52 Ancestors - Favorite Name

I have really enjoyed researching my Step-parents' lines. Especially when they lead to individuals who lived in the Northern part of the United States. It has broadened my research skills and given me an opportunity to use and view records I haven't had the chance to use or see in my own lines. Nearly all of my own family (that I can trace) migrated here, ending up in the Northern New England States, then migrated South into the Carolinas and Virginia then kept going South down into TN and KY and on Westward.

This week I'll be focusing again on my brother, Tyler's line. The prompt is favorite name. There is one line I am choosing to focus on because there are several unusual, to me, names in this line. Not the every day, William, Michael, John, James, Joseph that are common in my tree. I don't know why I've taken the word favorite and turned it into unusual other than maybe, I enjoy the new-ness of these names. And the first one... it just seems like an 'upper crust' Downton Abbey kind of name.

Meet our great grandfather, Chancey H Conklin. That cute little girl? That's me! And that chubby faced little baby, that's Tyler. He is being held by our great grandmother, Chancey's wife, Edith.

Honestly, I don't remember too much about either of these individuals. I vaguely remember a trailer house in Lincoln that they lived in and then later an apartment in Prairie Grove. I remember several day visits, never any spending the night, that I recall. Grandpa died when I was not quite nine and I think Grandma moved away after that. She died in 2008.

I love his name. Because I only knew him as Grandpa Conklin, I had to ask how he pronounced his first name. Was it Chancey, pronounced Chan-see or was it Chauncey, pronoucned Chawn-see? He spelled it Chancey and Dad and Grandma both said he pronounced it the first way. The name Chancey an English varient of the French name Chauncey and means Chancellor; secretary; fortune; a gamble


Chancey was born in 1911 in Boulder Township, Linn, Iowa to Verner Conklin and Alice Hannah Hill. His full given name according to the birth record is Chauncy Hill Conklin. Notice the spelling of the first name, this is what gave me confusion as to the pronunciation. This is the only place I have seen it spelled with the 'au' and its from an index, not the actual record, so we can take it with a grain of salt.  I really love it when the mother's maiden name is incorporated into her children's names. There were other children born to this union, but sadly, Chancey was the only one that survived infancy.

While researching Chancey, I came across a yearbook photo of him from 1932. He was attending Coe College and according to his daughter, my grandmother, he played football there. Also, according to a newspaper article I found he was a member of the fraternity, Alpha Kappa Pi.




In 1939, at the age of 28, he married Edith Lenora Sauser.

Now on to the next name, Verner. Isn't that an unusual name? Or is just me? Verner is Scandinavian or German and means covered warrior or friend protector. When doing a search using only his first name, I find it isn't that unusual a name, but it is to me so I'm gonna roll with it. I know he had a grandson that was given this name as his middle name. I love it when names are handed down from generation to generation.

Verner C Conklin was born 25 May 1875 in Linn County Iowa. His parents were Chancey R Conklin and Anna Marie Bayley. I have so many questions about Verner. But for now I will write what I know. On 30 November 1899 in Prairieburg Township he married Alice Hannah Hill ( I can't wait to write more about Alice's lineage). In the information given in the marriage record he lists his occupation as carpenter. This is a skill set that lasted generations with this family. They were always somehow connected to this profession. His father was also a carpenter and he had at least two uncles that were heavy in the lumber industry. One of which owned and managed a lumber yard in Kansas.

As far as I can tell, Verner was the only son born to Chancey and Ann Marie. He was the oldest, followed by three girls, Iva Viola, Annie, and Marian Elinor.

By 1910 Verner must have hung up the hammer and nails and opted for a shovel and plow because his occupation is listed as farmer and remains so throughout the remaining census records, both State and Federal. In 1915, still giving his occupation as a farmer, he listed his total earnings for the year 1914 as being $600.

As I stated before Verner and his wife Alice only had one child that lived past infancy and they both die in 1947. I can't find a specific date for either, only the year. I don't know what was the COD. In an effort to find more information I ended up finding two more free online sources/newspaper databases Here and Here. But I still couldn't find an exact death date or cause for either Verner or his wife, Alice. I've also never discovered what his middle initial 'C' stood for. Possibly Chancey, but that's just a guess.

