The Descendants of Thones Kunders, Part IV: DeHavens and Conards Collide
- Yen Ho
- Dec 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 5
Thone Kunders's Descendant
Thones Kunders's son Henry Conrad (1688-1758) purchased 220 acres and 111 perches of land in Whitpain where he built a small stone house for his family. He purchased an additional 3 acres in 1738 and 50 acres in 1748.
The land of at least 120 acres owned by Joseph Conrad (1728-1786) was divided into two for his sons: Joseph, Jr. and John Conard (1782-1853). Joseph, Jr. lived on the original homestead while John built a new home and farm on his property.
John was born and raised on his father's farm. From his experience working with James Wood, John began building a log smith shop in 1804 after given one half of his father's land while his brother got their father's farm. He then later built a two and a half story home on June 23, 1805 with six rooms, a garret, and a cellar. An addition was built on the home in 1847.
At the homestead, John built a blacksmith shop on his property where he manufactured the "Conard Screw Auger." The business was carried on to Fort Washington by his two sons: Albert and Isaac Conard. His other son, Joseph P. Conard (1812-1897), was also part of the screw auger trade for 5 years until moving into the old Mathias Wentz property on Skippack Pike to pursue his career in farming and supplying for the Philadelphia market. The home he purchased was originally belonged to one of the members of the DeHaven family.
Politically, he was against slavery and joined the Republican party after the Whig party dissolved.
Sad Fact # 1: At the age of 12, Joseph fell on a pitchfork with its prong ran through his knee, making him cripple for the rest of his life.
The DeHaven Property
The DeHaven family originated from Mulheim (on the Ruhr), Germany. Evert/Evart/Everet Indenhoffen (1650-1728) came to the New World in 1698 with his four children: Gerhart, Herman, Peter, and Anna/Annecke. Evert was given 100 acres in Whitpain township from Richard Morris in 1706.
The first member to arrive in Whitpain was Peter DeHaven (1686-1768). He married in the New World to his first wife Sidonia.
Fun Fact # 1: Peter's three sons played a role during the American Revolution: Peter, Jr. conducted three gun factories in Valley Forge, Philadelphia, and Hummelstown; Samuel was a Revolutionary soldier; Jacob loaned $450,000 to the Continental Government to aid the solders at Valley Forge.
In 1728, Evert sold his 100 acres to his son Peter, and then he sold it to his son Edward DeHaven (1712-1770) in 1742. During that time, the land was separated not only for Edward but also for Peter's other son Peter DeHaven, Jr. (1719-1815). For Edward's land, it was passed on to Jacob Scheetz, who owned the farm for 15 years. It wasn't until 1784 the land was sold to John DeHaven (1718-1812), another son of Peter. In 1798, John sold the land to his son in-law Mathias Wentz (1749-1823), the son of Peter Wentz who was the owner of the homestead of Worcester Township.
After Mathias passed away, the property was passed onto his sons Jonathan and Jacob Wentz. The ownership didn't last long until Joseph P. Conard purchased the property on March 30, 1836. After his death, his son Henry Fassett Conard who continued the ownership of the property.
Bibliography
Bean, Theodore Weber. History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume 2. (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1884): 1181-1182.
"DeHaven Background." Angelfire. Accessed October 5, 2024. https://www.angelfire.com/pa2/CynsPlace/DeHaven.html.
"Descendants of HENRY CUNREDS Of Whitpain, YOUNGEST SON OF THONES KUNDERS, AND KATHARINE (STREYPERS) HIS WIFE." Kunders and Conard Family History. Accessed October 5, 2024. http://www.conardfamilyhistory.com/descendants.php.
"Evert Evard InDenHoffen/Dehaven." Find a Grave. Accessed October 5, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183202634/evert_evard-indenhoffendehaven.
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"Local History. A Dehaven Plantation in Whitpain--Evart Indenhoffen--Peter Dehaven--The Farms of Fasset Conard and John M. Dehaven, Blue Bell." Ambler Gazette. April 22, 1897. Page 2. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_1290.
Morris, William E, and Smith & Wistar. Map of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: from original surveys. [Philadelphia: Smith & Wistar, 1849] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012590207/.
Roberts, Ellwood. Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Containing Genealogical Records of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, Volume 1. (New York: T.S. Benham, 1904): 156-157.
Ross, Howard DeHaven. History of the DeHaven Family. (Philadelphia: Press of Smith & Salmon, 1895).
Smith, J. L. Montgomery County 1893, Whitpain and Worcester Townships, Bethel Hill, Fairview, Cedar Hill, Washington Square, Broad Axe Left, 1893.
Sutton, Isaac C. Notes of family history : the Anderson, Schofield, Pennypacker, Yocum, Crawford, Sutton, Lane, Richardson, Bevan, Aubrey, Bartholomew, De Haven, Jermain and Walker families. (Philadelphia: Stephenson Brothers, 1948): 99-100.
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