Shortly after arriving, James Conklin, then 18, was hired to carry mail between Madison and Prairie du Sac and Monroe, Wisconsin. He then worked as a teamster for a year. By 1854, he had saved enough money to start a small merchandise business, buying wheat and selling coal. After 10 years of growing his business, he was taken on as a business partner by Neely Gray. After Gray's death in 1867, his sons continued in partnership with Conklin. The business grew steadily and expanded to acquire larger yards and warehouses.[3]
Political careeredit
Conklin was active with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from an early age. He entered his first public office in 1866, when he was elected to the Madison Common Council. He ultimately served six years on the council. He was also elected city treasurer in 1868 and served on the Madison Board of Education from 1871 to 1873.[3]
He was elected to four terms as mayor of Madison, in 1881, 1882, 1883, and 1887. During his first three terms, a massive waterworks project was completed in the city, and after he left office in April 1884, he was appointed president of the new waterworks. He was in that role when he became the Democratic Party nominee for Wisconsin Senate in the 26th Senate district. At the time, the 26th Senate district comprised all of Dane County. With strong support from Madison, Conklin narrowly defeated former three-term state senator George B. Burrows.[4][5] He was elected to his fourth term as mayor while still serving as state senator but did not run for another term as senator in 1888. His obituary in Madison's Wisconsin State Journal opined that he could have served forever as mayor if he desired it.[3]
After leaving office, Conklin also became a director of the Bank of Wisconsin, and was appointed postmaster in Madison during Grover Cleveland's second term (1893–1897).[3]
Personal life and familyedit
James Conklin was a son of John Conklin and his second wife Catherine (née O'Donnell). Both parents were Irish American immigrants.[3]
On January 29, 1853, James Conklin married Mary Eagan. Mary had been born in Ireland and lived in Canada before coming to Wisconsin. The Conklins were Irish Catholic and members of Saint Raphael's Church in Madison. James and Mary had at least nine children, though two died in infancy and two other daughters—Catherine and Lucy—died in their 20s. James Conklin dropped dead at his coal yard in Madison on February 27, 1899. His death was attributed to heart disease. His wife, Mary, died in 1900. They were survived by three sons and two daughters.[3]
Conklin's sons and grandsons continued the family coal business for another 46 years after his death. His grandson James B. Conklin announced the sale of the business to A. J. Fiore in November 1945.[6]
^Florence Elizabeth Baker (1899) James Conklin in Wisconsin Necrology for Year Ending November 30, 1899, Proceedings of the Society etc., Volumes 46-48. Page 91.
^"James Conklin". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
james, conklin, politician, others, same, name, james, conklin, james, conklin, june, 1831, february, 1899, irish, american, coal, merchant, democratic, politician, wisconsin, pioneer, 19th, 23rd, mayor, madison, wisconsin, served, four, years, wisconsin, sena. For others of the same name see James Conklin James Conklin June 12 1831 February 27 1899 was an Irish American coal merchant Democratic politician and Wisconsin pioneer He was the 19th and 23rd mayor of Madison Wisconsin and served four years in the Wisconsin Senate representing Wisconsin s 26th Senate district from 1885 to 1889 1 He is the namesake of Conklin Street in Madison James ConklinMember of the Wisconsin Senate from the 26th districtIn office January 5 1885 January 7 1889Preceded byJohn AdamsSucceeded byWillett Main19th amp 23rd Mayor of Madison WisconsinIn office April 1887 April 1888Preceded byElisha W KeyesSucceeded byMoses Ransom DoyonIn office April 1881 April 1884Preceded byPhilip L Spooner Jr Succeeded byBreese J StevensPersonal detailsBorn 1831 06 12 June 12 1831Burlington Vermont U S DiedFebruary 27 1899 1899 02 27 aged 67 Madison Wisconsin U S Cause of deathHeart diseaseResting placeResurrection Cemetery MadisonPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseMary Eagan m 1853 1899 wbr ChildrenJohn Conklin b 1850 James Edward Conklin b 1854 died 1929 Mathew Henry Conklin b 1858 died 1932 Marguerite E Conklin b 1860 died 1942 Catherine S Conklin b 1863 died 1887 Mary Conklin b 1864 died 1864 Mary B Conklin b 1866 died 1927 John William Conklin b 1868 died 1933 Lucy A Conklin b 1870 died 1891 OccupationCoal merchant Contents 