Biographical Information

Mary From Cornelius was the daughter of Danish immigrants John From and Johanna Jensen. She and Ole Cornelius, a Norwegian immigrant who was born on March 3, 1869, were married in Washington County, Nebraska on February 20, 1891.

In the year 1900, Ole and Mary were living in Lincoln Township, Washington, Nebraska. Mary was declared to be the mother of 4 children, 3 of whom were still living*. The household consisted of the following family members:

Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Ole Cornelius, Mar 1869, 31, Norway
Wife Mary Cornelius, May 1873, 27, Nebraska
Son Jens Cornelius, Dec 1892, 8, Nebraska
Son Niels Cornelius, Jul 1895, 5, Nebraska
Son Martin Cornelius, Apr 1898, 2, Nebraska
Father-in-law John A From, Oct 1833, 67, Denmark
Mother-in-law Hannah From, Aug 1833, 67, Denmark

The year 1910 finds the Cornelius family living in Rowan, Tripp, South Dakota, and consists of the following family members:
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Ole Cornelius M 41 Norway
Wife Mary Cornelius F 37 Norway
Son James Cornelius M 17 Nebraska
Son Nels Cornelius M 14 Nebraska
Son Merton Cornelius M 6 Nebraska

Mary passed away later in this same year and Ole remarried by 1930 to Kittie Lynes Miller. Kittie, who was also previously married was born in New York on November 1, 1872 to a Mr Lynes and a Ms Hubbell.

Ole and Kittie were living in Petaluma Judicial Township, Sonoma, California in 1930 with at least one of Ole's sons, James, also living in the same city that year, with Merton and hos family relocating to the area at a later date.

Percy L Miller, Kittie's 28 year old New York born son, was living in the home with Ollie (as his name was documented in 1930) and his mother. Kittie appears to have had some firm New York roots as this was also the birth place of both of her parents.

The Cornelius family has also taken in some additional boarders at this time, amongst them being 28 year old Otto C Meyer. Otto was Nebraska born, and there is a possibility that he may have some connection to Katherine C Meyer Cornelius, who was son, James', wife.

Ole and Kittie were still living in the same city in 1940, and it appears the two of them lived out the rest of their days in Sonoma. Kittie passed away in Sonoma on November 17, 1944, and Ole followed her on March 30, 1958.
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Known Children of Ole and Mary; all born in Nebraska

*

1) Jens / James Cornelius

James Cornelius and Katherine Caroline Meyer were married on June 6, 1923 in Washington County, Nebraska. Katherine was the daughter of German immigrants Paul Meyer and Unknown Kellerman.

The year 1930 finds James and Katherine residing in Petaluma, Sonoma, California. They now have a 1 year old daughter, Mary K, who was born in California. Katherine's widowed father, Paul Meyer (b ca 1866, Germany), is also residing with them.

1940 finds the same family members present in the home. they have lived in this particular residence for at least the past 5 years.

*

2) Nels Cornelius

Nels Cornelius and Jessie Jean Hurlbert were married on May 8, 1919 in Washington County, Nebraska. Jessie was French-Scottish and born ca 1900 of Canadian father and a mother who was born in Illinois.

In 1920, the couple was living in Lincoln, Washington, Nebraska with a newborn daughter, Marion O Cornelius.

1925 finds the family living in South Dakota for reasons unknown, but by 1930 the family has relocated back to Nebraska and is living in Kennard, and then to rural Saunders County before settling in Fremont, Dodge county, in 1940.

The known children of Nels and Jessie are:

Dau, Marion O Cornelius, b ca 1920, Ne (absent for 1940)
Son, Elmer W Cornelius, b ca 1922, Ne (absent for 1940)
Dau, Dorothy Jane Cornelius, b ca 1924, Ne
Dau, Maxine Avis Cornelius, b ca 1926, Ne
Son, Alfred Wayne (Wayne A) Cornelius, b ca 1928, Ne
Son, Vernon James Cornelius, b ac 1931, Ne

CORNELIUS, Dorothy J.; 21; md. John J. BEDNARZ; 21; Oct 1944 102419

*

3) Martin Cornelius

Born in 1898, Martin died two years later and is buried near his mother in Lincoln Cemetery.

*

4) Olga Cornelius

Born in 1901, Olga died at the age of 3 and is buried near her mother in Lincoln Cemetery

*

5) Merton Cornelius (# 37004414 - buried 11/24/1999)
Wife, Pearl - b ca 1900-01, buried 3/5/1993 - both in Forest Lawn, Omaha)

In 1920, Merton, now 16, was living as a boarder in the home of Otto (71771177) and Nellie Kuhr in Grant, Washington, Nebraska. The Kuhr's may have been family friends as also apparently resided in the Lincoln community and have a young daughter buried there.

By 1930, Merton has married Pearl Rasmussen (# 37004415). Merton and Pearl are living with her parents, Chris (age 63, Den) and J Emma (age 55, NE), in Washington County and have a newborn daughter, Marilyn.

1940 finds Merton and Pearl living in Petaluma Judicial Township, Sonoma, California, which is the same city Merton's father, Ole, and his wife are now residing.

The family has grown as daughter, Marilyn (b ca 1930, NE) has now been joined by siblings Mary (b ca 1932, NE), Donna (b ca 1935, NE) and Ruth (b ca 1940, CA)

CORNELIUS, Marilyn Mae; 23; md. Melvin Leroy MORGAN; 25; Jun 1953 A23908 ~ Omaha

*

*I believe the deceased child mentioned in the 1900 census may have been August, who died as an infant and is buried near Mary.
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Kittie's son and Ole's step-son:


Percy L Miller, b Dec 14, 1901 in New York and d June 16, 1971 in Sonoma, California ~ "California, Death Index, 1940-1997"