Elias R. Condit, merchant and farmer, Rock Elm, was born in Mont Clair, Essex county, N. J., May 18, 1833. His great-great-grandfather, John Condit, was a native of England, of Norman descent, and immigrated to America in 1678. His first wife, Catherine Barton, was a niece of Sir Isaac Newton. Our subject's grandfather and great-grandfather were each named Peter. His father, William Dodd Condit, was born at Orange, N. J., April 14, 1811, and died at Rock Elm, June 14, 1891. William D. Condit married Margaret Hagar, a native of Connecticut, whose family came originally from Holland. Their children were: Elias R., Mary E. (Mrs. C. A. Ackerman), Theodore D., Edward O. (died in the United States service), Frances A. (Mrs. H. Tousley), Harriet D. (Mrs. J. C. Anderson), Jesse M., Charles H., Sarah L. (Mrs. M. C. Guest), Frederick H, John W., Anna B. (Mrs. J. Hamilton), Clara D. (Mrs. S. Cook), Clarence A. and Cora A. (Mrs. F. Gilmore). Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Condit came to Wisconsin in 1850 and to Rock Elm township in 1867. They will long be remembered among the worthy pioneers of this place. Mrs. Condit died there September 12, 1884. Mr. Condit was an old- line abolitionist. He voted for William Henry Harrison, also for Benjamin Harrison, and at each intermediate presidential election.
Elias R. received but little schooling in his youth. At the age of thirteen years he began clerking in a jewelry store at Mount Morris, N. Y. In 1850 he came with his parents to Hartford, Washington county. Wis., and worked on a farm. In 1857 he engaged in keeping a hotel at Rubicon, Wis. In 1867 he removed to Rock Elm township. Pierce county, and purchased 240 acres of wild land, upon which he now resides. At that time game was very plentiful, deer often coming within a few rods of the house. Mr. Condit has bought and shipped many tons of venison from Rock Elm. Upon one occasion Mr. C. A. Hawn was passing through the woods near Mr. Condit's farm and encountered a bear stealing a pig. Upon his arrival Bruin dropped the pig and threatened to attack Mr. Hawn, who, being unarmed, shouted lustily for help, and finally succeeded in driving off the bear. Hearing the noise, Mr. Condit ran to the rescue and although he found no bear, he found a man badly frightened. Soon after coming to Rock Elm Mr. Condit opened a general store which he still carries on in partnership with his son William. March 27, 1857, he mar¬ ried Carolina Farmer, and six children blessed this union, namely: Emmaret (Mrs. Burges), Wesley, William, Alice, Ida and Rena. Mrs. Condit died October 16, 1889. Mr. Condit is a republican. He has filled the offices of postmaster and chairman of the town board. He is also a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities.
from Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin including a general historical sketch of the Chippewa Valley; ancestral records of leading families; biographies of representative citizens, past and present; and portraits of prominent men 1892