From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1340-1341
 
JAY B. GOULD.  One of the most enterprising of our younger generation of 
farmers in Walworth county who have believed from the outset of his career 
that the "wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today" and that while 
the methods of our grandfathers in tilling the soil were all right in their 
day, yet in the twentieth century we are compelled to adopt new methods and 
farm along different lines, in view of the fact that conditions of climate, 
soil, grains, etc., have changed since the days of the pioneers.  He has been 
a close observer of modern methods and is a student at all times of whatever 
pertains to his chosen life work and he has therefore met with encouraging 
success all along the line, and, judging from his past record, he will 
undoubtedly achieve much in the future years and take his place among the 
leading agriculturists of a community noted for its fine farms and adroit 
husbandmen.
 
Mr. GOULD was born at Midway, LaCrosse county, Wisconsin, on November 28, 
1880.  He is the son of John and Augusta (AYERS) GOULD, the father a native of 
the state of New York and the mother of Mineral Point, Wisconsin.  The former 
came to the Badger state when young and here he was married.
 
The subject received his education in the district schools of his native 
state.  When two years old he went to Trempealeau county, later coming to 
Walworth county, locating at the town of Troy.  He remained on a farm three 
years in that vicinity, then moved south of Elkhorn, in Delavan township, 
where he spent four years, then moved to section 6, where he lived six years, 
then purchased the WRINKLEMAN farm, on which he lived two years, then bought 
the ROCKWELL place in section 16, Delavan township, where he still lives.  
Here he has met with encouraging success as a general farmer and stock raiser, 
and has added many important improvements on the place.  He keeps a good grade 
of live stock, and everything about his place indicates good management.
 
Mr. GOULD was married on May 9, 1906, to Alice Emma CONKLIN, who was born on 
December 30, 1884, the daughter of Albert H. and Elizabeth (BALL) CONKLIN, 
natives of this state.  The father lives at the town of Delavan where Mr. 
CONKLIN has charge of the high school, and is known widely and greatly admired 
as both an educator, having made school teaching his life work.  The mother of 
Mrs. GOULD passed to her rest on September 18, 1901.
 
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. CONKLIN: Edith died 
in infancy, May 8, 1877; Addie Wallace, born January 19, 1881, lives in 
Elkhorn; Alice Emma, wife of Mr. GOULD; Ethel, who married a Mr. WILLIAMS, was 
born on February 26, 1888, is living at Williams Bay, this county; Mary, who 
was born on September 9, 1902, is living with her father in Delavan.  The 
father of these children was born on August 24, 1853.  After the death of his 
first wife, Mr. CONKLIN was married to Mary SWEET, of Allen's Grove.  The 
subject and wife have no children.  They are both members of the Rebekahs.
 
John GOULD, father of the subject, was a soldier in the Union army during the 
Civil war, and he is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, by virtue 
of that fact.  He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows.  He is still living on his fine farm in the vicinity of Elkhorn, 
having devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and accumulated a competency 
thereby.  He was born on April 27, 1845, and his wife was born on August 9, 
1853.  They are the parents of the following children: George, born May 27, 
1875; Albert, born December 7, 1876; Libbie, born July 7, 1878; Jay B., 
subject of this sketch; Mattie, born May 28, 1883; William, born April 24, 
1885; Nellie, born October 27, 1887; Ayer, born May 20, 1890.
 
Submitted by Carol