Conrad Martin, the Musician...

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Conrad was a violinist.  I had no idea that he played the violin until I stumbled across the following paragraph from one of his neighbor’s (Pharis Walter Glick) biography in the book Capital City Saga, by Adeline S. Gnirk (p. 251).

“Neighborhood house dances were very popular and Martin Klein, a homesteader north of Burke, played the violin and was accompanied by Marvin Glick on the guitar.  Marvin also played the violin.  Neighbors traveled in horse-drawn bobsleds during the winter to the dances and picked up other neighbors en route.  The congoleum rug in the parlor was rolled up and placed behind the house.  The dancers danced until midnight, when the hat was passed for a collection to pay the musicians after which lunch, furnished by those attending, was served.  One bedroom was usually full of babies and the other full of wraps and coats.  When the fun was over everyone went home.”

Another quote from the same book, the biography of another friend, Francis Schmitz:

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Conrad's violin and case

“In the early days, the only entertainment was visiting neighbors, playing cards or dancing in the claim shantys on Saturday nights to music provided by local fiddlers, but he spoke of those times with pleasure, and I am sure everyone had a good time.  Neighbors were appreciated and enjoyed.  His close neighbors were Joe Cerny, Charles Umberger, Ed Pete, and Conrad Klein.”

My father then questioned my great aunt (Maxine (Mann) Klein) and she informed us that she remembers going to the neighborhood dances.  She also told us that her son Dale still had Conrad Martin Jr’s. violin and a picture of him with a violin in Chicago (above - pre-1900).

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My Great-Aunt Maxine Klein
Wife of Conrad Dominick Klein
Son of Conrad Martin Jr.