Conklin Westchester Branch

Joseph Cory Conkling, son of Joseph and Rebecca (Ross) Conkling was born on 21 December 1794 in Essex County, New Jersey. Family letters suggest that he was called Cory, perhaps to distinguish him from his father, Joseph. He is probably the Joseph C. Conkling listed on the Ohio Roster of the War of 1812. Joseph married on 24 April 1817, in Reily Township (Butler County), Ohio. His wife's first name was Mary and she was born on 2 March 1801 in New Jersey. A record kept by her son, Elijah shows her maiden name as March. It was more probably, Marsh as two of Joseph’s brothers married women named Marsh. Mary was born on 2 March 1801 and died on 29 January 1851 at the age of 49 years, 10 months, and 28 days. She is buried at Bethel Cemetery, Hanover Township, Butler County, Ohio. The home where Joseph and his family lived was still standing in 1999 in Reily Township, Butler County, Ohio. The current owners of the home say that several people have reported a ghost residing in the upstairs of this home. On the small two story brick home, Joseph has signed his name on the bricks along with the date 1832. He has also scribed his family’s names and birth dates on the home’s bricks. They were still visible in the late 1990’s.

In the 1870’s Joseph moved to Kansas with his sons Elijah and Moses. A family letter dated 13 September 1870 says that “Elijah's folks and Uncle Cory have gone to their new home.” They settled in Medina, Kansas which is near Topeka. Family records show that Joseph died there on 6 September 1872. Joseph seems to have maintained an active life as he had spent a week at church camp shortly before he died. He is probably the Joseph Conkling (1794-1872) who is buried at the Rochester Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas. A letter written by Joseph’s nephew, Pierson Cory Conkling to his brother Joseph speaks of “Uncle Cory's” will which Pierson had written several years earlier. Joseph’s will was written in 1868 and was probated in Oskaloosa (Jefferson County), Kansas. Joseph states that $1,000 is to be given to his grandson, Joseph Eddy Shoaf when he reaches the age of 21 and requests that the interest on this money be expended on the child’s education or given to Joseph at age 21. He states that the balance of his estate is to be divided among any of the following who are not deceased: his daughter, Hannah Minton, her husband, Peter Minton, his sons, Moses and Elijah and their wives Jane and Rebecca, and the children of his daughter Hannah and of his sons Moses and Elijah. Joseph’s estate was probated in January, 1883 in Jefferson County, Kansas. Records show that the estate was distributed among:

1. Peter Minton, widowed husband of Hannah and the children of Peter and Hannah Minton; Mary Kumler, Maria Clawson, Martha Rosecrans, William Minton, Harvey Minton, Ida Minton, and Rebecca Wyle.
2. Jane Conklin, wife of Moses and the children of Moses and Jane Conklin; Hannah M. Beebe, Mary J. Winters, Elizabeth Burdette, Alice Alley, and John W. Conklin. 3.Elijah Conklin, his wife, Rebecca and their children; Mary Ellen Burton, Sarah Thompson, Cory E. Conklin, Alma E. Conklin, Nellie L. Conklin.

Prior to the 1883 distribution, $1631. was distributed to J.E. Shoaff.

Joseph Cory Conkling built the farm house pictured in Reily Township Butler County Ohio. The original house had two large rooms, one upstairs and one downstairs. There was also a large fireplace along one wall. Joseph and his brothers were experienced brickmakers and bricklayers from Cincinnati.

The bricks on the side of this house (see second picture) are engraved withe the name and birth date of each family member. In their house in Reily Twp., they inscribed: Founded 1832.