Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1914-05-22
GENERAL CoNKLIN DEAD.

GENERAL C0NKLIN DEAD.
Died at Battle Mountain Sanitarium in This
City Tuesday.
tuesday was the S5th birthday of one
of South Dakota's grand old men, syl-
vester Jones Conklin. In 1879 he came
to South Dakota. and since has occu.
pied prominent place in the affairs of
South Dakota. At present he is at
the Battle Mountain Ssnitsrium, at
Hot Springs, this state, and in q letter
to the Daily News he says:
"Some people and some newspapers
about the state have me located at the
State Soldiers Home. where I should
have been had 1t been simply home
that wanted.
'It was treatment for rheumatism
that wanted, and 90 l am here at the
Battle Mountain Sanitarium, the best
place for treatment of the old soldier
In the whole country.
l am improving and expect to be
home about my business in about GO
days."
Few men have had career 80 advsn.
turous or 30 varied az General Conk.
lin. At twelve years Of age he was
apprenticed to shoemaker and tanner
and at 16 had mastered both trades,
and at 18 went into business for him
self. In 1856 he joined the newly
formed republican party and took the
stump for John O. Fremont, and year
later left his home state and located
at Waterloo, Wisconsin, where he
studied law and was admitted to the
bar, and in 1859 was elected to the
state legislature. In 1861, at the out
break Of the rebellion, he enlisted, and
served in many capacities, all with
credit, In the war, after which he again
served In the Wisconsin Legislature
and in the internal revenue service,
meanwhile taking up newspaper work.
In 1879 he came to South Dakota, 10.
eating at Watertown. and since then,
until few years ago, was active in
journalism, politics and military life in
the state. His many friends over the
state are united in wishing him many
returns Of his NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
News"
But there is sad story in connection
with the celebration of General Oonk.
Inns birthday, May 5th. He was taking
his customary treatment in the bath
department at the National Sanitarium
when he fell into q sprsy of scaldine
water, resulting in severely blistering q
considerable portion Of his body. II
was great shock to his system, and
finally resulted in pneumonia-hts lungs
already having been previously affect
ed. At bis advanced age he could moi
overcome the trouble and he quietly
passed away on Wednesday morning al
II O'Clock.
The General had also suffered one Of
two strokes of paralysis during the pas
year or two and hie life was dsspairet
Of for some time. Yet 1t was con
etant surprise and grstiacation to hi,
friends all over the state that his won
derful vitality, coupled with an indom
initable will.power, aided In sustaining
and keeping him active until almos
the final struggle. His mind was q
keen and bright as it always was.
The local lodge Of Mssons tool
charge Of the remains at the Joyc,
Undertaking establishment Thursda,
morning and escorted them, accom-
panied BY number Of g. A. r. vet
Grams, to the union station, where the,
we're placed on board the North western
train and taken to his old home q
Clark, South Dakota, accompanied b,
bis wife. Mrs. Conklin came from
CLARK about q week previous to tn,
Generals death, so that she, was will
him greater portion of the time dur
ing his last days.
The passing Of this grand old man il
more than an ordinary event in the his
tory Of South Dakota, for he was anon,
the fret boomers of the old territor,
and was an active, optimistic, helpfu
upbuilder during all his days down {,
the last. He was also steadfastly An,
ardently republican and never va
there campaign that he did not TAX
some part in, in the earlier days plsyin,
. vigorous and most important per
with his always vigorous and fluent pel
and tongue. He was the Arst presiden
of the South Dakota Press Associatio,
and was known among the newspape
"boys" most intimately and in slmos
loving terms as "Old Conk", and wit
him the members Of the fraternit
whom he knew best were always "boys'
About the first newspaper work don
by J. A. Stanley, Of this city, was in th
employ Of General Conklin at Watey
town In 1881, and the admiration ths
Mr.. Stanley then obtained for th
Generel's ability and other virtues 30
] never lsssened.