Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 127.
 
HENRY B. CONDIT

     Henry B. Condit is a worthy representative-of one of the best known of the
old pioneer families of Marion county, established here by his paternal
grandparents, Philip and Nancy Condit, who brought their family across the
plains, with ox teams and covered wagons, in 1854, and located on land in Marion
county, where the father died two years later. They were the parents of six
children, Cyrenius, Sylvanus, Alva, Samuel, Anna and David W. C., all of whom
are deceased. Cyrenius Condit was born in Pennsylvania, January 20, 1827, and on
reaching Oregon he bought a tract of land in Marion county, on which he built a
log house and at once began clearing the land. He raised grain, also cattle,
sheep and hogs, made large quantities of butter, and practically spent the
remainder of his life on that place. He was a man of great energy, created a
good home, took a deep interest in the progress of his community and was highly
respected by all. The Condit family took an active part in founding the old
Presbyterian church at Pleasant Grove in 1856, Philip Condit being one of the
first trustees and his son, Sylvanus, the first elder. The Pleasant Grove
church, which is located near Aumsville, was organized September 27, 1856, and
the charter members were Cyrenius Condit and his wife Rebecca J., Rev. Philip
Condit, Sylvanus Condit and his wife, Samuel J. Condit, Mrs. Elsy Neal, Mrs.
Pira Rudolph and Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, while Rev. J. A. Hanna was the first
minister. This society has held services continuously from that time to the
present, a period of over seventy years. Cyrenius Condit married Miss Rebecca J.
Rowland, who was born in Ohio, January 5, 1834, and whose father was a noted
hunter, making his living by hunting along the Beaver Creek swamps in Ohio. To
Cyrenius and Rebecca Condit were born the following children, of whom the first
born died in infancy. The others are Silas Junius, who lives at West Stayton,
Marion county; Henry B.; Martha, deceased; Alva 0., who graduated in law at the
University of Oregon, and practiced his profession in Salem until his death, a
few years ago.
     Henry B. Condit was born on his father's farm, about one and a half miles
northeast of West Stayton, Marion county, on the 21st of May, 1858, and received
his education in the district school at Stayton. He worked on neighboring farms
for a time and then bought a tract of land and engaged in fanning on his own
account for about six years, after which he sold that place and moved to West
Stayton, where he bought forty acres of land, on which he built a comfortable
home. Later he added thirty-eight acres of the old George Neal donation claim,
in West Stayton. He served one year as deputy assessor of Marion county and, on
October 23, 1889, went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad as station
agent, and has been with that company continuously since, being now its third
oldest employee in Oregon in point of length of service, his connection with the
corporation covering a period of thirty-eight years. He has been loyal and
faithful, winning not only the commendation of his superior officials, but also
the respect of his fellowmen.
     In 1880, Mr. Condit was married to Miss Mary Ella Wells, who was born in
Clackamas county, Oregon, and is a daughter of Alonzo and Elizabeth (Mattoon)
Wells, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Wells was a gold miner and crossed the
plains in 1847, locating on Clear creek, in Clackamas county, where he took up a
donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, living thereon until 1870, when
he went to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where his death occurred. His wife
died March 1, 1923. They were the parents of four children, Mary Ella, J. A.,
Frank and Alonzo. J. A. Wells lives in Oregon City, Oregon, and Frank and Alonzo
have lived in Alaska for the past thirty years, being engaged in gold mining. To
Mr. and Mrs. Condit have been born five children, namely: Addie, who remains at
home; Mrs. Carrie Hamner, who is the mother of a son, Arden, now a student in
Willamette University, at Salem; Evert M., who is married and is in business in
Tillamook, Oregon; Ross R., of Rochester, Minnesota, who is married and has two
children, Max and Ross, Jr.; and Osia, the wife of C. D. Grant, traveling
auditor for the Southern Pacific Railroad, with headquarters in Portland. All of
the children received good educations. Mr. Condit is a member of Santiam Lodge,
No. 2, A. F. & A. M., at Stayton, of which he is a past master, and Stayton
Lodge, No. 64, I. 0. 0. F., of which he is a past noble grand. His sons are all
members of the Masonic order and of the Mystic Shrine at Portland. Mr. Condit is
a lover of outdoor life, and is particularly fond of hunting, a trait which he
probably inherits from Ills maternal grandfather. He goes to the mountains every
year and usually brings home a deer in evidence of his marksmanship. Candid and
straightforward, devoting himself closely to his duties, and kindly and cordial
in his social relations, he is held in high esteem by all who know him.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.