Wilbur J. Cornell

CORNELL, DOWLING, WILSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/9/2004 at 21:52:10

Wilber J. Cornell has been connected with the Citizens National Bank for thirty-three years and has been a bank cashier longer than any other resident of Winterset. His name has become a familiar one in financial circles in his part of the state and is widely known as a synonym for business integrity and honor. He was born in Macon county, Illinois, January 1, 1859, a son of Rev. John K. and Samantha (Dowling) Cornell, both of whom were natives of Ohio, where they spent their youthful days and were married. The father was a minister of the Church of Christ and in the year 1860 came to Iowa, settling in Van Buren county, where he taught school and engaged in preaching for a few years. He came to Winterset in 1875 and was minister of the church of his denomination at that place until 1877. He afterward had charge of different churches in the state until his death, which occurred in 1904 at Newton, Iowa, when he was seventy-five years of age. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1879 at the age of forty-four years. She also was a most consistent and faithful member of the Church of Christ, and her influence and teachings had a marked effect upon the lives of her ten children, of whom Wilber J. was the sixth in order of birth.

Wilber J. Cornell was brought by his parents to Iowa and lived in different towns in the state, as his father removed from place to place, until 1875, when the family came to Winterset. Here he attended school and when the family went elsewhere in 1877 he remained and for about six years engaged in clerking in a grocery store. In 1882, however, he entered the Citizens Bank as teller and after two years was elected cashier, in which position he has since remained, being now the virtual manager of the bank. He is familiar with every phase of the banking business and is ever a courteous and obliging official, ready to accommodate the patrons of the bank whenever it is possible to do so. At the same time he carefully safeguards the interests of the institution and has made it one of the strong financial concerns of the county and this section of the state. He also has business interests outside of the bank, being now the owner of three hundred acres of valuable farm land in Union township which he rents.

On the 13th of June, 1883, Mr. Cornell was united in marriage to Miss Nettie J. Wilson, a native of West Liberty, Iowa, and they have three children: John W., a stock dealer and shipper of Winterset; Edith, who is filling the office of deputy county recorder; and J. Robert, who is a graduate of the law department of the State University of Iowa and is located at Cedar Rapids.

Mr. Cornell has ever voted with the republican party and is unfaltering in his advocacy of its principles. He has kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but he has never had time nor inclination for office. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge at Winterset and he and his family are members of the Church of Christ. Theirs is an attractive home where good cheer reigns supreme, and its hospitality is enjoyed by their many friends. The influence of their lives has ever been for progress and advancement and their work on many occasions has been a direct benefit to city and county.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”