San
Joaquin County
Biographies
CHESTER W. CONKLIN
A member of the firm of DeYoung
& Conklin, Undertakers, Chester W. Conklin is a
capable representative of the younger businessmen who are at present guiding
the progress of commercial life in Stockton.
Mr. Conklin is a native son, born at Stockton, November 5, 1889, the son
of Fred L. and Nettie (Eldred) Conklin, both natives of Michigan. The father came to California in 1876, and
for a time had a market garden near Sacramento, then farmed at Santa
Barbara. In 1883 he located at Stockton
and entered the employ of the Sperry Flour Mills and was one of their valued employees
until he retired on January 1, 1922, holding the position of head miller for
many years. Mrs. F. L. Conklin passed
away in September, 1917. Fred L. Conklin
is the owner of a fine sixty-acre ranch near Acampo, which he developed from
raw land into a prune orchard and a vineyard of Tokay grapes. It is now in full bearing and very
productive. He is prominent in the ranks
of the Odd Fellows, being a member of Truth Lodge No. 84, and of the Canton and
Encampment.
Mr. and Mrs. Conklin were the parents
of two sons, James E. and Chester W., of this sketch, who attended the grammar
and high schools at Stockton and was for a time with the Sperry Flour Mills,
and also in the real estate business. He
took up the undertaking business, thoroughly learning all its details, with
Warren & Smith of Stockton, and on May 1, 1917, he formed a partnership
with C. C. DeYoung, under the firm name of DeYoung & Conklin,
Undertakers. These partners are boyhood
friends and schoolmates, growing up together, and so the closest spirit of
co-operation and harmony is manifested in all their business relations. They bought out the pioneer firm of Ford
& Brignoli, and have built up a fine business
with all modern equipment.
On October 31, 1911, Mr. Conklin was
married to Miss Elizabeth Owen, born in San Joaquin County, and a daughter has
been born to them, Janie E. Mr. Conklin
is a member of Elks Lodge, No. 218, Truth Lodge No. 84, I. O. O. F., and the
Improved Order of Red Men. He is a past
president of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., and served as district deputy
grand president of this order. Mrs.
Conklin joins him in his fraternal affiliations, being a member of the Rebekahs
and the Native Daughters.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1428. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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