Benjamin E. Conrad

   Cause of his death was From the death certificate: "epithelioma on the left side of the lower lip extending to and involving the neck."

  General Notes:

Benjamin Conrad and his brother Samuel went to Philadelphia and by 1860 each are listed as Puddlers in a Rolling Mill: The 1860 Federal Census for Philadelphia, PA, Ward 18 (Southwest Division), page 355A records Benjamin Conrad (21 - U.S.) working as a "Puddler in R. Mills". See general notes on his brother, Samuel, for his 1860 census facts.

The 1870 Federal Census for Philadelphia Ward 18, Philadelphia Co., PA, page 595A records Benjamin E. (31) and Eliza M. (25) Conrad with son Wm (William) Conrad (3).

The 1880 Federal Census for Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA, District 331, page 94A records Benj E. (41 - Marylany/PA/Maryland) and Eliza M. (34 - PA/PA/PA) Conrad (indexed as Conan at ancestry ... the flurish in the final n could easliy be a "d") living at 310 East Girard Street. Also in the household Benj's niece Lizzie Hamill (16 - NJ/PA/NJ). Benj is a cigar maker.

The 1900 Federal Census for Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA, District 344, page 283A records Ben (Dec 1840 - Marylany/Maryland/Maryland) and Eliza (March 1847 - PA/PA/PA) Conrad living at 449 Richmond Street. Also in the household are his widowed mother-in-law Lizzie Hamel (Sept 1819 - PA/PA/PA) and his nephew John Thorpe (Feb 1873 - PA/PA/PA). Ben is a Street Overseer and has been married to Eliza for 38 years. Eliza has had 2 children neither of whom are still living while her mother, Lizzie, has had but 1 child [Eliza]. John Thorp is a Clerk.

The 1910 Federal Census for Philadelphia Ward 18, Philadelphia Co., PA, District 276, page 283A records Benjamin E. (71 - Marylany/Maryland/Maryland) and Eliza M. (63 - PA/US/PA) Conrad living at 449 Richmond Street. Benjamin and Eliza have been married for 47 years. Also in the household is his nephew John Thorpe (39 - PA/PA/PA). Benjamin is a Supt City (sic) Street Cleaner and John Thorp is a Clerk in a General Store.

  Research Notes:

Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:58:20 -0600 (CST)
From: Joanne <thenewdawning@verizon.net>
Subject: RE: Family Graves
Bo,
I apologize for not returning your email, but seemed to have overlooked it.
The only information I could locate in our lot card database is the following, they are buried in lot H-24:
H 24 L Conrad Benjamin E 11/23/1911
H 24 C Park Eliza 3/3/1933
H 24 R Hamel Elizabeth M 10/1/1909
Greenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA
A Brief History of the Cemetery

Nov. 2008:
Greenwood Cemetery was chartered as "The Greenwood Cemetery Company of Philadelphia" on October 26, 1869. The president of the company, who was a member of the Knights of Pythias, amended the charter to change the name of the cemetery to "The Knights of Pythias Greenwood Cemetery Company of Philadelphia." This amended charter was recorded on March 18, 1870. The Knights of Pythias, as befitting a benevolent association, acquired graves within the cemetery for the use of its members.

The plans for the cemetery were very grand. The grounds were laid out by architect Thomas S. Levy and were modeled after the rural cemetery movement of the mid-19th Century. There were rolling hills with naturalistic plantings, meandering pathways, elaborate gravestones and benches placed throughout the grounds for resting on. The plans also included areas set aside for family vaults and a man-made lake. The entrance was to be very imposing with a grand gatehouse. The gatehouse was never built and the plans for vaults and a lake were never realized. Although overgrown, remnants of the landscaping and plantings typical of a rural cemetery remain.

Over the years, Greenwood's fortunes declined. The cemetery became a target for vandalism and many headstones were toppled and broken. Maintenance became sporadic and vegetation began to consume the cemetery. Only the front third of the cemetery is cleared enough to walk through unimpeded. The rear of the cemetery has reverted to forest with trees springing up through the middle of graves.

The Friends of Greenwood Cemetery, Inc. was established in 2003 as a nonprofit organization. It is dedicated to preserving the historic records, tombstones, grounds and historic buildings of the Knights of Pythias Greenwood Cemetery.

Current activities by the 'Friends': clearing of tombstones, picking up of trash, branches, etc., genealogical lookups, sorting and protecting old records, transcribing of perpetual care and owner cards (done), transcribing of lot cards (done), transcribing of Internment Record Books (not yet started), grave/tombstone record keeping (in process), Preserving Historical Buildings.

Friends of Greenwood Cemetery
PO Box 461
Plainsboro, NJ 08536

  Medical Notes:

From pilot.familysearch.org, Death Certificate for:
Name: Benjamin E. Conrad
Death date: 19 Nov 1911
Death place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cause of death: epithelioma on the left side of the lower lip extending to and involving the neck / exhaustion
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): white
Age at death: 72 years 11 months 20 days
Estimated birth year:
Birth date: 25 Dec 1838
Birth place: Maryland
Marital status: Married
Informant name: Eliza M. Conrad of 449 Richmond Street [his wife]
Father name: Elijah Conrad
Father birth place: Maryland
Mother name: Marie Walters
Mother birth place: Maryland
Occupation: Foreman
Street address: 449 Richmund (sic) St., Ward 18
Cemetery name: Knights of Pythias
Burial place: Philadelphia, PA
Burial date: 23 Nov 1911
Film number: 1405456
Digital GS number: 4009227
Image number: 280
Reference number: cn 27248
Collection: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915

"The Friends of Greenwood Cemetery, Inc. now has possession of the official cemetery records for Knights of Pythias Greenwood Cemetery

Benjamin married Eliza M. Hamel, daughter of Jacob Hamel and Lizzie (Elizabeth) M. Fritzinger, circa 1862. (Eliza M. Hamel was born on 14 Mar 1846 in Pennsylvania, died on 9 Mar 1933 in Philadalphia, PA and was buried on 13 Mar 1933 in Greenwood Knights of Pythias Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.) The cause of her death was Arterial Sclerosis.