Biographical Sketch of J. B. Conklin, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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J. B. Conklin was born in Morgan County, Ohio, November 4, 1840.  His
father, B. W. Conklin, was a Major in the Revolutionary War, under the
afterwards notorious Aaron Burr.  He participated in the famous Sandy
Hook engagement in 1812.  After the war, he located in Ohio, and for
a number of years was identified with politics in the Buckeye State,
and was a member of the legislature.  He was the instigator of the
Muskingum River improvement.  The Conklin family are of English, 
Scotch, French and German extraction.  J. B. spent his boyhood days 
in his native state and Virginia, securing the benefits of the common
schools.  He clerked in a general merchandise store two years, and
afterwards was employed on the river for a number of seasons.  He
eventually located at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where for four years
he clerked in the merchandise establishment of Solomon Benjamin.  
During this time he acted as fog pilot when required, his familiar-
ity with the river, which he obtained during his clerkship, giving
him this insight.  In 1861, the distant West attracted his attention,
and for five years he devoted his time to mining in California and
Arizona.  On returning, in 1867, he stopped at St. Joseph, engaging
as bookkeeper for Bell & Lowell, lumber dealers.  Subsequently he 
took charge of the yard, remaining in their employ until 1876, when
he opened a yard in connectioin with Mr. Wiltz, of Chicago, which
partnership continued until December, 1880.  Mr. D.M. McDonald then
became a partner.  Mr. Conklin is well known in Buchanan County, his
career during his sojourn in this city being that of an active busi-
ness man.  Miss Lucy A. Patterson, a native of Fairmount, Virginia,
became his wife in 1867.  They have had four children, two of whom
are living:  Emma Blanche and Estelle.

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