Son of Catherine (Daniel(s) and John Conklin.

He married Mary Josephine "Josey" Clotfelter on March 5 or March 6 of 1877. She preceded him in death and he later married Edna Friend.

Charles and Josey had four children: two daughters, Justie V. and Daisie/Daisy G. Conklin, and two sons, Homer Carridan Thomas Conklin and Leslie Ray "Skim" Conklin.

Excerpt from "Glattfelder/Clotfelter":
By 1903 Charles was operating a business known as C. E. Conklin & Son in Kilbourne, Illinois. The son in partnership with Charles was likely Homer. Their newspaper advertisement on 19 Dec that year said:
"We handle stoves, bedroom suites, bedsteads, couches, picture frames, glassware, crysolite ware, enamel ware, tinware, gasoline, oil, hog wire, barbed wire, etc. Special sale of our complete stock of goods. Bargain days: Dec 24, 25 and 26, 1903. For each cas purchase we give you a Christmas gift in cash..."

We were informed that the business also served as a funeral home. At some point during their marriage Josey and Charles lived in Thorpe, Wisconsin. They were living there in 1920 at the time of his mother's death and their residence there is also mentioned in Josephine's obituary.

The following excerpt is from: The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, compiled by Rev R.D. Miller and Gen. J.M. Ruggles, published in 1879, Kilbourne Township, Page 805.

"Charles E. Conklin, farmer; P.O. Kilbourne; a native of Bath Township, Mason Co., and marks the date of his advent to that locality Sept. 1, 1857; with his parents, he came to this township when quite young. He married, March 5, 1877, Miss Mary J. Clotfelter; she was born March 5, 1856; a child--Justice V., was born to them Feb. 17, 1879. Mr. Conklin and wife are both members of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Since his marriage, he has been engaged in farming on Section 6."