Conkling was one of four delegates, including Abraham Lincoln, from Sangamon County, Illinois, at the 1856 Bloomington Convention. This was the first official organization of the Republican Party in the state. He was named to its State Central Committee, responsible for overseeing the campaign in the state that year. He was a presidential elector for the Republicans in 1860 and 1864, casting votes for Lincoln. He delivered the dedication address at the opening of the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. During the Civil War, Governor Richard Yates appointed Conkling a State Agent, responsible for settling claims of the state against the U.S. government for equipping volunteers.[1] In 1863, he read what would become known as the "Conkling Letter", an address written by Lincoln, at a mass gathering in Springfield.
Conkling was elected to the Illinois House for another two-year term in 1866. He authored the bill that would authorize the construction of a new Illinois State Capitol building. Soon after the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Conkling was named one of the first fourteen members of the Lincoln Monument Association, where he served for over thirty years. He was elected a trustee of the University of Illinois for the years 1879 to 1880. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison named Conkling the Postmaster of Springfield. He served the office for four years.[1]
Conkling married Mercie A. Levering on September 21, 1841. They had five children: Clinton Levering, James, Charles, Annie V., and Alice. Eldest son Clinton would be a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1920–21. Conkling attended the Second Presbyterian Church of Springfield and was a longtime elder there. He died on March 1, 1899, in Springfield, and was buried in Oak Ridge.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdBateman, Newton; Selby, Paul, eds. (1913). Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois. Vol. I. Chicago, IL: Munsell Publishing Company. p. 116.
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December 15, 2023
james, conkling, james, cook, conkling, october, 1816, march, 1899, american, politician, attorney, from, york, city, graduate, princeton, college, conkling, admitted, then, moved, springfield, illinois, there, became, prominent, whig, serving, first, mayor, l. James Cook Conkling October 13 1816 March 1 1899 was an American politician and attorney from New York City A graduate of Princeton College Conkling was admitted to the bar then moved to Springfield Illinois There he became a prominent Whig serving first as mayor and later in the Illinois House of Representatives In 1856 he became one of the first Republicans in the state attending the Bloomington Convention with Abraham Lincoln Twice a presidential elector Conkling was a State Agent during the Civil War and returned to the Illinois House in 1866 Later in his life he was a postmaster and a trustee of the University of Illinois James Cook ConklingMember of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 20th districtIn office 1866 1866 1868 1868 Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 26th districtIn office 1850 1850 1852 1852 Preceded byNinian Wirt EdwardsPersonal detailsBornOctober 13 1816New York City New York U S DiedMarch 1 1899 1899 03 01 aged 82 Political partyWhigRepublicanProfessionAttorneyReprint of Lincoln s 1863 letter to ConklingBiography editJames Cook Conkling was born in New York City New York on October 13 1816 He attended Princeton College and graduated in 1835 He then studied law and was admitted to the bar of New Jersey He moved to Springfield Illinois in 1838 where he formed a law partnership with Cyrus Walker He later partnered with future United States Senator James Shields In 1844 Conkling was elected Mayor of Springfield as a Whig He was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives during the 1850 52 term to replace Ninian Wirt Edwards 1 Conkling was one of four delegates including Abraham Lincoln from Sangamon County Illinois at the 1856 Bloomington Convention This was the first official organization of the Republican Party in the state He was named to its State Central Committee responsible for overseeing the campaign in the state that year He was a presidential elector for the Republicans in 1860 and 1864 casting votes for Lincoln He delivered the dedication address at the opening of the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield During the Civil War Governor Richard Yates appointed Conkling a State Agent responsible for settling claims of the state against the U S government for equipping volunteers 1 In 1863 he read what would become known as the Conkling Letter an address written by Lincoln at a mass gathering in Springfield Conkling was elected to the Illinois House for another two year term in 1866 He authored the bill that would authorize the construction of a new Illinois State Capitol building Soon after the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Conkling was named one of the first fourteen members of the Lincoln Monument Association where he served for over thirty years He was elected a trustee of the University of Illinois for the years 1879 to 1880 In 1890 President Benjamin Harrison named Conkling the Postmaster of Springfield He served the office for four years 1 Conkling married Mercie A Levering on September 21 1841 They had five children Clinton Levering James Charles Annie V and Alice Eldest son Clinton would be a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1920 21 Conkling attended the Second Presbyterian Church of Springfield and was a longtime elder there He died on March 1 1899 in Springfield and was buried in Oak Ridge 1 References edit a b c d Bateman Newton Selby Paul eds 1913 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois Vol I Chicago IL Munsell Publishing Company p 116 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James C Conkling amp oldid 1118015844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
