---

From: Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York Including a History of Corness University
By: John H. Selkreg
Published By: d: Mason & Co. Publishers Syracuse, NY 1897

John H. Conklin, one of the county's representative farmers, was born here, January 4, 1834, a son of Gilbert Conklin, also a native of Lansing, born in 1798, whose father, John, was born in Orange county, and served in the Revolution. Them latter was with Sullivan's army when it marched through Tompkins county, and being favorably impressed with the locality, he moved here with his family after his discharge, settling on what is now Lake Ridge, about 1788. The family is of Scotch and English ancestry. Mr. Conklin received his education in the common schools working summers, and attending school winters until the age of eighteen. In 1854 he married Elizabeth Osborn, daughter of Abram Osborn, of Lansing, and they had two children: Emma A., wife of John Miller, of Lansing; and Etta M. His wife died in 1868, and he married second in 1874, Ann, daughter of Henry and Marilda (Ludlow) Rhodes, of Lansing, and they have hadone son, born May 19, 1876. George Rhodes, the grandfather of Mrs. Conklin, was born in Pennsylvania, and came to this county about 1788, settling on the land which now comprises Mr. Conklin's farm of 240 acres, some of the original buildings yet standing. Mr. Conklin has served as supervisor, justice of the peace etc., and is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He is a Democrat in politics.