Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 26

William A. Conklin, proprietor and founder of the William A. Conklin Piano Company, was born in Milwaukee, November 18, 1862, and is a son of John Wesley and Mary (Ennis) Conklin, both of whom have passed away. The father was born in New York city, while the mother was a native of England. They were married in the eastern metropolis and became residents of Milwaukee prior to the Civil war. The father, who was a brick mason and contractor, devoting his life to that business, died in 1873, while the mother long survived him, her death occurring in 1915, when she was eighty-four years of age.

William A. Conklin has spent his life in Milwaukee and was educated in the old Roche School, a private institution conducted by two sisters of the name of Roche. Later he attended the public schools of the first ward and also a private college on Grove street. Entering the business field, he concentrated his efforts and attention upon the retail furniture trade and upholstering, continuing actively in that line from 1885 until 1891. Since that time he has been connected with the piano trade, conducting business first on Kinnikinic avenue for several years, while for eight years he owned and conducted a piano business in the Boston Store. For the past twelve years he has been engaged in business on the south side and for the last seven years his establishment has been on Eleventh avenue. His business career has never recorded failure in any way. His energy and determination have enabled him to carry his interests steadily forward and he is today at the head of a large piano establishment, enjoying a gratifying patronage as the result of his diligence and able management.

On the 5th of August, 1895, Mr. Conklin was united in marriage to Miss May E. Momblow, who was born in Fond du Lac but was reared in Milwaukee. She passed away June 13, 1917, leaving a daughter, Wildredth M., who is fifteen years of age and is now a high school student. Mrs. Conklin was during her lifetime a great help to her husband, aiding him in his business and frequently staying in the store, so that by reason of her assistance in business and her companionship her death was a great blow to him. Mr. Conklin is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church and is highly esteemed in Milwaukee and wherever known.