Conklin, James F.

CONKLIN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 16:08:47

James F. Conklin

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.658)
JAMES F. CONKLIN, a successful farmer of Wright Township, came to his present location in 1877. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Belmont County, November 1, 1843. His father, J. D. CONKLIN, was born in Morris County, New Jersey, a son of Benjamin CONKLIN, who was of Scotch-Irish extraction. J. D. CONKLIN was married in Belmont County, Ohio, to Elizabeth HILL, a native of that state. The Hills are of German descent, but many generations of the family have been residents of Pennsylvania and Ohio. When the subject of this sketch was four years old, the parents moved to Warren County, Illinois, where they lived until 1877. In that year, they came to Iowa and located in Wright Township, Pottawattamie County, where the father died July 21, 1888. He was a mechanic, brick-layer and plasterer, having learned his trade in New York City. In later life, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a Republican and a Methodist. While in Illinois he was licensed to exhort in the Methodist Church, and was a zealous worker in the cause of his Master. He and his wife reared a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Mrs. CONKLIN is still living, and makes her home with her children.

James F. was brought up on the farm, educated in the public schools and early in life was taught lessons of honesty and frugality. Having arrived at manhood, he was married at Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, to Nelly GRAHAM, daughter of Christie and Elizabeth GRAHAM, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Wisconsin. Mrs. CONKLIN was born in Wisconsin, and at the age of thirteen years came with her parents to Iowa, locating in Pottawattamie County where they still reside. Mr. And Mrs. CONKLIN have six children: Fanny, Laura, Roscoe, William, Elnora and Minnie. They lost two infant sons. In politics, Mr. CONKLIN is a Republican. He and his wife are consistent members of the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has served as class leader. They are also Sabbath-school members. Mr. CONKLIN owns 145 acres of well-improved land and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is a man of broad and progressive views and is regarded as an upright and honorable citizen.