NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. I., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899

The first known member of this family was John CONDIT (CONDITT) who came to America in 1678 and was a purchaser of lands "in the bounds of the town of Newark," in Essex county, New Jersey, in 1689 and 1691. He was either a native of England or Wales, probably the latter, and is the ancestor of nearly all those bearing the name of CONDIT or CONDICT in the United States. He first married in Great Britain, where his wife died, after which he came to America with his son Peter, locating in Newark, where he married Deborah ???, and they had a son John, who died before attaining his majority.

Peter CONDIT, son of John, was married, in 1695, to Mary, a daughter of Samuel HARRISON, and this union resulted in the following issue: Samuel, born December 6 1696; Peter, born in 1698 or 1699; John, 1701; Nathaniel, 1703; Mary, 1705 or 1706; Philip, 1709; Isaac, 1712.

Nathaniel, son of Peter and Mary (HARRISON) CONDIT, was born at Newark, New Jersey, and married Elizabeth OGDEN, a daughter of Swain and Susan (ACKERMAN) OGDEN, of Orange New Jersey. She was born in 1711 and died on the 10th of January 1785, survived by her husband until June 23 1846. There children were as follows; Peter, born in 1731; Nathaniel, who died young; Stephen, born in 1738, died in 1765; Timothy, born in 1740; Mary, who married Mr. PARSONATE; Sarah, who became the wife of Mr. HARRISON; and Susannah, who married Mr. WARD.

Timothy CONDIT, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (OGDEN) CONDIT, married Elizabeth, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (MORRIS) LINDSLEY, who was born April 26, 1749, and died August 19 1813. Timothy was a private in the Revolutionary war, and resided in Orange, where his children were born and where he died on the 9th of September 1791. He became the father of these children: Stephen, born March 18 1768; Phebe, born September 10 1771, died May 22 1854; Elizabeth, born August 17 1774; Moses, born September 30, 1776; Benjamin L., born October 28, 1782; Mary M., born October 29, 1785, died May 27, 1862; Nathaniel O., born February 8 1789; and Timothy D, born October 17 1791.

Nathaniel Ogden CONDIT, father of our subject, was married in 1810 to Phebe CRANE, who was born on the 16th of September 1793, and died on the 2d of January 1824. They were the parents of the following children: Isaac A., born of the 4th of September 1811, died April 30 1812; Timothy D., born March 24 1813, died December 17, 1842; Stephen D., born February 4, 1815, died August 25 1839; Mary Ann, born January 5 1818; Elizabeth C., born February 1 1820, died May 18 1847; Susan C., born April 4 1822, resides at Troy, Morris County New Jersey; Sarah, born May 16 1824; Charles C., born December 3 1827, died December 15 1860. On the 29th of January 1831, Mr. CONDIT married Miss Mary Ann BEDFORD, who was born on the 9th of August 1804, and their issue comprised of the following: Theresa, born March 19 1833; Melvin S., born September 11, 1834; Abby, born January 10 1836, died May 15 1837; Frances Electra, born October 30 1837; Alice born April 16 1844. The father of these children came to Morris county in 1811 and located at Montville, where he followed the trade of a carpenter, and during the war of 1812 he served for a time as a soldier. He built the first water-wheel on the inclined plane of the Morris canal at Montville, and his brother Timothy he established a tannery at that place, conducting the same for many years. About 1826 or 1827 he engaged in the hotel business in his home city and was identified with that enterprise for a period of twenty years. He also helped establish the first stage line between Boonton and Newark. The latter part of his life was spent in agricultural pursuits, which he followed until his death, on the 7th of October 1862.

Melvin Smith CONDIT, the immediate subject of this mention, was the son of Nathaniel and Mary (BEDFORD) CONDIT, and received his educational discipline in the public school of Montville township. At the age of fifteen years he secured a position as clerk in a country store, retaining the same for three years and then went to Newark and learned the carriage business, which he followed for ten years.

In 1863 he enlisted in the United States military-railroad service, in the car repair department, remaining thus engaged until the close of the war. In 1868 he embarked in the mercantile business at Parsippany, remaining so employed up to 1872, and serving as assessor of the township from 1870 to 1878, in which latter years he was elected clerk of Morris County, fulfilling the duties of that office for ten years. In 1890 he became one of the organizers of the Boonton National Bank, of which he has since been cashier, and he was also one of the directors of the First National Bank of Morristown for several years. He has been a member of the Boonton school board for several years. He has been a member of the Boonton school board for five years, is treasurer of the board of trade, a member of the Athletic Association, and in 1890 he was a candidate for the state senator but was defeated by a few votes. Socially he was affiliated with the American Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his family are prominent adherents of the Presbyterian church.

On the 1st of July 1866, Mr. CONDIT was united in marriage to Miss Eliza A. PROVOST, who was born June 4 1844, her demise taking place on the 28th of January 1871. The following children comprised the issue: Mary E., born July 4 1867; Alice P., born April 20 1869; and William S., who died in infancy. On the 26th of May 1875, Mr. CONDIT contracted a second marriage, being then united to Miss Alice C HENDERSHOT, and they had the following children: Henry M, born December 15 1876, died August 5 1877; Bertha H., born July 14 1878; and Louis Ogden, born October 13 1822.

Transcribed by Ida King

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