I did find these few articles:

One stating that Verner was the District Secretary

July 1924

This one where Chancey is selling his parents' estate and announces his move to California:

Feb 1948

Now on to Verner's father, Chancey R Conklin. He was born in 1844 in Licking, OH to other GREAT names Silas and Sabra Parr Conklin. This family didn't stay in OH long after Chancey's birth, as his younger brother Henry was born in Iowa in 1847 and the family is enumerated in 1850 living in Clay Township, Jones, Iowa.

Chancey had seven siblings: Louisa, Henry, Sylvester, Horace, Allen James, Edward Thomas, and Wm Dell.

In 1850 & 1860 Chancey can be found in the home of his father. In 1870 he strikes out on his own and is found living in Delaware Township, Otoe County, Nebraska farming with his brother Sylvester. This venture in Nebraska did not last long for Chancey.

Other than the newness of names, another thing I'm discovering while researching this line is how old many of them are before they're married. In my line, everyone is practically still babies; marrying in their teens. Chancey, at the age of 29, married thirty-one year old, Ann Marie Bayley, 17 Sept 1873 in Linn, County, Iowa.

Ann Marie Bayley was the daughter of James P Bayley and Tryphena Catlin Bayley.  Have you ever in the history of ever seen or heard the name Tryphena? If you have it may have been from the Bible, specifically Romans 16:12. I have never heard of it anywhere else. The name means 'dainty', 'delicate' or 'luxurious'. Again, like Verner, after doing a search of her first name only, I discovered there to be several women named Tryphena. But still, like Chancey it has that 'upper-crust' feel, doesn't it? Or is it really just me?

As I said before, this is a line of builders. In 1880, Chauncey is listed as a Carpenter; his brother Henry, a Brick Mason; his brother Sylvester, in 1900, lists his occupation as Mason Worker; Horace a Plasterer; and Edward owned and managed several Lumber Yards. Here is one article from 1906, that I found interesting:

The Conklins weren't just laborers though. They were also very involved politically in their community. Chancey was the Justice of the Peace for several years and his brother Horace was the first Mayor of Prairieburg. In the below article (left side) you will also find mention of Chancey's  daughter-in-law, Alice.

Page 7 of Cedar Rapids Gazette; 20 July 1937

Page 5 of Cedar Rapids Gazette; 23 Jan 1894

In 1902 Chancy R Conklin dies from a lingering illness. His wife lived 15 years without him, passing away in 1917.

As mentioned earlier, Chancey's father was Silas Conklin. Silas is a Hebrew name and derives from the name Saul. It means "the youngest". Was Silas the youngest sibling? I'm not sure. I don't know for certain who his parents were. I suspect his father to be the Matthew that is listed on the same page in the 1840 Hartford, Licking, OH census who is between the age of 70-79. I haven't taken the time to research this lead yet. One other Conklin living in Hartford was John Conklin who was listed right above Silas. His age was listed as being 30-39 so he was definitely older than Silas who was aged 20-29. John remains in Hartford and in the 1850 census has a David Conklin, age 90, living with him.

In 1841 Silas married Sabra Parr. Sabra is also Hebrew in origin and means "rest".

Sabra died in 1875 and Silas remarries a woman by the name of Mary who was 20 years younger. In the 1880 census there is also a young two year old girl by the name of Lenora that is referred to as 'adopted'.

Silas dies in March the following year.

It is interesting to note in his Estate papers the items that are sold at auction: Shingle tins, nails, casings, brads, bolts & screws, locks, latches, drawer locks, cuboard latches, window stops... all items he would've used in his trade as a carpenter. 

I love to see this trade in this particular line because my Step-Dad is very skilled when it comes to building things. He isn't a carpenter by profession, but he has designed two houses and did a lot of the building himself and has done a lot of carpenter work on their retirement cabin and bunkhouse. It's in his blood and he does wonderful work.

I hope you're enjoying these.

Until next time,
Becky