William Royal Conklin 1886-1949

CONKLIN, PRATT, HENAMAN, WEE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/6/2013 at 14:52:11

Well Known Restaurant Man Dies
William Conklin Succumbs at 63
William R. Conklin, 63, long time Estherville café operator and railroad man, died on kidney ailment, 10:15 p.m. yesterday in Holy Family hospital. He had been suffering from the malady for about three years and had been confined to his home since last June.

Conklin was born in Norway, Ia., Oct. 21, 1886, and came to Estherville when a child of four. He received his education in the Estherville schools.

May 12, 1926, he was married to Louvetta Henaman in Minneapolis. The couple lived in Estherville from that time until his death except for three years spent in Oklahoma. Conklin at various times operated the Laurel, Hawkeye, Eastside and Pantry cafes in Estherville, as well as being at on [one] time an engineer on the Rock Island railroad.

He belonged to the Presbyterian church and Knights of Phythias lodge.

Survivors in addition to this widow, are his mother, Mrs. M. Conklin; Mrs. Oden Wee, a daughter by a former marriage, and three grandchildren, Lynn, David and Barbara Wee.

Funeral arrangements have not been made. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 7, 1949)

William Royal Conklin
William Royal Conklin was born Oct. 21, 1886, at Norway, Iowa, son of Herbert and Madeline Conklin. At four years of age, he was brought by his parents to Estherville where he grew up, receiving his education in Estherville public schools.

As a young man, he entered railroad work, finally being promoted to engineer on the Rock Island road. In all he completed 20 years service on the Rock Island and other lines before retiring from railroad work.

About 20 years ago, the deceased left railroading to enter restaurant business, and during most of the intervening years has been engaged in operating cafes in Estherville. He operated the Pantry about 14 years.

He was married May 27, 1908, to Myrtle Pratt in Algona, and May 12, 1926, to his second wife, Louvetta Henaman in Minneapolis. Since, except for a brief period spent in Oklahoma and California, the Conklins made their home in Estherville and jointed operated the Pantry and Conklin cafes.

Conklin as a youth was a member of the Baptist church but later united with the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Estherville lodge No. 14, and a former member of the brotherhood of firemen and locomotive engineers.

He died Feb. 6, at Hoy Family hospital after having been ill about three years.

Survivors include his wife, his mother, Mrs. Madeline Conklin; a daughter by his first marriage, Mrs. Oden Wee, and three grandchildren, Lynn, David and Barbara Wee. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 11, 1949)