The Robert Riddle Conn Family

Robert R. Conn was born March 10, 1824, in Athens, Ohio, and came to Henry County at age of 16 years. In 1848 he bought a farm from the government in Damascus Township. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Mansfield) Conn. The paternal grandfather was James Conn who came from North Ireland in 1790 and on the boat met his future wife Annie Larrie who was born in Scotland and was a cousin of the poet Robert Burns. There were six children and then the mother died. Later James remarried and nine children were born to him and his wife

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Conn — June 27, 1914

Miss Mary Hill. They were David, James, Jordan, Johiel, Margaret, Elnora, Jane, Sarah, and Mary Ann. The grave of Elnora has been discovered by a great grandson of Robert Riddle, Charles Conn who lives near McClure and is a prosperous farmer. Robert Conn, the son of James was born Feb. 14, 1793, and at the age of ten was bound out to a cabinet maker. At 19 he ran away and enlisted in the war of 1812. Robert Conn and his wife Elizabeth Mansfield had eight children and raised eight children who were orphans giving them the same treatment as their own. In 1800 James Conn removed to Athens County, Ohio, where he followed his trade, that of a tailor, until his death in 1834. Robert Conn, Robert Riddle's father, learned the trade of wheelwright and chair-maker in early life and in 1850 he came to Henry County, settling in Damascus Township. He died here in 1872, Sept. 26. His wife Elizabeth died June 22, 1879, at nearly 85 years of age. He was nearly 80 years of age. Their eight children were Mary, Charity M., Robert R., James D., George L., Samuel N., Simon H., and Elizabeth R.

Robert Riddle came to Henry County in 1845 and entered 120 acres of land and walked to Lima, Ohio, to pay his taxes in the early years. In 1851 he married Miss Mary Jane Zinn. On May 2, 1853, a daughter Ella was born who married John Wilson Masdon Nov. 30, 1872, and lived in Richfield Township until 1888 when they removed to Malinta in Monroe Township. Their children were Earl, Ola Claire, and Audrey. Earl married and lived most of his adult life in Missouri. She was the Miss Myrtle Duncan. Their children were Cluster D., Paul, and Audrey Pauline, Earl Jr. Ola Claire married Martin Dietrich whose only child, Neff Theodore Dietrich, compiles this history. Their home was in Malinta where Martin was a prominent builder. Audrey Gay married Martin Geist who was a son of early pioneers also. Their adopted son was Robert Martin and blood daughter was Ella Claire who married Thomas C. Watkins of Toledo. Their children are Thomas Martin and Wendy. John W. Masdon was born March 28, 1846 and died March 31, 1896, age 50 yrs. 3 days. His widow Ella Conn Masdon married George W. Battenfield October 1, 1899. He died July 21, 1903. He was a veteran of the Civil War.

After Ella came Mary Jane who was always called Jennie, born November 16, 1854. Her first husband was J. C. Ballard, the second was M. D. Todd and the third was Henry Briney. Her sons were Alva 0. Ballard and Herman 0. Todd. The third child was Squire Lincoln Conn, born Dec. 5, 1860. He married Miss Della Todd. The fourth child was Milton William, born Feb. 17, 1865. He married Miss Ida Stoner. Alice Conn was born Jan. 31, 1869. She married Frederick W. Smith. They operated a general store and boarding house in Grelton for many years. Their daughter Midge married Atlee Jackson, son of pioneers Willis and Mary Jackson. The Jackson home was a landmark one half mile north of Grelton. The sixth child was U. S. Grant Conn, born November 1, 1869. He married Miss Eva Dome. Their children were Frank, Urial, and Mollie. Frank married Miss Edith Burson. Their son is Charles who is mentioned above. The mother of his children was Elvira Heiberg, who gave him two daughters, twins, and a son Maurice Conn. The seventh and last child was John Cornelius Conn born April 19, 1872. He married Ida Owen. They were the parents of three sons who married, left off spring and died in Henry County.

Robert Riddle Conn enlisted in Company A, 21st Ohio Volunteer Regiment on Aug. 28, 1861. His worst battles were Stones River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. He saw his younger brother James wounded at Chickamauga. He died there. The youngest brother Samuel died in a hospital from illness after seeing much severe military action in the Union Army. Robert Riddle Conn was severely wounded at Missionary Ridge by a cannon shot and was discharged for medical reasons Jan. 27, 1864, and came home voiceless. He had served thirty months but still reenlisted but was rejected for health reasons. He fought under General Thomas and crossed the Stones River by swimming while exposed to the measles. He became extremely ill and was in the military hospital in Nashville for two months but recovered for the terrible battle of Chickamauga where General Thomas' forces held the line on Snodgrass Hill for the second day. The 21st Regiment was surrendered after two bayonet charges without ammunition for their Colt Repeating Revolving Rifles. He was one of 67 men who escaped after the surrender, the others being taken prisioner.

Uriel Dare Conn, son of U. S. Grant Conn was born in 1895, married Miriam Hertzler in 1929; their son Richard was born in 1931. Mary Olive (Mollie) Conn, daughter of U. S. Grant Conn was born in 1900. She married Otto Frederick Miller in 1920. He was born in 1894 and died in 1964. They had three sons and three daughters: Eva, Lois, Marilyn, Frederick, Keith, and Lee. Frank Leroy Conn, son of U. S. Grant Conn was born in 1891 and married Edith Burson in 1914. Charles was born to them in 1920 and he married Elvera Heiberg. Their children were Maurice (1942), Carol, and Joyce(1946). Present wife of Charles is Marcella M. Fetter, born in 1920, married October 1966. Elvera was born in 1920 and died in 1964. Ella Conn Masdon Battenfield's daughter Ola Claire married Martin Dietrich on Dec. 30, 1897. Son Neff was born Oct. 9, 1898. I lived my early life in Malinta, graduating from the Napoleon High School in 1916. I served in the United States Marine Corps in World War I and saw action in the Meuse-Argonne offensive with the Second Division. I graduated from Case Institute of Technology, Class of 1923 and attended John Marshall School of Law in Cleveland. I married Marvelle Cooper on May 5, 1923. A son was born to them on June 23, 1924. He was named Neff Jr. A second son was born Feb. 26, 1928, named Peter Grant. Daughter Mary K. was born Sept. 15, 1934, and Barbara Ann was born June 4, 1940.

Submitted by Neff T. Dietrich Sr.