He was the first to invest in land development in Long Island and, through his efforts, was partly responsible for transforming the southern coastline, then known as the Great South Bay, as a popular summer resort for many prominent New York and Brooklyn families throughout the mid-to late 19th century.
His appointment as street commissioner of New York City by Governor John King in 1857, which was instead turned over to Charles Devlin by Mayor Fernando Wood, resulted in the Police Riot of 1857.
He was a member of the Common Council and, through his influence, he successfully introduced the resolution to purchase the fire department's first steam engine.
Conover immediately obtained two arrest warrants for Mayor Wood, one charging him with inciting a riot and another for assault, and returned to New York City Hall with 50 Metropolitan officers.
The east end of Awixa Creek was cut off, dredged from its mouth northward toward South Country Road, and a freshwater lake was built.
[6] Conover's experience in public transportation aided him in improving roads and highways in Long Island which were described as "of full width, flat surfaces, and composed of clam shells and in equal parts" that would "stand all seasons".
[1] His historic Saxton Avenue residence was bought from the Conover family by Franklyn and Edna Hutton in 1912, and then by Philip B. Weld in 1921 and finally H. Cecil Sharp in 1929.