| Notes |
- Leonard is the son of Ann H Halstad & George V Conkey, both of New York State.
. Leonard Conkey married on 2 Jul 1873, first Phebe Chart, b 1848, Canada;
He married 1 Oct 1889, second, Hattie Broecker, 1871, Illinois; &
He married 7 Dec 1892, third, Nellie M King.
. 1898 Apr 12 - Circuit Court Record - Judge Grove: James A Lombard Vs. Leonard L Conkey, motion for security for costs; motion granted, security to be filed within 30 days.
. 1900 Mar 4 - Real Estate Transfer: Leonard L Conkey & wife to Grand Rapids Medical College, Pt Lots 19 & 20, Lot 1, Comstock's plat $230.
Ref: Grand Rapids Herald.
. Leonard L. Conkey, D. V. S., M. F., Dean of Grand Rapids Veterinary college, & one of the leading veterinarians of the state, was born in Arlington township, Van Buren county, Mich., on the 8th day of May, 1851, but was left an orphan at the age of 6years. He passed his boyhood days on the farm of his uncle, Leonard L. Halsted, at White Oak, Mich., a small place on the M. C. R. R. Between Lawton & Decatur, where assisting in clearing up a 160-acre farm, he learned to work. Attending only a part of three or four winter terms of school, in a small country school-house, his early education was limited. In the spring of 1868, he took a position on the Niles Democrat, edited by A. J. Shakespear; although politically a democratic sheet, at that time it bore the name of 'Niles Republican.'
In the winter of 1858-9 he worked on the Lawton Tribune. He was next found industriously working at house, sign, ornamental & portrait painting. At this time he had acquired a fine turnout for moving his painting equipments, drawn by a beautiful pair of matched roan horses.
One day "Mack" his favorite horse, was found sick (Page 108) & unable to move, one veterinary after another was called, until the supply from the county was exhausted, yet poor Mack grew worse instead of better. Dr. F. A. Leaser, a graduate of the Berlin Veterinary college of Germany was called, he diagnosed the ailment, acute laminitis, prescribed for him & the horse made a quick recovery. This little episode with Mack & the common "hoss-doctor" said too plainly that there was a demand for good talent in the field of veterinary science. In the spring of 1878, he therefore began the study of veterinary medicine & surgery, at Bluffton, Ohio, under the instruction of Dr. Leaser.
After studying two years he began practice at Findlay, Ohio, where the greater part of practice was surgery. From Findlay he returned to Michigan, was in Niles for a few months with Dr. T. A. Bunbury, he then located in Dowagiac in 1884, meeting with marked success for a year & a half, when reverses overtook him, by which he lost both social & financial standing, he quitted the town, moving to Benton Harbor in 1887. While at the Harbor he completed the MS for a book on which he had been at work for several years, & in the year 1889 came to Grand Rapids & had his book published. In the same year he opened an office in the Lovett Block, opposite Sweet's hotel on Canal street.
Since coming to Grand Rapids the doctor's life has been as an open book before the public, & it can be said of a truth that he has regained all & even more then he lost in Dowagiac. In the meantime, however, the doctor has visited many towns in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan & other states as a specialist in surgery, & has been called from Grand Rapids to New York, to perform a single operation. Since coming to Grand Rapids the doctor has taken a college course, entering the Detroit college of medicine veterinary department, in 1895. Dr. Conkey organized the Grand Rapids Medical college in 1897, in which he still owns the controlling interest. Associated with him are about thirty of the leading physicians & veterinarians of the city. The institution grants the degree of M. in the medical department, D. V. S., in the veterinary department & M.F. in the farrier's department. Dr. Conley was elected dean of the veterinary department of the college by the board of trustees in 1898 & the prospects of the college are exceedingly flattering, as the doctor is one of the most widely known veterinarians in the middle states.
