My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Nicholas F. Cornelius, dealer in merchandise and clothing, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1838, and is a son of Gerhardt D. and Margeret D. (Jontzen) Cornelius, natives of Hanover, born in 1813 and 1811, respectively. The father was a merchant and farmer, and died in 1851, and his wife surviving him but eight years. She had three children, two of whom are living: Augustus D., dealer in agricultural implements at Rochester, Ind., and our subject. He lived upon the home farm until fourteen years of age, and then worked in a dry goods store at Bremen until 1854 as an apprentice. He then immigrated to the United States, and for three months clerked in New York. He then went to Indiana and clerked in a dry goods store until 1857, and then went to St. Louis and from there to New Orleans. After a three months’ visit to Hanover in 1858 he returned to America, and for one year dealt exclusively in clothing at Buffalo. He then went to New Orleans, and in 1861 established himself in business in Van Buren. During war times he passed twelve months in Rochester, Ind., but with that exception has since been a resident of Van Buren, where he is held in high esteem, and ranked among its prosperous business men. In 1865 he visited Germany again for six months. In 1863 he married Miss Annie Hodges, daughter of John Hodges, and who was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius have five living children: Frederick Marion, Rosena, Benjamin Augustus, Augustus Claude and Edna Daugherty. Mr. Cornelius is a Master Mason and a Democrat. In religion he is a believer of the German Lutheran creed, and his wife is a Presbyterian.

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This family biography is one of 222 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Crawford County, Arkansas family biographies here: Crawford County, Arkansas

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