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William A. Conant

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William Augustus Conant (November 9, 1816 – November 28, 1909) was an American merchant, politician, and railroad agent.

Life

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Conant was born on November 9, 1816 in Craftsbury, Vermont, the son of Newell Conant, a miller and farmer, and Sarah Pierce.[1]

Conant attended common schools and academies in Vermont. He later moved to Huntington, New York, where he was a merchant and notary public. In 1868, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing Suffolk County. He served in the Assembly in 1869.[2] He ran a general store with Carlos D. Stuart under the firm name Conant and Stuart. He later was associated with his brother-in-law George M. Tileston.[3]

Conant sold his Huntington store and residence in 1872[4] and moved to Black Hawk, Colorado. In 1874, he moved to Colorado Springs[5] and worked as an agent for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.[6] In 1877, while searching for fossils near Beulah, he allegedly uncovered the petrified remains of a giant later called the Solid Muldoon. He then went with the Muldoon on a tour all the way to New York. John Harrison Mills, Frederick Samuel Dellenbaugh, and Francis Darwin (also speaking on his father Charles Darwin's behalf) all quickly declared it a fraud. It was later revealed that George Hull (who orchestrated the Cardiff Giant hoax in 1869) was responsible for the Muldoon as well. P. T. Barnum provided financial support for the ruse, allegedly employed Conant to participate, and claimed the Muldoon was legitimate to further promote and publicize it.[7]

In 1880, Conant became agent of the Atchison, Tokepa and Sansa Fe Railway in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[8] In 1883, he became agent of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in Winslow, Arizona and was in charge of the station at what would become the Red Rock Bridge.[9] In 1884, he ran for the Arizona Territorial Legislature with the Independent Party of Apache County.[10] By 1885, he was working for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in Colorado Springs.[1]

In 1837, Conant married Maria Louisa Weed. Their children were William L., Frederick Herbert, and Florence C.[1]

Conant died at home from pneumonia on November 28, 1909.[11] His funeral was held at his home, with Rev. L. J. Spencer of the Universalist Church officiating the service and Rev. D. G. Monfort of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church giving a prayer. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Conant, Frederick Odell (1887). A History and Genealogy of the Conant Family in England and America, Thirteen Generations, 1520-1887, Containing Also Some Genealogical Notes on the Connet, Connett and Connit Families. Portland, M.E.: Press of Harris and Williams. pp. 373, 481 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Hutchins, S. C. (1869). The Evening Journal Almanac, 1869. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Company. p. 155 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "W. A. Conant Dead". The Long-Islander. Vol. 74, no. 16. Huntington, N.Y. 10 December 1909. p. 4 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
  4. ^ "HOME NEWS". The Long-Islander. Vol. XVII, no. 12. Huntington, N.Y. 18 October 1872. p. 2 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
  5. ^ "PERSONAL". Colorado Springs Gazette. Vol. II, no. 22. Colorado Springs, C.O. 30 May 1874. p. 2 – via Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.
  6. ^ "A., T. & S. F. R. R." The Colorado Mountaineer. Vol. 4, no. 2. Colorado Springs, C.O. 6 September 1875. p. 3 – via Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.
  7. ^ Sneesby-Koch, Ann (12 March 2025). "The Folly and Fate of the Solid Muldoon | History Colorado". History Colorado. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  8. ^ "Mr. W. A. Conant". Weekly New Mexican. Vol. 18, no. 2. Santa Fe, N.M. 10 January 1880. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Major W. A. Conant". Santa Fe New Mexican. Vol. 2, no. 89. Santa Fe, N.M. 10 June 1883. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Apache County Independents". Arizona Champion. Vol. 1, no. 47. Flagstaff, A.Z. 2 August 1884. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "W. A. CONANT DIES AT AGE 93 YEARS". Colorado Springs Gazette. Vol. 38, no. 10482. Colorado Springs, C.O. 29 November 1909. pp. 1–2 – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ "CONANT FUNERAL HELD". Colorado Springs Gazette. Vol. 38, no. 10484. Colorado Springs, C.O. 1 December 1909. p. 5 – via Internet Archive.
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New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
Suffolk County
1869 		Succeeded by
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