Robert McConkey (1831-1903)
Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor Counties, West Virginia
Rush, West & Company, Publishers; Philadelphia, PA.; 1895
pages 34-35 (in the Taylor County section)
ROBERT McCONKEY, county commissioner of Taylor county, is a son of William and Jane (Hurd) McConkey, and was born August 15, 1831, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
William McConkey (father) was born in Belfast, in the province of Ulster, county of Antrim, Ireland, in 1806. In 1820, at the age of fourteen years, he came to the United States, following an elder sister, who lived in the city of New York. Later he came to Pittsburg, where he remained until about twenty-five years of age, when he proceeded up the Monongahela river to Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1850, when he came to Taylor county, and settled in the woods northeast of the town of Grafton, where he lived until 1854, when he became a resident of Fetterman, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1890. Robert McConkey had but few advantages for securing an education, necessity compelling him to quit school at the age of twelve years. He learned the trade of a cigar-maker, and has successfully followed this avocation to the present time since 1859, in Fetterman, this county. In connection with his cigar business he is also engaged in the mercantile business. In 1867 he was appointed postmaster of Fetterman, and has held that office by re-appointment to the present time. In the autumn of 1890 he was elected to the office of county commissioner of Taylor county, an office the duties of which he is now discharging with the entire approval of all interested. In 1865 he entered the service of his country in the Civil War in the Seventeenth regiment, company "K," West Virginia infantry.
Fraternally, he is a member of Delaware Tribe, No. 18, Improved Order of Red Men.
On March 20, 1857, Mr. McConkey was united in marriage with Christina Jane Rogers, a daughter of Jacob Rogers, Sr. To this union have been born four children: Arthela Jane, the wife of Thomas Finch; Laura B., the wife of Frank Orr; Nora L., deputy post-mistress at Fetterman; and Robert N.
Find A Grave Memorial for Robert McConkey (1831-1903)
Find A Grave Memorial for Christina J. Rogers McConkey (1834-1916)
Family Group Report / Census for Robert McConkey & Christina Rogers