Conard, Alfred Fellenberg–(1835-1906)–West
Grove, Pennsylvania–was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1835.
He descended from German Quakers who were part of William Penn’s Colony
in 1683. He worked on his father’s farm and learned the nursery business
from Thomas M. Harvey. Conard formed the firm of Conard & Brother,
but some time after 1862 he started a nursery business with Charles Dingee
under the name Dingee & Conard. The business had two greenhouses
and the establishment was known as the Harmony Grove Nursery. About
1867 the firm started propagating roses under a new system introduced by
Antoine Wintzer. Conard conceived the idea of disposing of their
rose stock through the mail. Their first catalog offered bedding
plants, shrubbery, bulbs, seeds, and roses. About 1892 Conard separated
from Dingee and along with Antoine Wintzer joined with S. Morris Jones
in 1897 to become Conard & Jones Co. The new company continued
with the growing and distribution of roses and flowering plants.
As another specialty, they worked on the improvement of the canna.
Conard died on December 15, 1906.
Sources: FlorEx-Dec.
22, 1906; Bailey; CHSJ-Apr.
1966; HP