. The doctor's matrimonial adventures in early life were not all that could be desired, in fact, they were more like those of Columbus & others that might be mentioned, whose lives have been devoted to science, rather than to the study of human nature; however, he was united in matrimony with his present wife December 7, 1892, she having borne the maiden name of Nellie M. King; this union has been blessed with two children:
Opal Checora & Alger B. Conkey. Miss Opal, the elder, at four years old, can name & locate all the bones in the body of the horse, a remarkable thing for one so young.
Dr. Conkey joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1877, is a part grand of Bluffton lodge, No. 371, having filled the chair during the year 1882 & is at present a member of Phoenix lodge, No. 12, at Grand Rapids. He is not connected with any church organization, & in politics is independent.
. Veterinary Practice:
As an operator Dr. Conkey is unquestionably one of the most clever surgeons of the age. One of his favorite operations being that of abdominal cryptorchidy (riddling castration), while general surgery, in its many phases, is performed without seeming effort, or loss of life, his success, being truly wonderful. With such a man at its head, the success of the Grand Rapids Veterinary college is assured. The college is substantially fitted with lecture rooms, dissecting rooms, laboratories, hospital & horse-shoeing departments. Domestic animals, with all manner of ailments, are taken in, treated until well & cared for at the pleasure of the owners. The farrier's department is a leading feature of the college. Having a special provision in the charter, the trustees confer upon those gathering from this department the degree of master farrier (M F). Students in the veterinary department are required to attend the lectures in this department, that they may know & become familiar with, ailments of the feet.
No man is more devoted to his home & family than is Dr. Conkey, who idolizes his children & is devoted to his wife, providing all that heart can wish. His habits are temperate & he is never away from home except on business, returning at once when business is over. As an inventor of veterinary instruments Dr. Conkey has considerable merit. His first invention was the Emasculator, designed to take the place of the French instrument called the Ecraseur, used in animal castration. His next invention was the Conkey securing harness & operating hood. Then he fashioned the Conkey self-holding automatic chain buckle. These, later combines, have a worldwide reputation; with them & animal, regardless of his size or disposition, can be laid on a blanket at every trail. On the index page of J. Reynder's catalogue of veterinary instruments, of New York, are listed the Conkey's incisor cutters, Conkey's instantaneous trachea tube, etc. It is evident that Dr. Conkey has done more during the last 20 years for the profession than any other one man. Now that Dr. Conkey is at the head of a veterinary college, the eyes of professional lights in the United States are turned on him, watching with interest each step, he has already proclaimed many reforms in college work.
. Obituary Leonard L. Conkey
Dr. Leonard L. Conkey died at his home in Marne, Mich., June 6, 1924. He was born in Arlington, Mich., May 8, 1857.
Dr. Conkey founded the Grand Rapids Veterinary College, in 1897, became president of the institution & later was graduated from it, not previously having had a veterinary degree. He had attended the Veterinary Department of the Detroit College of Medicine for one term, but left this institution, with Dr. Hugh Rutherford, about 1897, to start a veterinary college in Grand Rapids. This was run as a 2 year institution until 1903, when the course was lengthened to three years. Graduates of the 2 year course were first recognized by the A.V.M.A. in 1911.
Regarded as a genius in some respects, Dr. Conkey was a very skillful surgeon, his ability in this field being built upon his deep knowledge of anatomy. He traveled all over the US to operate upon valuable race horses. On one occasion, while in England, it is reported, he performed an operation on a hunter owned by King George. Dr. Conkey invented the hobbles which bear his name, & the equine operating table, now known as the Simplicity, is the outcome of his inventive skill.
Dr. Conkey was always a turbulent figure in veterinary affairs in Michigan. Some will remember his attending one of the meetings of the A.V.M.A., about 20 years ago. Dr. Conkey was not a member, nor was he eligible to membership at that time. After his return home, he had his photograph taken in Prince Albert coat & high silk hat. Then he had the photographic plate retouched in such a way as to show him standing in a heavy snow-storm, indicative of his cool reception at the convention. He sent copies to a number of the prominent members of the Association. It was quite characteristic of him.
He leaves a widow & one son.
Ref: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1924, Vol. 18, p530.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -
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1851 - 1924 (73 years)