Name: Conrad, Clement Joseph
Born: 11/18/1855
Place Nashville, Tennessee
Ordained: 09/22/1878
Place Ordained: Ferdinand, Indiana*
Years of Service: 1878-1933
Died: 06/05/1933
Place Died: Seymour, Indiana
Burial Info: Saint Ambrose Cemetery, Seymour Indiana, June 9, 1933
Note: The obituary below states that Fr. Conrad was ordained at St. Meinrad. The Steinamn / Porter necrology says he was ordained at Ferdinand, Indiana.
Find A Grave
Funeral services for the Rev. Father C. J. Conrad, pastor ot the St. Ambrose Catholic Church for more than 45 years, who died at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon, will be held Friday morning. Attending clergy will recite the Office of the Dead at 9:30 o’clock followed immediatly by Solemn High Requiem Mass. Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery in this city. A large number of priests from various cities in Indiana are expected to attend.
It is announced that friends may call at the rectory after 7 o’clock tonight.
Father Conrad was born in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 19, 1855, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Conrad. When he was about three years of age the family moved to Louisville where his father was employed by the Avery Plow Company. In 1865 the family moved to a farm near North Madison. The Conrad home place was was located just back of the over hanging rock which has become a place of interest in Southern Indiana.
At he age of fourteen Father Conrad entered St. Joseph’s College at Bardstown, Kentucky his classical course. He then went to St. Joseph’s Seminary in Indianapolis where he took a course in philosophy. In 1875 he entered St. Meinrad Seminary in Spencer county, Indiana and was ordained there Sept. 28, 1878 by Bishop Chatard. His first Mass was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church, North Madison, October 3, 1878. Father Conrad was unusually young at the time he completed his course at St. Meinrad’s and was required to wait several months before he could recieve a special dispensation for ordination.
His first appontment was at St. John’s parish and missions in Warrick county. While there he built the St. Clement church at Boonville and established a parochial school at St. John’s parish.
He was appointed priest of the St. Ambrose parish on November 30, 1887, serving continuously since that date. When he came to the church here he found an indebtedness of $7,000 on the property which he liquidated. He built the present rectory and enlarged and remodeled the church from time to time. During his pastorate stain glass windows were installed, three alters were constructed and a pipe organ was installed.
Father Conrad was deeply interested in the welfare of the city and the community. He was interested in political developments and while he was firm in his convictions he was fair and liberal in regards to the views of others. He was loved and revered by the members of his church, many of whom, since early childhood have been directed and guided by him.
Father Conrad was a member of a family of several children, all of whom preceded him in death. A brother, Frank Conrad of North Madison, who died several years ago, visited here often and a sister, Mrs. George Keuchel of Canton, Ohio, who also had many aquaintances here, passes away about a year ago.
The fiftieth anniversary of his ordiantion into the priesthood was celebrated here September 28, 1928.
Seymour Daily Tribune