Cook Conkling was born in Ledgewood, N. J., on the 4th of November, 1858. He received his preparatory education at Schooley's Mountain Seminary in Morris County, in his native State, and afterward entered Mount Union College in Ohio, where he took an elective course, but did not graduate. After leaving college he taught country school for a time, but soon abandoned that occupation to go "upon the road" as general traveling agent for a machinery house. He filled this position for seven years, in the course of which he visited forty-three States in the Union.

In his younger days Mr. Conkling wrote for the newspapers, and during his travels in America and Canada he constantly wrote for the press. His letters descriptive of the people and their ways and the countries at large encountered in his travels have been reprinted and favorably commented upon. He has probably seen as much of the United States as almost any other citizen of the country, and is well known throughout Northern New Jersey, over which his business connections extend.

Mr. Conkling finally studied law, was admitted to the bar of his native State, and in 1888 began the active practice of his profession with a partner in Rutherford, N. J., where he still resides. This association continued until February, 1893. Afterward he was engaged alone in a general bank- ing and law business in Rutherford until June 1, 1898, when he formed a copartnership with ex-Mayor Luther Shafer, of Rutherford.