Edwin H. Conger (1843-1907) was born in Knox County, Illinois, and died in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1862 and married Sarah Pike Conger (b. Pike) there in 1866. While Conger was a life-long Universalist, his wife was an active member of the Christian Science Society in Des Moines, Iowa, and was a student of Valeria J. Campbell. She was admitted to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 6, 1894 and was a teacher and practitioner for the rest of her life.
Conger enlisted in 1862 as a first lieutenant of Company I, 102nd Illinois Infantry, before being promoted to captain a year later, serving out the American Civil War in the Union Army including a march with General Sherman. He graduated from Albany Law School in Albany, New York, and practiced law in Galesburgh between 1866 and 1868. The couple moved to Madison County, Iowa, where Conger worked in banking and operated a large stock farm.
In 1870 Conger embarked on what would become a successful political career, starting in local politics before being elected three times to Congress as the representative for the seventh district of Iowa between 1885-1890. Between 1890-1893, he held an appointment as Minister to Brazil, then between 1898-1905, as Minister to China. He was in the country during the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901. His final posting was as ambassador to Mexico in 1905. Conger soon resigned due to poor health and the couple settled in Pasadena, California.
See more letters.
Edwin H. Conger (1843-1907) was born in Knox County, Illinois, and died in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1862 and married Sarah Pike Conger (b. Pike) there in 1866. While Conger was a life-long Universalist, his wife was an active member of the Christian Science Society in Des Moines, Iowa, and was a student of Valeria J. Campbell. She was admitted to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 6, 1894 and was a teacher and practitioner for the rest of her life.
Conger enlisted in 1862 as a first lieutenant of Company I, 102nd Illinois Infantry, before being promoted to captain a year later, serving out the American Civil War in the Union Army including a march with General Sherman. He graduated from Albany Law School in Albany, New York, and practiced law in Galesburgh between 1866 and 1868. The couple moved to Madison County, Iowa, where Conger worked in banking and operated a large stock farm.
In 1870 Conger embarked on what would become a successful political career, starting in local politics before being elected three times to Congress as the representative for the seventh district of Iowa between 1885-1890. Between 1890-1893, he held an appointment as Minister to Brazil, then between 1898-1905, as Minister to China. He was in the country during the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901. His final posting was as ambassador to Mexico in 1905. Conger soon resigned due to poor health and the couple settled in Pasadena, California.
See more letters.