My Genealogy Hound

Mary A. Corner is the widow of William B. Corner, who was born in New York City, of English descent, in 1846, and was reared there until the age of eight. He then went with his father, Francis J. Corner, to Michigan, and there remained four years. His mother’s name was Rachel R. Drake. He had one brother, Francis H., and two sisters, Elizabeth A. and Sarah. From Michigan the family moved to Illinois, where they remained until the fall of 1865, when they came to Newton County, and settled in Van Buren Township. August 27, 1868, Mr. Corner married Miss Mary A. Stinson, who was of English-Irish descent, and they became the parents of ten children: Mary N., Catharine A., Francis J., Arthur E., Benjamin O., Horace D., Edna E.. William W., Emery B. and Mary A., all living except Mary M. and Emery E. After marriage Mr. Corner engaged in teaming, and by great industry saved enough money to buy a farm. In 1871 he purchased the property where the family now resides, and which he paid for by 1876. He was a very hard working man, and severe labor injured his health. He was sick and unable to work for a number of years; visited California, Washington Territory and Oregon for his health, but all to no purpose. He died July 25, 1887, at the age of forty-one. He was a member of the M. P. Church, and took a great interest in religious matters, and he died as he had lived, a true Christian. Mrs. Corner was left with a large family to care for and the farm to manage, and has nobly filled the position of both mother and father to her children. She is a worthy and consistent member of the M. P. Church. Her daughter, Mary A., was born three weeks after Mr. Corner’s death.