Foote, Cynthia - Biography

Cynthia Foote

Surnames: Barnes, Binney, Bird, Conkey, 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 147-148

Mrs. Cynthia Foote Conkey, who came so early (1848), with her husband, (Theodore), to their new home in Wisconsin forests, was born at Canton, St. Lawrence County, New York, a daughter of Chauncy and Gula (Bird) Foote. Her mother, Gula Bird, was a daughter of Joseph and Cynthia (Binny) Bird. Joseph Bird, a native of Vermont, served in many bloody battles of the Revolution, was wounded and left under a heap of slain upon the field of Monmouth, his first encounter, at sixteen years of age; but he recovered to rally with the "Green Mountain Boys" for the defeat of Burgoine at Bennington, and lived to a good old age of ninety-three, carrying the British bullet so close to his loyal heart that the surgeons dared not extract it. He sleeps in the shadow of the green hills, he, with others, so bravely defended.

Mrs. Conkey's ancestors, the Binneys, emigrated early from England to Massachusetts, and became the owners of much valuable property in Boston, including what was known as the "Long Wharf."

The children of Cynthia and Theodore Conkey were: Alice Foote Conkey Reid, who died November 21, 1891, in Dublin, Ireland, Edward Talcott Conkey, who died November 18, 1881, Helen Bird Conkey, married (excongressman) Lyman Eddy Barnes.

Early in 1861 Theodore Conkey volunteered his services in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion. He was chosen Captain of Company "I", Third Wisconsin Calvary, and was immediately assigned to active duty on our then western frontier.

Mrs. Conkey shared with her husband, during two summers in Kansas, the perils and privations of war. Under his tutelage she became an expert horsewoman, and, many and thrilling were the experiences she had in the tented field. Undoubtedly she could add much of interest to Mrs. Custer's Boots and Saddles were she so included.

(Excerpt from Biographical Record of Fox River Valley Pub.1895.), submitted by Appleton Chapter D.A.R. Contributed by Mrs. Alice Jones