This week we will take another look at one of Pekin’s successful and prominent businessmen from about 150 years ago: a Civil War veteran named Ketcham Stanley Conklin (1840-1918), known in town as “Cap” Conklin in honor of his service in the Union Army and Illinois State Militia during the war. Conklin was a native of Long Island, New York, and arrived in Pekin in the fall of 1855. Apart from his service to his country, Conklin is especially remembered as the co-founder and president of the Conklin-Reuling Lumber Co., which produced and sold lumber and many other kinds of building supplies for many decades. His lumber company opened in 1895 as Conklin, Hippen, Reuling & Co., and was located at the intersection of Ann Eliza and Second streets.
A biographical sketch of Conklin’s life was published in the 1905 “History of Tazewell County,” pages 987-988, which reads as follows:
“Ketcham S. Conklin, lumber dealer, Pekin, was born in Greenport, Long Island, the son of Alkana and Charity (Snedigen) Conklin. He was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn, N. Y., and at the age of thirteen secured employment as a clerk. Soon afterward he obtained work on a Vermont farm. In 1855 he removed to Illinois, and in the fall of that year settled in Pekin, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. On April 19, 1861, he enlisted with Company H, Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for the three months’ service; was discharged at Cairo, on May 25, 1861, and re-enlisted on the same day for a term of three years. He joined his old regiment, although he was later assigned to the Third Brigade of Logan’s Division, 17th Corps, Army of the Tennessee. On April 14, 1863, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant and was mustered in as such, on July 1. He was Captain of Company C, Illinois State Militia, for three years, holding that command with Company G, of the same regiment. Later he was promoted to the rank of Major, serving in this capacity for some time. He was discharged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 28, 1864, his term of service having expired.
“Upon his return to Pekin at the close of the war, Mr. Conklin opened a sash-and-door and planing mill, but a serious fire terminated this venture. A year later he became a partner in the firm of Wise & Co., proprietors of a planing mill, in which connection he continued for three years. In 1887, they opened a lumber yard. In 1895, Conklin, Hippen, Rueling & Co (sic). formed a corporation, with a paid-up capital stock of $150,000, and Mr. Conklin has been president of the company since its incorporation.
“On April 14, 1864, our subject was married to Martha, daughter of Rawley S. and Martha (Stilt) Doolittle, of Peoria, Illinois, and of this union six children were born, five of whom are living: Henry Roscoe, lumber dealer in Chicago; Charles Irwin, a resident of New York City; Eugene Lester, Secretary of Conklin Rueling (sic) Lumber Co, Pekin; Edgar Stanley, with the New York Insurance Exchange; Mary Elmira, living at home. Samuel Alvin is deceased.
“In his political views, Mr. Conklin is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, 32d degree, and a Shriner. He is also a member of the G. A. R., Joe Hanna Post, No. 117, Pekin.”
Conklin died of pneumonia on 22 Jan. 1918 at the age of 77. His obituary that incorporated the text of the above 1905 sketch was published on page 8 of the 23 Jan 1918 Pekin Daily Times. Following is a transcription of that obituary, omitting the portions that were derived from the 1905 sketch:
MAJOR K. S. CONKLIN DIES OF PNEUMONIAPROMINENT OLD CITIZEN OF PEKIN PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT.
IN ILL HEALTH FOR A YEAR
Deceased Served Five Years in the Union Army and Rose to the Rank of Major.Major Ketcham S. Conklin, Grand Army veteran, retired lumber merchant, and one of the most prominent old citizens of Pekin, died at 9 o’clock last night at his home, 320 Buena Vista avenue. Pneumonia was the cause of his death.
Mr. Conklin had been ill for over a year, and a few days ago when he was seized with an attack of pneumonia, it was feared that he would not survive. Last fall, in company with his wife, he attended the soldier’s reunion at Chattanooga, Tenn., and was taken ill on the way home, and for several weeks remained at the home of his daughter in Chicago. Later he recovered sufficiently to return to Pekin, but he had failed gradually since that time.
Mr. Conklin is the second member of Joe Hanna Post, G. A. R., to die within a week, the other being Col. J. G. Loomis. . . . .
. . . In 1895 the firm of Conklin-Hippen-Reuling & Company was incorporated, with a paid-up capital stock of $150,000, and Mr. Conklin was elected president of the corporation. He served in this capacity until a few years ago, when he retired on account of his advancing years, and the business has since been conducted by his son, Capt. E. L. Conklin. . . . .
“The decedent was a Republican in politics. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, and a Shriner, and also a member of the Tazewell Club.
“Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been made.”
Conklin was buried in Lakeside Cemetery. The 1998-2004 “Pekin: A Pictorial History,” page 160, also includes these interesting memories of “Cap” Ketcham:
“Many Pekinites remember the stately and distinguished Cap Conklin: his jet black car which he drove well into his 80s and how impeccably dressed he always was, with his high starched collar and top hat.”
Since Cap Conklin died at the age of 77, he could not have driven a car “well into his 80s.” Could that have been his son and successor E. L. Conklin?
