Leonard L. Conkey, D. V. S., M. F., Dean of Grand Rapids Veterinary college, and one of the leading veterinarians of the state, was born in Arlington township, Van Buren county, Mich., on the 8^th day of May, 1851, but was left an orphan at the age of six years. He passed his boyhood days on the farm of his uncle, Leonard L. Halsted, at White Oak, Mich., a small place on the M. C. R. R. Between Lawton and Decatur, where assisting in clearing up a 160-acre farm, he learned to work. Attending only a part of three or four winter terms of school, in a small country school-house, his early education was limited. In the spring of 1868, he took a position on the Niles Democrat, edited by A. J. Shakespear; although politically a democratic sheet, at that time it bore the name of ‘Niles Republican.’ In the winter of 1858-9 he worked on the Lawton Tribune. He was next found industriously working at house, sign, ornamental and portrait painting. At this time he had acquired a fine turnout for moving his painting equipments, drawn by a beautiful pair of matched roan horses. One day "Mack" his favorite horse, was found sick (Page 108) and unable to move, one veterinary after another was called, until the supply from the county was exhausted, yet poor Mack grew worse instead of better. Dr. F. A. Leaser, a graduate of the Berlin Veterinary college of Germany was called, he diagnosed the ailment, acute laminitis, prescribed for him, and the horse made a quick recovery. This little episode with Mack and the common "hoss-doctor" said too plainly that there was a demand for good talent in the field of veterinary science. In the spring of 1878, he therefore began the study of veterinary medicine and surgery, at Bluffton, Ohio, under the instruction of Dr. Leaser. After studying two years he began practice at Findlay, Ohio, where the greater part of practice was surgery. From Findlay he returned to Michigan, was in Niles for a few months with Dr. T. A. Bunbury, he then located in Dowagiac in 1884, meeting with marked success for a year and a half, when reverses overtook him, by which he lost both social and financial standing, he quitted the town, moving to Benton Harbor in 1887. While at the Harbor he completed the MS for a book on which he had been at work for several years, and in the year 1889 came to Grand Rapids and had his book published. In the same year he opened an office in the Lovett Block, opposite Sweet’s hotel on Canal street. Since coming to Grand Rapids the doctor’s life has been as an open book before the public, and it can be said of a truth that he has regained all, and even more then he lost in Dowagiac. In the meantime, however, the doctor has visited many towns in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and other states as a specialist in surgery, and has been called from Grand Rapids to New York, to perform a single operation. Since coming to Grand Rapids the doctor has taken a college course, entering the Detroit college of medicine veterinary department, in 1895. Dr. Conkey organized the Grand Rapids Medical college in 1897, in which he still owns the controlling interest. Associated with him are about thirty of the leading physicians and veterinarians of the city. The institution grants the degree of M. in the medical department, D. V. S., in the veterinary department, and M.F. in the farrier’s department. Dr. Conley was elected dean of the veterinary department of the college by the board of trustees in 1898, and the prospects of the college are exceedingly flattering, as the doctor is one of the most widely known veterinarians in the middle states. The doctor’s matrimonial adventures in early life were not all that could be desired, in fact, they were more like those of Columbus, and others that might be mentioned, whose lives have been devoted to science, rather than to the study of human nature; however, he was united in matrimony with his present wife December 7, 1892, she having borne the maiden name of Nellie M. King; this union has been blessed with two children: Opal Checora and Alger B. Conkey. Miss Opal, the elder, at four years old, can name and locate all the bones in the body of the horse, a remarkable thing for one so young. Dr. Conley joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1877, is a part grand of Bluffton lodge, No. 371, having filled the chair during the year 1882, and is at present a member of Phoenix lodge, No. 12, at Grand Rapids. He is not connected with any church organization, and in politics is independent. As an operator Dr. Conkey is unquestionably one of the most clever surgeons of the age. One of his favorite operations being that of abdominal cryptorchidy (ridgeling castration), while general surgery, in its many phases, is (Page 109) performed without seeming effort, or loss of life, his success, being truly wonderful. With such a man at its head, the success of the Grand Rapids Veterinary college is assured. The college is substantially fitted with lecture rooms, dissecting rooms, laboratories, hospital and horse-shoeing departments. Domestic animals, with all manner of ailments, are taken in, treated until well, and cared for at the pleasure of the owners. The farrier’s department is a leading feature of the college. Having a special provision in the charter, the trustees confer upon those gathering from this department the degree of master farrier (M F). Students in the veterinary department are required to attend the lectures in this department, that they may know, and become familiar with, ailments of the feet. No man is more devoted to his home and family than is Dr.Conley, who idolizes his children and is devoted to his wife, providing all that heart can wish. His habits are temperate, and he is never away from home except on business, returning at once when business is over. As an inventor of veterinary instruments Dr. Conley has considerable merit. His first invention was the Emasculator, designed to take the place of the French instrument called the Ecraseur, used in animal castration. His next invention was the Conkey securing harness and operating hood. Then he fashioned the Conley self-holding automatic chain buckle. These, later combines, have a worldwide reputation; with them and animal, regardless of his size or disposition, can be laid on a blanket at every trail. On the index page of J. Reynder’s catalogue of veterinary instruments, of New York, are listed the Conkey’s incisor cutters, Conkey’s instantaneous trachea tube, etc. It is evident that Dr. Conkey has done more during the last twenty years for the profession than any other one man. Now that Dr. Conkey is at the head of a veterinary college, the eyes of professional lights in the United States are turned on him, watching with interest each step, he has already proclaimed many reforms in college work.