CHARLES H. CONOVER. Born July 12, 1847. Died November 4, 1915. By A. C. Bartlett. Charles Hopkins Conover was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, on July 12, 1847, and died in Chicago, November 4, 1915. At the age of twelve he removed with his parents to Buffalo, New York, in which city he received his early education (both in school and in business), entering the wholesale hardware house of Pratt & Company in 1865. At the age of eighteen, he started upon his life career by beginning to thoroughly master the elemental features of a business education, and he continued through the regular courses prescribed in those days of thoroughness, until he was fully prepared to represent the firm among its customers. He was assigned to the Wisconsin territory, on which he proved himself a successful salesman. Later he was called to his house to assume more responsible duties. In 1871, shortly after the great fire, he was engaged by Mr. Hibbard to assist in purchasing goods—a division of the business to which Mr. Hibbard had previously devoted much of his time and energy. Mr. Conover's progress from the outset was constant and rapid. The firm's stock of merchandise grew in variety and volume until the necessity developed for organizing a purchasing department. Of this department Mr. Conover soon became the active head. When the corporation of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. was organized in 1882, he was one of the charter members and a member of the first board of directors then consisting of five stockholders. Upon the death of Mr. Spencer, which occurred in 1890, he was made secretary, and after the death of Mr. Hibbard in 1904 he became vicepresident. Upon the resignation of Mr. A. C. Bartlett as president in January, 1914, Mr. Conover was elected his suc cessor as president of the firm of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., and filled that office during the remainder of his life. The foregoing is the skeleton upon which hung the activities of an honorable and successful career. From Mr. Conover's early manhood there have been displayed the characteristics which told for high attainment. Having chosen the mercantile business as his vocation, he began at the foot of the ladder and starting in the branch he had selected, climbed to the highest rung. He possessed rare business ability, but above and beyond this, he was resolute, persevering and conscientious in all of his endeavors. His work and not his voice proclaimed the value of his efforts. In his earlier development he disliked to assume new and, to him, untried responsibilities. When called upon to do so he not infrequently appealed to his superior officer to take the position he had been asked to occupy. This was not from any desire to avoid work or to shirk duty but from an underestimate of his own powers. As he grew in years and experience, he naturally accepted more and more of leadership. The life and success of Mr. Conover are an example and object lesson for his co-workers and for the rising generation. If the young men (and the young women as well) can, when coming into the house, fully realize how much their advancement and ultimate welfare and success depend upon their thoroughness, diligence, loyalty and integrity, their futures are assured, for with that realization no one of intelligence can deliberately throw away his opportunities. But business, a livelihood, wealth, were not the greatest considerations in the life of Mr. Conover. He was richly endowed mentally, and found much satisfaction and pleasure in cultivating his mental faculties. He was a great reader of the best literature, a lover of biography and history, and was thoroughly informed upon current events. Naturally he was an interesting and entertaining conversationalist. He was public-spirited and cheerfully performed the duties which devolve upon a good citizen of the city, the State and the country. He gave freely of his means for the relief of the poor, the sick and the distressed and for the uplifting of humanity. His home life was ideal, he being almost worshiped as well as sincerely loved by all the members of his family. To many readers of this paper there is nothing new in the record submitted. To those who knew Mr. Conover less intimately there may be given a better acquaintanceship with his characteristics and consistent life. Mr. Conover was an active member of the Illinois State Historical Society, and interested in all departments of the work of the Society. |