Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-06-26
col. coRNeLIous Dad.
Veteran OF the Early Indian Wars
Raised Regiment During the
Rebellion


Colonel Thomas r. Cornelius died at
his home at Cornelius Saturday night
June -. His condition had been crit
ical for many months, and his death was
not unexpected. The funeral took place
at 10 O'Clock Monday.
Colonel Cornelius was pioneer of
1915 He was born in Howard county
Missouri, November "a, 1897, and came
with his parents TO Oregon when Is
years old. Colonel Cornelius was the
oldest Of 10 children. lie lived with
his father on donation land claim
four miles north Of Cornelius for three
years. Then he took up a donation
land claim adjoining his fathers, and
was its owner for over 80 years.
When the news Of the massacre Of DR..
Whitman and others became known,
Colonel Cornelius enlisted az private
in a company then organized, and fur
nshed his own horse and equipments
He was in five battles with the Indians,
who were well armed and numerous. lie
was promoted 10 first sergeant.
Finally the Indians were compelled TO
b. come 10 terms. Soon after his return
the discovery Of gold in California took
him TO that state. lie mined in lS4s
on the American Fork, the Mokelumne,
and on the Stanislaus, and was SUCCESS
ful. In one day he took out $500. A
year later he returned home and re-
mained with his father during the wir-
ter. The following year hc married
Miss Florentne Wilks, formerly OF In
diana. lie and his wife had crossed
the plains in the same train, and her
father had settled in Washington county.
Shortly after their marriage they be-
gan housekeeping on their claim, and
lived there 20 years.
When the Indian war broke out in
1855 Mr.. Cornelius enlisted in company
y, Washington county volunteers, and
was elected captain. His company
crossed the Cascade mountains and
joined the others at The Dallas, the
regiment Of Colonel Nesmth. He was
engaged against'the Indians, and Cap
tain Cornelius showed his courage and
pluck in many ways. He made fine
record for himself
After the war in 1856, Colonel Cor
nelius was elected to the territorial leg
islature, and was elected each succeed
ing year until he had served 20 years in
the legislature. He was twice elected
president Of the senate. lie was thus
connected with the enactment of the
legislation Of that important period in
the history of the young state. During
the civil war he was ON the right side
Of all the great questions that came up.
In 1861 Colonel Cornelius was com
missioncd by President Lincoln to raise
a regiment OF volunteer cavalry in Ore
gon, with orders to report to the adj
jutant-general at Washington. This lh
did. lie expected to join Colonel Baker
at the front, but Baker was killed at
Balls Bluff As all the regular army had
been taken from Oregon Colonel Cor
nclius and his men were assigned To
service ON the coast, looking after the
Indians and other enemies Of the coun-
try. While stationed at Walla Walla,
in 1862, he resigned and returned home,
and turned his attention to farming.
Colonel Cornelius was stanch Re-
publican from the organization OF the
party. lie was defeated for governor of
Oregon by Sylvester Pennoyer i'm 1896.
Colonel Cornelius wife died in 1864.
and two years later he married Miss
Missouri Smith, of Illinois, the daughter
of Rev. VIM. T.. Smith, Methodist
minister Ills survivors are; Ills
wife, two brothers, William, oi Noun.
taindale, and John of Cornelius; two
sons, Judge Benjamin r., of Cornelius,
and T. c., Of Astoria; three daughters,
Mrs. Elizabeth Shaw, san Diego; NJ r.
G., c.. Hancock, aud Mrs. Alexander
Coucher, Portland; and three sis.ers.
Ann Freeman, llillsboro; Mrs. William
Kane, Forest Grove, and Mrs. Isaac
Blum, Portland.
"Frances Il iZeF Roland saws u,v