CHAUNCEY J. CORNELL, p. 334-335

1888 Portrait & Biographical
Album of Branch County
by Chapman Brothers, Chicago


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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON CHAUNCEY J. CORNELL

Among the foremost and representative pioneer citizens of Southern Michigan is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch....

The father of our subject, Job K. Cornell, was born in New York, while his mother, Tryphenia Morgan, was a native of New York also.  After marriage the parents first settled in Niagara County, N.Y., and subsequently migrated to Milan, Ohio, where they resided until they came to Branch County in the spring of 1835.  Purchasing a tract of land in section 36, Union Township, they engaged .....  Here they completed their life work, passing to that "place whence no traveler returns", the mother, April 11, 1852, and the father, August 3, 1876.

The subject of this notice is the eldest of a family of three sons and four daughters, and was born in Milan, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1833.  In Batavia Township, this county, on New Year's Day, 1857, Mr. Cornell led to the alter the maiden of his choice, Miss Isabella, daughter of David and Jeanette (Campbell) Gibson.  They were early settlers of Branch County, locating in California Township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the mother dying Oct. 9, 1865, and the father May 18, 1875.  Their family numbered seven children, four sons and three daughters.  Mrs. Cornell was born in Genesse County, N.Y., Apr. 16, 1839.

Seven children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cornell, and they are recorded as follows:  Afton died in infancy; Myron died when quite young, and Elmer also died, at the age of four years and four months; Carrie became the wife of Willis French; Elida and Jay K. live at home, and Edda died when two months old.  David Gibson was born in Florida, Montgomery Co., N.Y., Jan. 4, 1796, while his wife, Jeanette Campbell, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Aug. 29 of the same year.