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Subject: [IA-CIVIL-WAR] 1903 Bio of Edwin H. Conger
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 15:05:54 EST

EDWIN H. CONGER, soldier, banker and statesman, was born in Knox County,
Illinois, March 7, 1843.  He attended the public schools in boyhood and,
entering Lombard University at Galesburg, graduated in 1862.  Mr. Conger
enlisted as a private in an Illinois regiment.  He made a brave soldier and
was promoted several times, finally becoming captain of his company and at
the close of the war was brevetted major.  Upon his return home he entered
the Albany Law School, where he graduated in 1866 and entered upon practice
at Galesburg, but two years later removed to Iowa, locating on a farm near
Dexter.  After five years he became a resident of the village and engaged in
banking.  In 1875 he established another bank at Stuart.  He was for several
years one of the trustees of Mitchellville Seminary.  In 1878 he was elected
treasurer of Dallas County and in 1880 was nominated by the Republican
Convention for State Treasurer.  He was elected, serving two terms with
marked ability.  Remaining in Des Moines, after he retired, in 1886 he was
elected to Congress in the Seventh District.  In 1888 he was reelected,
serving until appointed by President Harrison minister to Brazil where he
served with distinction for four years.  Upon the election of McKinley, in
1897, Major Conger was restored to the Brazilian mission.  But American
interests in China requiring an experienced diplomat, the President
transferred him to that empire.  When the Boxer uprising took place and the
massacres began, great anxiety was felt for the safety of all of the foreign
ministers at Peking, who were soon isolated from all communication with their
governments, the city being surrounded and in possession of the hostile
armies of Boxers.  For weeks Peking was cut off from any communication with
the outside world and it was feared that all of the foreign ministers with
their families had perished from the attacks of fanatical insurgents.  The
anxiety of the Iowa people was intense for the safety of Major Conger and his
family and one morning the news came that all of the foreign ministers and
families had, after a long and heroic defense, been slaughtered.  Finally the
allied armies of America and Europe forced their way to the Chinese Capital
and relieved the besieged ministers, who with their families and other
Christians had been shut up for weeks in the British legation buildings
fighting day and night for their lives, subsisting a part of the time on mule
meat.  All through the terrible ordeal Major Conger was one of the bravest of
the defenders and his wise counsel in the dire extremity was acknowledged by
all to have aided materially in saving the little garrison from
extermination.  Returning home for a few months' rest Major Conger and family
met with a hearty reception.  After consultation with the President he
returned to his post in China.


Debbie Clough Gerischer

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