Our next recurring theme for 2026 is “Newspaper Tales.” Thanks to the digitization of newspapers (some available for free, and others through subscription sites like Newspapers.com), it’s sometimes possible to glean details about an individual’s life (or death) without ever leaving home.
Today’s tale concerns my third cousin twice removed, Robert Miller Conklin. Robert was the second child of Charles Miller and Virginia Morrow (Davis) Conklin and was born 30 October 1907 in Cincinnati. In the 1910 census the Conklin family was enumerated in Cincinnati; Charles was listed as a mechanical engineer, and Virginia was the mother of three children: Charles, Robert, and Virginia.1 By 1920 the family had moved to Glendale, California. Charles was now described as an electrical engineer, and son Andrew had joined the family.2
On 15 May 1928 in Bakersfield, California, Robert married Jewell Myrtle Sprayberry. He was 20, and she was 18.3 By 1930, Robert and Jewell were living in Berkeley. Robert was working as an insurance salesman, and Jewell as a saleslady in a dry goods store.4 The following year Robert and Jewell had a daughter, Barbara C., who was born in Oakland.5 In 1940 Robert, Jewell, and Barbara were enumerated in Walnut Creek California; they were now living in the same residence as Robert’s parents, Charles and Virginia. Robert was listed as the sales manager for a creamery, and Jewell worked selling “novelties.”6
Robert did not make it to the 1950 census. He died on 20 January 1945 at the age of 37. Newspaper articles that appeared at the time tell us more about what happened. The Reno Gazette-Journal of 31 January 1945 states that Robert had lived in Greenville, California, for the past 4 1/2 years, and that he operated the Conklin and Hall sawmill near Taylorsville. This seems like quite a change from his prior sales positions. On 20 January, Robert was helping to load a truck at the mill when a log came loose and crushed him. He died en route to the Batson Hospital in Greenville.7
The Feather River Bulletin [Quincy, California] of 25 January 1945 tells a similar story but adds the poignant detail that the death occurred 20 minutes before the mill was set to close until the spring. It also provides more information regarding the mill, naming it as the “Hall-Conklin Lumber Co.” and noting that Robert operated it in partnership with John Hall. It states, as well, that before going into the lumber business Robert had operated the “Indian Valley 5, 10, and 15c Store” in Greenville.8 He is buried in the Greenville District Cemetery. Jewell appears to have continued to operate the Indian Valley store after her husband’s death; The Indian Valley Record of 29 November 1945 includes an advertisement for the Christmas cards available at the shop and lists the proprietor as Jewell S. Conklin.9 Jewell would go on to marry twice more and live to the age of 95. She is also buried in the Greenville District Cemetery.
- 1910 Census (n.p: 1910, n.d), Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio; Sup 1, Enum 236, Sheet 10B. ↩︎
- 1920 Census, Glendale, Los Angeles, California; Sup 8, Enum 29, Sheet 9A. ↩︎
- Sharon S. Iamele, Conklin Cousins: the Many Children of Joseph and Mary (Cory) Conkling, 2014 Kindle Version (2014), ; kindle, Purchased through Amazon, Amazon (https://read.amazon.com/?asin=B00IMQ2A7A&ref_=kwl_kr_iv_rec_1 : My Kindle Library 10 October 2024. ↩︎
- 1930 Census, Berkeley, Alameda, California; Enum 1-287, Sup 8, Sheet 8B. ↩︎
- Iamele, Conklin Cousins: the Many Children of Joseph and Mary (Cory) Conkling. ↩︎
- Ancestry.com, 1940 Census, Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California; SD 6, ED 7-11, Sheet 61A. ↩︎
- Reno Gazette-Journal, January 31, 1945, Page 5. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/reno-gazette-journal-robert-conklin-deat/167850748/ : accessed January 10, 2026), clip page for Robert Conklin Death by user pruesarn ↩︎
- Feather River Bulletin, January 25, 1945, Page 1. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/feather-river-bulletin-obituary-for-robe/167850542/ : accessed January 10, 2026), clip page for Obituary for Robert Miller Conklin by user pruesarn ↩︎
- Indian Valley Record [Greenville, California], 29 November 1945, pg. 2 ↩︎