years of age. His second wife was Hannah, daughter of Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Condit was a man of fine physique and strong moral character. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Upper and Lower Ten-Mile, and in 1805 was elected an elder. He and his family assisted very materially with the saved music, and members of their family have led the choir exclusively since 1843. Mr. Condit was a justice of the peace many years by appointment of the Governor of Pennsylvania. Daniel Condit, son of Jonas and Hannah Condit, was born December 10, 1813, in Amwell township, and was educated in the common schools. On February 2, 1837, he was married to Priscilla Carter, who died October 20, 1874. On November 24, 1875, he wedded Amanda Chitter, and she died January 1, 1878. On April 14, 1880, he selected his third wife in the person of Mary Johnson. Mr. Condit's children were William C., born October 6, 1839; Mrs. Henry Horan, born October 14, 1842, and Mrs. Ruth A. Brownlee, born April 12, 1850. Mr. Condit was for many years a useful and zealous member of the Presbyterian Church, and was ordained an elder September 12, 1858. He was superintendent of the Sunday-school, and leader of the choir for twenty years, the latter position being now occupied by his son. He was very fond of Scripture and historical reading. Politically he was first a Whig and then a Republican, serving as school director and treasurer of the township for many years. William C. Condit, son of Daniel and Priscilla, was born in Amity, Washington county, and when six months old was brought by his parents to Lindley's Mills, where he remained for two years, when his parents again moved to the place adjoining the one which he now owns and occupies. In 1859 he was married to Mary J. Strouse, grand-daughter of Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, and they have had four children: Silas, born November 8, 1860; Jennie McAfee, born December 31, 1865; Anna McAfee, born July 28, 1871, and Lottie M., born May 31, 1878, died January 28, 1881. Mr. Condit has always been a great reader, and like his father is an earnest student of Scripture and history. He has a fertile farm of 100 acres. In politics he has always been an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, having held several township offices. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Ringgold Cavalry Battalion for three years. On June 6, 1864, he was shot through the right lung, receiving injuries from which he yet suffers. He and wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church for thirty-four years, while their children have been members for seventeen years.

Text taken from page 1011 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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