Fred C. Cornelius Family
By Mrs. Fred C. Cornelius

Fred C. Cornelius was born in Midfield, Texas, on January 23, 1901. His father, Fredrick Casper Cornelius, was born on December 2, 1850, in Rothensee, County of Hersfeld, Germany, the son of George William Cornelius, a government forester, and Sophie Dorothea Hueser. Fredrick Casper came to the United States in December of 1870, landed at New Orleans first, then sailed on a Morgan Lines steamer to Indianola, Texas. He settled on Cash's Creek near Palacios, and later purchased land near Juanita Creek northwest of Midfield, and lived there until his death in April of 1946. His career in the cattle business represented achievement over difficulties because of a pioneering determination to succeed.
 

Fred C. Cornelius' mother, Lula Estelle Gainer (August 16, 1872-February 13, 1922), was born in Edna, Texas, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Gainer. She married Fredrick Casper on October 24, 1899, and to this union six children, all born at the old ranch house still owned and occupied by Nellie Nygard Cornelius, were born:

1. Fred C., Jr. (January 23, 1901- April 3, 1979), buried at Hawley Cemetery;

2. Juanita, Mrs. H. M. Graybill, born on February 2, 1903; Leon (February 15, 1905-July 8, 1978);

3. James T. (November 16, 1906-June 6, 1982);

4. Foncie M., born on January 28, 1912; and

5. Eugene G., born on February 16, 1915.

Half-sisters were:

1. Dora (Mrs. G. A. Duffy);

2. Julia (Mrs. Henry Taylor);

3. Helen (Mrs. Will Melbourne)

and half-brothers were:
1. William D.

2. Louie

2. Tom and

4. Young "Babe. "

Fred C. Cornelius was baptized on April 28, 1901, at the Ashby Methodist Church. In his youth he put all of his energy into being a cowboy. On Sunday afternoons, when his parents left to visit friends, the brothers and their friends from town would put on a rodeo, riding calves and horses, but making sure the rodeo was over and the chores started before the parents arrived home. On Saturday nights, the young people gathered to play ring games.

Fred Cornelius was a lifetime resident and rancher of Matagorda County. During the 30's, he worked for the United States Department of Agriculture as a tick inspector for Jackson and Matagorda counties. When both counties were free of tick fever, he started to work for Port City Stock Yards in Houston as a commission cattle buyer. Beginning in 1941, he devoted full-time to the ranching operations in Matagorda and Jackson Counties. He raised registered Brahman cattle which he entered in the San Antonio Livestock Show, and was a recognized Brahman judge. Because his father had been a charter member of the Old Trail Drivers Association, Fred C. Cornelius took an active role in that organization as well. He was a director and past president of the Pan American Zebu Association; member of the Matagorda County Farm Bureau; the Midfield School Board; and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. In 1969, he was selected "Cattleman of the Year" by the Bay City Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Midfield Methodist Church.

On February 26, 1919, Fred C. Cornelius married Elva Wyona Raleigh in Houston, Texas. She was born on September 16, 1902, to Sanford and Grace Babcock Raleigh. Her grandparents were Lee and Julia Grimes Raleigh. The Grimes family originally came from Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius were a working team during their sixty years together. She was not only a homemaker but a cowboy, especially during the war years, and a good chuckwagon cook. "Miss Dee" served as acting postmaster of the Midfield Post Office in the mid 30's. She was a member of the Methodist Church of Midfield where she served as Sunday School Superintendent for seven years. She was a past president of the Matagorda County Historical Society, a member of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs with a fifty year pin, and a member of the Wives and Daughters of the Old Trail Drivers Association. The Cornelius' favorite pastimes were entertaining family and friends in their home and playing "42".

Fred C. and Dee had two daughters, Lula Grace Chiles (Mrs. L. L.) of Brazoria, born on January 21, 1920, and Maxine Johnson (Mrs. A. H.), born on August 10, 1923. The Cornelius' five grandchildren were: Jean Chiles Graf of Vernon, Texas; Joyce Johnson Maroney of Sulphur Springs, Texas; Stuart Hoyt Johnson of Blessing, Texas; Deean Johnson Griffith of Blessing, Texas; and Max Cornelius Johnson of Midfield, Texas. There were also ten great-grandchildren in 1984.

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, 1984, page 122

Cornelius Funeral Friday

Funeral services for Fred C. Cornelius, of Midfield, were held at 2 p. m. Friday, April 6, at the First United Methodist Church in Bay City with the Rev. Carl. L. W. Israel officiating.

Burial was in Hawley Cemetery.

Mr. Cornelius was born January 23, 1901 in Midfield and died Tuesday in a Houston hospital. On February 25 of this year, he and his wife, Elva Wynona "Dee" Cornelius celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Survivors include his wife of Midfield; two daughters, Mrs. L. L. Chiles of Brazoria and Mrs. A. H. Johnson of Markham; one sister, Mrs. Juanita Graybill of New Braunfels; three brothers, James T. Cornelius of Midfield, Foncie M. Cornelius of New Braunfels and Gene Cornelius of Houston; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

The Palacios Beacon, April 12, 1979
 

James T. Cornelius

Funeral services will be held for James T. "Jim" Cornelius, 75, of Midfield, 3 p. m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church of Bay City.

Officiating at the services will be the Rev. Ken Olsen of Victoria.

Cornelius died June 6, 1982 at Matagorda General Hospital.

