Frederick A. Conkling

Frederick Augustus Conkling (August 22, 1816 – September 18, 1891) was a United States Representative from New York during the American Civil War. He was also a postbellum banker, insurance company executive, and writer.[1]

Frederick A. Conkling
Conkling between 1855 and 1865
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 6th district
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	John Cochrane
Succeeded by	Elijah Ward
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 7th District
In office January 1, 1859 – December 31, 1860
Preceded by	David J. Chatfield
Succeeded by	Daniel Young
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 13th District
In office January 1, 1854 – December 31, 1854
Preceded by	William Taylor
Succeeded by	Richard M. Blatchford
Personal details
Born	Frederick Augustus Conkling (1816-08-22)August 22, 1816 Canajoharie, New York, U.S.
Died	September 18, 1891(1891-09-18) (aged 75) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican, Liberal Republican, Democrat
Spouse(s)	Eleanora Lorillard Ronalds ​ ( died 1879)
Parents	Alfred Conkling Eliza Cockburn
Relatives	Roscoe Conkling (brother)
Education	The Albany Academy
Profession	Politician, banker, executive, and writer

Early life

Frederick Conkling was born in Canajoharie, Montgomery County, New York. He was one of five children born to U.S. Congressman Alfred Conkling (1789–1874) and Eliza Cockburn.[2] He was the elder brother of U.S. Representative and Senator Roscoe Conkling (1829–1888).[3][4][5][6]

He pursued classical studies and attended The Albany Academy.[1]

Career

He engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York City and became a member of the dry goods house of Conkling & Churchill.[7] He was elected as a Republican to the New York State Assembly, serving in 1854, 1859, and 1860.[1]

Conkling was elected as a Republican over Democrat John Winthrop Chanler, in the same election cycle that elevated Abraham Lincoln as a Republican to the presidency, to the Thirty-seventh Congress, holding office from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1863. While in office, he was Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.[7] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1862 to the 38th United States Congress.[1]

U.S. Civil War

In June 1861 upon the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War, Conkling organized the 84th Regiment of New York Volunteers, becoming its Colonel, and went to the front at the first call for 100-day men.[8] He initially served throughout the Shenandoah Valley Campaign and in 1863, his regiment was on duty as provost guard at Baltimore, Maryland.[7][9]

Later career

After his defeat in Congress, he was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for mayor of New York City in 1868.[1] Following this loss, he changed parties, becoming first a Liberal Republican and then a Democrat, speaking highly of Horace Greeley and Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock.[7] He refused the Democratic nomination for Congress in his old district in 1874.[7]

He was one of the organizers of the West Side Savings Bank of New York City and served as its president for many years; subsequently he became president of the Aetna Fire Insurance Co., of Hartford, Connecticut and served until its dissolution in 1880. He authored numerous pamphlets on political, commercial, and scientific subjects.[1]

Personal life

Conkling was married to Eleanora Lorillard Ronalds (1825–1879), the daughter of Maria Dorothea Lorillard (1790–1848) and Thomas Alexander Ronalds (1788–1835), a New York merchant. Eleanora was the granddaughter of Pierre Lorillard II, the head of the Lorillard Tobacco Company, and a cousin of Catharine Lorillard Wolfe.[10] Frederick and Eleanora were the parents of three children:[7]

• Alfred Ronald Conkling (1850–1917),[11][12] a New York City Alderman and author[13] who married Ethel Eastman Johnson (b. 1870), daughter of prominent painter Eastman Johnson.[14][12]
• Howard Conkling (1855–1938), a noted lawyer.[15]
• Helena Conkling.[7]

Conkling died at his residence in New York City, 27 East 10th Street, on September 18, 1891 after a protracted illness extending over two years.[7] He was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.[1]

Descendants

Through his son Alfred, he was the grandfather of Gwendolyn Lorillard Conkling, Vivien Eastman H. Conkling, and Muriel Lorillard Ronalds Conkling (1898–1971), who married Baron Louis van Reigersberg Versluys (1883–1957) of Holland in 1922.[16] Within one month of her wedding, her mother had married William H. Holden, and her 79-year-old grandmother had married 77 year old General Stillman F. Kneeland.[16]

See also

• Seymour-Conkling family

References

1. "CONKLING, Frederick Augustus - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
2. "CONKLING, Alfred - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
3. "CONKLING, Roscoe - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
4. Dictionary of American Biography; The Yale Biographical Dictionary of American Law
5. Chidsey, Donald B. The Gentleman from New York: A Life of Roscoe Conkling. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1935
6. Jordan, David M. Roscoe Conkling: Voice in the Senate. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1971.
7. "FREDERIC AUGUSTUS CONKLING". The New York Times. 19 September 1891. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
8. Hubbell, John T. (1995). Biographical Dictionary of the Union: Northern Leaders of the Civil War. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 103–104. ISBN 9780313209208. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
9. Thompson, Jerry D. (2006). Civil War to the Bloody End: The Life and Times of Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman. Texas A&M University Press. p. 216. ISBN 9781585445356. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
10. Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Higginson Book Company. 1899. p. 811. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
11. "FALL FROM WINDOW KILLS A.R. CONKLING; Ex-Assemblyman Grieved by Daughters' Charges That He Held Back Income. POLICE CALL IT SUICIDE Geologist Was to Have Appeared Before Referee Tomorrow to Account for Handling of $750,000". The New York Times. 19 September 1917. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
12. "MADE WILL, DIED NEXT DAY. Alfred R. Conkling Left Residuary Estate to His Daughters". The New York Times. 26 September 1917. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
13. "Online Books by Alfred R. Conkling (Conkling, Alfred R. (Alfred Ronald), 1850-1917)". onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
14. "A.R. CONKLING SUES WIFE.; Wants Her Consent to Place Mortgages on Real Estate". The New York Times. January 13, 1917. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
15. "HOWARD CONKLING, RETIRED ATTORNEY; Member of Family Noted in New York Politics Dies at 82". The New York Times. 8 September 1938. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
16. "THREE GENERATIONS WED WITHIN MONTH; Miss Muriel Conkling Becomes the Bride of Dutch Hussar Captain in London. MOTHER QUIETLY MARRIED Now is Mrs. W.H. Holden--Grandmother, 79, United to GeneralKneeland Last Saturday". The New York Times. 1 August 1922. Retrieved 23 January 2018.

External links

• United States Congress. "Frederick A. Conkling (id: C000680)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

New York State Assembly
Preceded by William Taylor	New York State Assembly New York County, 13th District 1854	Succeeded by Richard M. Blatchford
Preceded by David J. Chatfield	New York State Assembly New York County, 7th District 1859–1860	Succeeded by Daniel Young
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by John Cochrane	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 6th congressional district 1861–1863	Succeeded by Elijah Ward