William E. Conklin Jr.
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 30 Apr 1834 - Connellsville, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania
Christening:
Death: 30 Aug 1862 - Richmond, Madison Co., Kentucky
Burial: in Old Greencastle Cemetery, Greencastle, Putnam Co., Indiana
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: William E. Conklin (1801-1860)
Mother: Rebecca Greathouse (1807-1893)
Notes
General:
BIOGRAPHY: From the "Midwest Genealogy Register," Vol. 1, #3, p. 23, 1966:
Bible Records by Harriette Hammer
We want to include a brief family history with our Bible records this time. We do thank Mrs. Hammer for taking the time to include the history and for copying the Bible records. EDITOR.
William E. Conklin, Jr. was born in Pennsylvania, April 30, 1834, and came to Greencastle in Putnam County, Indiana between 1851-1855. He had at least one sister, Harriet, who was still a minor in 1865.
William married Lucinda (Lucy) Baird, the daughter of John, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, 7 February 1856. Lucy was born in 1834.
For a few years William was proprietor of a store in Greencastle. When the Civil War was declared, he organized a group of volunteers and enlisted in the Co. H, 10th Regiment, Indiana volunteers, 20 April 1861, and held the rank of Captain.
He was mustered out 6 August 1861 and re-enlisted 5 August 1862, Captain Co. C., 71 Regiment, 6th Cavalry. 18 August 1862 he was promoted to Major. Only 12 days later, during the battle at Richmond, Kentucky, he was killed. The body of the Major was returned to Greencastle for burial in the township cemetery where his grave is marked by a bronze government marker.
The Conklins had two sons, Charles Rufus, born in 1856, and Will Edgar born in 1860, before the major went off to war. On the day of his death, his daughter, Dora Belle, was born, 30 August 1862. Three years later, 19 April 1865, Lucy died of blood poisoning following a household mishap. The three children were placed under the guardianship of William's uncle, Daniel Conklin, Jr. He was also appointed guardian of William Conklin Sr.'s daughter, Harriet. A short time later, the children's uncle by marriage (he had married Lucy's sister, Marth Baird) Dr. John T. Merrill, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, became their guardian.
Following Major Conklin's death, a few momentos were saved - among them a sewing kit, his epaulets and a Bible printed in 1860 which he carried with him into battle.
The Bible was given to the Ted Hammers recently by Ruth Moran Vernon, a granddaughter of Charles Rufus Conklin. In it they found a record of the births and deaths of this Conklin Family. Also inscribed on the front page were the following:
Presented to Captain Conklin by Bible Society, Greencastle.
The record of the family reads:
Wiliam CONKLIN and Lucy BAIRD married 7 February 1856
Charles Rufus CONKLIN born 24 November 1856
William Edgar CONKLIN born 26 March 1860
Dora Belle CONKLIN born 30 August 1862
Charles Rufus and Flo BROWNLEE married 11 May 1877
Clyde R. CONKLIN born 5 April 1878
Jessie L. CONKLIN born 25 December 1879
Harry Brownlee CONKLIN born 18 December 1881
William Edgar CONKLIN born 29 March 1886
John Merrill CONKLIN born 2 September 1888
Julia M. CONKLIN born 25 December 1890
Ruth MORAN born 12 May 1907 (daughter of Jessie L. CONKLIN MORAN)
Charles Rufus CONKLIN died 7 August 1914
John Merrill CONKLIN died 25 July 1920
Clyde CONKLIN died 22 June 1921
Florence Catherine CONKLIN died 14 October 1933
Harry CONKLIN died 10 December 1946
William Edgar CONKLIN died 10 October 1945
The handwriting apparently is that of Charles Rufus until his death, as the birth of the daughter of Major Conklin is recorded in the same hand. Dora Belle married Perry Mills Hammer and they were the parents of Theodore R. (Ted) Hammer. Dora Belle was the mother also of Horace Boies Hammer by her first marriage to Edwin Mount, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, attorney. Horace took the surname of Hammer without going through adoption or other court proceedings.
MILITARY: From the "Midwest Genealogy Register," Vol. 1, #3, p. 23, 1966,
"Bible Records by Harriette Hammer"
When the Civil War was declared, he organized a group of volunteers and enlisted in the Co. H, 10th Regiment, Indiana volunteers, 20 April 1861, and held the rank of Captain.
He was mustered out 6 August 1861 and re-enlisted 5 August 1862, Captain Co. C., 71 Regiment, 6th Cavalry. 18 August 1862 he was promoted to Major. Only 12 days later, during the battle at Richmond, Kentucky, he was killed. The body of the Major was returned to Greencastle for burial in the township cemetery where his grave is marked by a bronze government marker.