Joseph B. CORNELL
Biography

Joseph B. Cornell. This respected citizen of Kalamazoo passed from this life at his home, August 25, 1877. He was one of the prominent and successful business men of the city and a favorite in a large circle of friends. He possessed those qualities of mind and heart which made for him warm friends and stanch adherents, and his loss was deeply felt in his community. He was in his forty-eighth year at the time of his death and was a man full of enterprise, business tact and very successful as a manufacturer. His portrait is presented in connection with this biographical sketch. The original of this sketch was born January 25, 1829, in Clinton, N. Y., and was the son of Dr. Joseph Cornell, who located in Kalamazoo about 1840. His mother died when he was a child. He was the only son by his father's first marriage, his two sisters being Minerva, wife of George Burrell and Abigail, wife of Lewis Starkey. He had learned the trade of a carriage-maker in his native State and after coming to this city did the most extensive business in that line in the place, and at a time when most of the work was done by hand. He built up a splendid trade in this city and at his death the firm of Cornell Bros. succeeded him in business. Mr. Cornell was one of the Trustees of the village and was made Chief of the Fire Department. He was the recipient of many positions of trust and responsibility, although he very much disliked to hold office. He was married September 17, 1856, to Hannah L., the daughter of L. H. and Louisa (Fay) Trask. Mr. Cornell assisted his brothers to get a start in life and was kind and charitable to all who applied to him for assistance. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and gave liberally of his means to its support. Socially, he was a Mason, having attained the degrees of Knight Templar and Scottish Rite. In politics, he was a Democrat, always casting his vote and influence in favor of the candidates of that party. Five years previous to his decease Joseph B. Cornell was in ill-health, and when at last compelled to give up his business, devoted himself to the restoration of his health. He visited a famous establishment in Dansville, N. Y., and after remaining there under treatment for a time, returned home apparently much better. He had attained an excellent and wide-spread reputation as a business man and the vehicles which bore his name were justly celebrated for excellence of material and workmanship.

Portrait and biographical record of Kalamazoo, Allegan and Van Buren counties, Michigan p. 294



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