Alonzo Barton Cornell (1832-1904) - Find a Grave Memorial

30th New York Governor. He was the son of Ezra Cornell, who founded the Western Union Telegraph Company and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He followed in his father’s business, and eventually became Vice-President of Western Union. He entered politics, becoming the New York State Republican Party Central Committee Chairman, and served in the New York State Legislature in 1873. In 1879 he ran against and defended incumbent Democrat Lucius Robinson for the New York State Governor office by over 42,000 votes. He served from 1880 until 1883, and was not re-nominated by the New York State Republicans due to a bitter internal split in the party. He passed away in Ithaca in 1904.

Bio by: RPD2