George E. Condo, undertaker and funeral director at Wilkinson, this county, is a native son of Indiana, born at East Germantown, this state, February 4, 1874, son and only child of Jacob and Elizabeth (Snyder) Condo, the former of whom also was a native Hoosier and the latter a native of the state of Maryland, both of German descent.

Jacob Condo was born near Germantown on April 9, 1844, and became a general farmer. He married Elizabeth Snyder, who was born at Charrotsvile, Maryland, June 29, 1853, and who had received an excellent education in both English and German schools in the East before coming with her parents to Indiana. Jacob Condo and his wife were earnest members of the Evangelical church. He was a Republican and gave a good citizen's attention to political affairs. He died on his home farm in September, 1911.

George E. Condo obtained his schooling in the schools of East Germantown and for a short time was occupied on hs father's farm, but presently became employed by a furniture dealer in Indianapolis and was thus engaged for two years, at the end of which time he returned to East Germantown and was there employed for six years as a blacksmith. In the meantime he had determined to become an undertaker and went to Chicago, where he took a course in the Chicago Embalming College, one of the first institutions of that character established in the United States, from which he was graduated on October 22, 1898. Thus equipped for the practice of the calling to which he had devoted his life, Mr. Condo went to Cambridge City, this state, where for two years he was employed in the Wright undertaking establishment. After this practical experience he decided to enter business for himself and came to this county, locating at Wilkinson, where he opened an undertaking establishment in 1900 and has ever since been thus engaged in that thriving village. Mr. Condo is a Republican, but does not take an active part in political movements. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and he is one of the trustees of the church.

Mrs. Condo, who was Nellie E. Lyons before her marriage, was born in East Germantown, this state, February 14, 1879, daughter of Henry and Eliza (Earhart) Lyons, both of Dutch descent, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania. She received her education in the schools of East Germantown and was living on the parental farm near there when she married Mr. Condo. To that union two children have been born, Mary, born in 1903, and Harold, born in 1907. Mr. Condo is a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias, of the Odd Fellows and of the Red Men and has "been through the chairs" in the latter two organizations. He is regarded as one of Wilkinson's most active and progressive business men and takes a warm interest in all movements having to do with the advancement of the best interests of that village.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 899-900.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI September 24, 2001.

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