{{Short description|American politician (1816–1909)}} '''William Augustus Conant''' (November 9, 1816 – November 28, 1909) was an American merchant, politician, and railroad agent.

== Life == Conant was born on November 9, 1816 in Craftsbury, Vermont, the son of Newell Conant, a miller and farmer, and Sarah Pierce.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Conant |first=Frederick Odell |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_History_and_Genealogy_of_the_Conant_Fa/r4FQAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22William%20Augustus%22 |title=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 |publisher=Press of Harris and Williams |year=1887 |location=Portland, M.E. |pages=373, 481 |language=en |via=Google Books}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hutchins |first=S. C. |url=https://archive.org/details/eveningjournalal_1869slsn/page/155/mode/1up?view=theater |title=The Evening Journal Almanac, 1869 |publisher=Weed, Parsons & Company |year=1869 |location=Albany, N.Y. |pages=155 |language=en |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 December 1909 |title=W. A. Conant Dead |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=lir19091210-01.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- |work=The Long-Islander |location=Huntington, N.Y. |page=4 |via=NYS Historic Newspapers |volume=74 |issue=16}}</ref>

Conant sold his Huntington store and residence in 1872<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 October 1872 |title=HOME NEWS |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=lir18721018-01.1.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------- |work=The Long-Islander |location=Huntington, N.Y. |page=2 |via=NYS Historic Newspapers |volume=XVII |issue=12}}</ref> and moved to Black Hawk, Colorado. In 1874, he moved to Colorado Springs<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 May 1874 |title=PERSONAL |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=CSG18740530.2.49&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |location=Colorado Springs, C.O. |page=2 |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |volume=II |issue=22}}</ref> and worked as an agent for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 September 1875 |title=A., T. & S. F. R. R. |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=TCM18750906-01.2.38&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |work=The Colorado Mountaineer |location=Colorado Springs, C.O. |page=3 |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |volume=4 |issue=2}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneesby-Koch |first=Ann |date=12 March 2025 |title=The Folly and Fate of the Solid Muldoon {{!}} History Colorado |url=https://www.historycolorado.org/story/2025/03/12/folly-and-fate-solid-muldoon |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=History Colorado}}</ref>

In 1880, Conant became agent of the Atchison, Tokepa and Sansa Fe Railway in Santa Fe, New Mexico.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 January 1880 |title=Mr. W. A. Conant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/208127990/ |work=Weekly New Mexican |location=Santa Fe, N.M. |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |volume=18 |issue=2}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 June 1883 |title=Major W. A. Conant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/583248263/ |work=Santa Fe New Mexican |location=Santa Fe, N.M. |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com |volume=2 |issue=89}}</ref> In 1884, he ran for the Arizona Territorial Legislature with the Independent Party of Apache County.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 August 1884 |title=Apache County Independents |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/41072668/ |work=Arizona Champion |location=Flagstaff, A.Z. |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |volume=1 |issue=47}}</ref> By 1885, he was working for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in Colorado Springs.<ref name=":0" />

In 1837, Conant married Maria Louisa Weed. Their children were William L., Frederick Herbert, and Florence C.<ref name=":0" />

Conant died at home from pneumonia on November 28, 1909.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 November 1909 |title=W. A. CONANT DIES AT AGE 93 YEARS |url=https://archive.org/details/colorado-springs-gazette-1909-11-29/mode/1up?view=theater |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |location=Colorado Springs, C.O. |pages=1–2 |via=Internet Archive |volume=38 |issue=10482}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 December 1909 |title=CONANT FUNERAL HELD |url=https://archive.org/details/colorado-springs-gazette-1909-12-01/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |location=Colorado Springs, C.O. |page=5 |via=Internet Archive |volume=38 |issue=10484}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * ''[https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/comte-conditt.html#890.34.67 The Political Graveyard]'' {{s-start}}{{s-par|us-ny-hs}} {{succession box | title = New York State Assembly <br>Suffolk County | years = 1869 | before = James M. Halsey | after = Brinley D. Sleight }} {{s-end}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Conant, William A.}} Category:1816 births Category:1909 deaths Category:People from Craftsbury, Vermont Category:People from Huntington, New York Category:19th-century American merchants Category:19th-century members of the New York State Legislature Category:Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly Category:People from Gilpin County, Colorado Category:People from Santa Fe, New Mexico Category:People from Winslow, Arizona Category:Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway people Category:Burials at Evergreen Cemetery (Colorado Springs, Colorado) Category:Merchants from New York (state) Category:Politicians from Colorado Springs, Colorado Category:Businesspeople from Colorado Springs, Colorado