1 Early life and business career 2 Political career 3 Personal life and family 4 Electoral history 4 1 Wisconsin Senate 1884 5 ReferencesEarly life and business career editConklin was born on June 12 1831 in Burlington Vermont 2 During his childhood his father was janitor for Vermont State University In 1849 his father was hired as the janitor at the new University of Wisconsin and the entire family moved west to Madison Wisconsin 3 Shortly after arriving James Conklin then 18 was hired to carry mail between Madison and Prairie du Sac and Monroe Wisconsin He then worked as a teamster for a year By 1854 he had saved enough money to start a small merchandise business buying wheat and selling coal After 10 years of growing his business he was taken on as a business partner by Neely Gray After Gray s death in 1867 his sons continued in partnership with Conklin The business grew steadily and expanded to acquire larger yards and warehouses 3 Political career editConklin was active with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from an early age He entered his first public office in 1866 when he was elected to the Madison Common Council He ultimately served six years on the council He was also elected city treasurer in 1868 and served on the Madison Board of Education from 1871 to 1873 3 He was elected to four terms as mayor of Madison in 1881 1882 1883 and 1887 During his first three terms a massive waterworks project was completed in the city and after he left office in April 1884 he was appointed president of the new waterworks He was in that role when he became the Democratic Party nominee for Wisconsin Senate in the 26th Senate district At the time the 26th Senate district comprised all of Dane County With strong support from Madison Conklin narrowly defeated former three term state senator George B Burrows 4 5 He was elected to his fourth term as mayor while still serving as state senator but did not run for another term as senator in 1888 His obituary in Madison s Wisconsin State Journal opined that he could have served forever as mayor if he desired it 3 After leaving office Conklin also became a director of the Bank of Wisconsin and was appointed postmaster in Madison during Grover Cleveland s second term 1893 1897 3 Personal life and family editJames Conklin was a son of John Conklin and his second wife Catherine nee O Donnell Both parents were Irish American immigrants 3 On January 29 1853 James Conklin married Mary Eagan Mary had been born in Ireland and lived in Canada before coming to Wisconsin The Conklins were Irish Catholic and members of Saint Raphael s Church in Madison James and Mary had at least nine children though two died in infancy and two other daughters Catherine and Lucy died in their 20s James Conklin dropped dead at his coal yard in Madison on February 27 1899 His death was attributed to heart disease His wife Mary died in 1900 They were survived by three sons and two daughters 3 Conklin s sons and grandsons continued the family coal business for another 46 years after his death His grandson James B Conklin announced the sale of the business to A J Fiore in November 1945 6 Electoral history editWisconsin Senate 1884 edit Wisconsin Senate 26th District Election 1884 4 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 4 1884 Democratic James Conklin 6 543 49 46 Republican George B Burrows 6 107 46 16 Greenback U P Stair 579 4 38 Plurality 436 3 30 Total votes 13 229 100 0 Democratic holdReferences edit Florence Elizabeth Baker 1899 James Conklin in Wisconsin Necrology for Year Ending November 30 1899 Proceedings of the Society etc Volumes 46 48 Page 91 James Conklin Political Graveyard Retrieved 2011 11 20 a b c d e f g Jas Conklin Dead Wisconsin State Journal February 27 1899 p 4 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com a b Heg J E ed 1885 Biographical Sketches The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Report p 424 Retrieved February 16 2024 James Conklin Conklin Coal Firm Sold to Fiore Wisconsin State Journal November 3 1945 p 1 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Wisconsin Senate Preceded byJohn Adams Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 26th districtJanuary 5 1885 January 7 1889 Succeeded byWillett Main Political offices Preceded byPhilip L Spooner Jr Mayor of Madison WisconsinApril 1881 April 1884 Succeeded byBreese J Stevens Preceded byElisha W Keyes Mayor of Madison WisconsinApril 1887 April 1888 Succeeded byMoses Ransom Doyon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Conklin politician amp oldid 1209053271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
