Sondra Hernandez Staff writer February 3, 2025

In honor of the birth month of Conroe’s namesake Isaac Conroe, a Founder’s Day event is being planned in the city. 

Isaac Conroe Founder’s Day will take place Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. at his original homestead, 202 Avenue A, which is now the City of Conroe Connection Transportation Services headquarters. 

The event will include elected officials, period-costumed docents from the 1800s and a cannon firing, and descendants of Isaac Conroe will be in attendance. Conroe’s Citizen of the Year will be named at the event. 

Here’s what to know:

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Who was Isaac Conroe? 

Conroe was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1835. While his birth date is unknown, it is certain he was born in the month of February. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was in the postal service in Chicago and there he enlisted and became part of the 12th Illinois Cavalry. He served with distinction and was promoted to the rank of captain.

At the close of his service, he mustered out in Houston.

Conroe joined in the wood and freighting business between Lynchburg and Houston.

One of his first forays into lumber and sawmills came when he worked at Judge William Henry Munger’s lumber yard in Houston. With Munger as a mentor, Conroe went on to establish a sawmill site that would become the town of Conroe. 

How did the town get its name? 

In the early 1870s, Conroe operated mills in the communities of Egypt on the I&GN Railroad and another at Haltom, both in Montgomery County.

Conroe would ride the railroad up from Houston where his family lived, and his stop at his mill became known as Conroe’s Switch. The name later was shortened to Conroe, and railroad official H. M. Hoxey suggested the first citizens of the town name it after Conroe.

He established a home at Avenue A and First Street and today a historical marker denotes the property’s place in history.

When the county seat was moved to Conroe in the late 1800s, his home held the county’s records until a courthouse was completed in Conroe in 1891. Conroe was also the town’s first postmaster.

Conroe continued his work in the mills and duty to the community until his death at age 62 on Aug. 2, 1897, after experiencing a heart attack.

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About Founder’s Day 

Conroe businesswoman Lyn Howard was the driving force behind the first Founder’s Day, which was celebrated Aug. 2, 2018. After three hot August events the celebration was moved to February, the month Isaac Conroe was born. Howard and a committee of Conroe supporters now host the event. 

Conroe singer-songwriter Peyton Riley will sing the national anthem after the presentation of the flags. The Citizen of the Year Award will be presented to one of three finalists. All have made great contributions to the city, according to the ceremony organizers. 

Previous winners have included Larry Foerster, chairman of the Montgomery County Historical Commission in 2022. Longtime Conroe volunteer Nancy Wagoner was recognized for her contributions to the city as well. The 2023 honor went to Susie Moore Pokorski, a champion of the fine arts in Conroe and the president/CEO of the Young Texas Artists music competition held each March in Conroe. 

Refreshments and tours of the home will follow the ceremony. 

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