Alice Foote Conkey

Surnames: Barnes, Byrd, Foote, Reid

Regions: St. Lawrence Co., NY - Outagamie Co., WI

Source: Sketches of Wisconsin Pioneer Women, by Florence Chambers Dexheimer,

W. D. Hoard & Sons Co., Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

Pages 148-149

Alice Foote Conkey, at the tender age of six weeks, was brought to Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, by her parents, arriving by canoe boat from Fond du Lac, in July, 1849. Her father, Theodore Conkey was senator from the first district in 1850. Her mother, Cynthia Byrd (Foote) Conkey, was of true Pilgrim stock, her ancestors having crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower.

Mr. and Mrs. Conkey had three children: Alice Foote, Edward (deceased) and Helen Byrd, who was married to Lyman Eddy Barnes, August 18, 1880. Miss Alice, the eldest, grew to womanhood 'midst pioneer Appleton. She was graduated from Lawrence College in 1868 and later from Vassar College, and for two years taught mathematics in Northwestern University.

She was married to Alexander James Reid, January 1875, and passed away December 21, 1891 in Dublin, Ireland where Mr. Reid had been appointed consul.

When Mrs. Reid's casket was brought back to her childhood home, it was completely wrapped in a great American flag, placed by sorrowing friends abroad.

Later, Mrs. Reid's poems were done into small white and gold volumes, not for general distribution, but given by a bereaved husband to friends who loved this gifted woman, a woman of rare sweetness of character and strong personality, one who had an instinctive respect for upright dealing, and who was filled with an inner love of truth, justice and honor.

She was indeed "A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort and command."

(submitted by Mrs. Alice Waters Jones)

See Also:  Cynthia Foote - Theodore Conkey