Biography of William Cornell, page 492. History of De Kalb County, Indiana, Inter-State Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1885.

William Cornell, deceased, was born in Carroll County, Md., Jan. 14, 1813, a son of Smith and Mary Cornell.  The 
former died in Maryland, and the latter in Nebraska.  He was reared in his native State and there married.  In 1850 
he came with his wife and five children to Indiana, making the trip with wagons. He bought eighty acres of land in
Butler Township, DeKalb County, a part of which was cleared, and four years later bought eighty acres more.   Of 
this land he made a good farm, residing on it till his death.  When he came to Indiana he had $300 in money, and his
team, wagon and household goods.  He and his wife went bravely to work, and the farm is now one of the best in the
county.   He was a man of firm, upright principles, and won the confidence and respect of all who knew him.  He was 
an exemplary member of the Lutheran church.  Mr. Cornell died Feb. 16, 1882. Mrs. Cornell resides on the old 
homestead.  Of the seven children born to them, five are living---W.H.H., Benjamin F., Sebastian H., Winfield S. and
Ellen V., wife of Stephen Surfis.  Two sons were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion---W.H.H. and Benjamin F.   Both
enlisted in Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. At Shiloh, Benjamin received a slight wound, and at Mission
Ridge a severe one.  He veteranized and served until the close of the war.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com