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 CONANT. CONANT. 139 of Irish and American stock. Mr. Collins has certainly contributed his share to keep the state of his adoption well in the van of progressive, liberal and intelligent life. CONANT, Chester Cook, son of Col. Jonathan and Clarissa (l)iinick) Co- nant, was born in Lyme, Grafton county, N. H., September 4, 1831. He was educated in the common schools, Thetford Academy, Vt., and Dartmouth College, from which latter he was gradu- ated with honor in the class of 1857. While pursuing his college course he sup- ported himself in part by teaching, working during vacations. He was graduated from the Albany law school in 1859, and was ad- mitted to the New York, and also the Massachusetts bar the same year. He then formed a partnership with Judge David Aiken, at Greenfield, Mass., the firm name being Aiken &: Conant. He continued these relations several years ; afterward was for three or four years a partner with Edward E. Lyman ; practiced alone till 1S78, when, admitting Samuel D. H y CHESTER C CONANT. Conant, a nephew, as partner, the business has since been conducted under the firm name of Conant & Conant. He has been admitted to practice in the United States supreme court at Washing- ton, and has practiced in said court. Mr. Conant was married in Portland, Me., June 14, i860, to Sarah 1! , daughter ni Rev. Roger S. Howard, I). D., and Martha (Pike) Howard. Of this union are two daughters : Charlotte Howard, and Martha Pike Conant. Mr. Conant was register of probate, Franklin county, from 1S63 to October, 1870, when he was appointed judge of probate and insolvency for Franklin coun- ty, an office he still holds. Judge Conant was for years a member of the school board. In 1SS4 he was delegate to the national Republican convention, held at Chicago, and in rS88 was presiden- tial elector on the Republican ticket, and voted for President Harrison. For several years he was secretary of the Greenfield Library Association — is now trustee ; a director in the Franklin County National P>ank twelve years ; one of the original incorporators of the Green- field Savings Bank in 1S69, its first and only secretary, and has been its attorney and trustee to the present time. He was elected its vice-president in 1889. He is an Episcopalian, a vestryman of the church, and is usually a delegate to the annual diocesan convention ; for over twenty years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. Before entering his profession he learned of his father the trades of carpenter and builder, and cabinet-maker, and was called a skilled workman. Judge Conant is a lineal descendant in the eighth generation from the Pilgrim, Roger Conant, who landed in America in 1623, and who built the first house in Sa- lem He is also a lineal descendant of Mary Chilton, the first woman to set foot on Plymouth Rock at the landing of the Pil- grim Fathers. CONANT, NELSON B., son of Francis and Sophia (Goldsmith) Conant, was born in Acton, Middlesex county, December 6, 1845- He received his early training in the public schools, which was supplemented by attendance at Lawrence Academy, Groton. He began mercantile life for himself in Littleton, 1868. In 1874 he went into the wholesale produce business in Boston, where he remained two years. He after- wards located in Acton, and later removed to Littleton, where he still continues in business. Mr. Conant was married in Littleton, April 29, 1S74, to Frances W., daughter of George W. and Atlanta (Gerry) 'Puttie.