Survivors include wife, Mrs. Nellie Cornelius of Midfield; son, Fritz Cornelius of Houston; daughters, Juanita Jones of Waco, Jimmie Ardell Stephens of Midfield, LaNell McClinton of Austin; brothers, Foncie Cornelius of New Braunfels, E. G. Cornelius of Houston; sister, Juanita Cornelius Graybill of New Braunfels; 6 grandchildren.

The Daily Tribune, June, 1982
 

Dr. William Daniel Cornelius Jr., 88, of Markham, Texas, died August 26, 2009, at his residence.

He was born July 25, 1921, in Markham to Will and Mary Ethel Cornelius.

Daniel grew up living a life of ranching. He received his college education at Texas A&M University, but his education was interrupted when he volunteered to serve in the United States Navy during World War II. He returned to Texas A&M after his military service and completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1947. He then returned to Markham where he worked with his father, brothers, and sister in their family ranching business. In later years, after the death of his father, the family ranching operation was divided among the siblings, and he developed what is now the Cornelius Cattle Company, Ltd., which is headquartered in Markham.

Daniel served as President of the Pan American Zebu Association. He received the Outstanding Rancher of Matagorda County Award and the Conservation Rancher Award in 1984. Daniel was a Life Member of the Sons of The Republic of Texas.

Doc had a great interest in mules, draft horses, donkeys, trains, and cattle. His favorite breed of cattle was the Zebu, which he loved to promote. He enjoyed conversations with his brothers and friends about days gone by, and he also loved to debate with those who would take on the challenge. He was innovative and resourceful, doing things the Daniel Cornelius Way.

Survivors include: his son Bill Cornelius and three daughters, Camille Green and husband Allen, Danette Poux and husband Jim, and Danelle Cornelius.

He is also survived by: two brothers, Simon Cornelius and his wife Florine of Victoria, and Leonard Cornelius and his wife Betty Lou of Wadsworth and sister-in-law Alice Tlucek of El Campo.

He has three granddaughters, Kathryn and Annie Cornelius and Emily Poux.

He is also survived by: numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Julia Lydia Chovanec Cornelius, sister Annie Belle Cornelius Cobb, and granddaughters, Lisa and Julie Warn.

Bill, Camille, Danette, and Danelle wish to express their gratitude to JoAnn Garibay of Victoria, Texas, who so patiently and lovingly helped care for their father at his home.

Dr. Cornelius was a member of St. Roberts Catholic Church in Markham. A Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2009, at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City, Texas, and the Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bay City, Texas, with his nephew, the Rev. Paul Chovanec, and the Rev. Samuel Appiasi officiating.

Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Van Vleck, Texas.

Pallbearers will be: Louis Kopnicky, Mike Buffaloe, Gary Damuth, Gary Green, Mack McLeod, and Jake McLeod.

Honorary pallbearers are: Voss McCrosky, Dr. Jim Davant, and Dr. Warren Criswell.

Memorials may be made to St. Roberts Catholic Church, C/O St. Peters Church, P.O. Box 395, Blessing, Texas, 77419.

Arrangements by Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City (979) 245-4613.

Bay City Tribune, Published August 30, 2009
 

Ellen Roberts Cornelius

CORNELIUS, Ellen Roberts, 74, died at Nightingale Hospital in El Campo Saturday. Services were held at 11 a. m. Monday in the Taylor Brothers Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Milton McWilliams of the St. Mark's Episcopal Church officiated. Mrs. Cornelius, a resident of Blessing for 50 years, was buried at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. J. E. Davant of Port Lavaca, and one son, George Cornelius of Beaumont. She had seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Dan Cornelius, Simon Cornelius, Leonard Cornelius, Bill Davant, Jim Davant and Mike Fricke.

The Daily Tribune, April 7, 1969

Final Rites Held For Louie Cornelius, Burial In Hawley Cemetery

Funeral services for Louie Cornelius of Blessing were held at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City Saturday morning at 10 with the Rev. F. Parke Smith officiating. Interment followed in Hawley Cemetery.

A life long resident of Matagorda County, Mr. Cornelius died at his residence, east of Blessing, Thursday, May 19, at the age of 76.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Ellen Roberts Cornelius; one daughter, Mrs. Kathryn C. Davant, of Blessing; one son, George L. Cornelius, Beaumont; three sisters, Mrs. Julia B. Taylor, Aztec, N. M.; Mrs. Helen Milburn, Port Lavaca; Mrs. Juanita Grabel, Houston; eight brothers, W. D. Cornelius, Markham; Young Cornelius, Bay City; Fred Cornelius, Tom E. Cornelius and Jim Cornelius, Midfield; Foncie Cornelius and Eugene Cornelius, Houston and Lennon Cornelius of New Braunfels.

The Palacios Beacon, May 26, 1960
 

Cornelius Rites Held

Funeral services for native Matagorda Countian, Young "Babe" Cornelius, 70, were held 2 p. m. Sunday from Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

Cornelius, a rancher, died Friday in Matagorda General Hospital after suffering a heart attack Thursday. He was born July 2, 1892 in Midfield and resided in Bay City at 2617 Avenue J.

Burial was in Hawley Cemetery. Rev. Leslie LeGrand of First Methodist Church officiated at the rites.

Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Helen Melbourne of Port Lavaca, Mrs. Julia [B. Taylor] of Aztec, N. Mex., Mrs. H. N. Grable of Houston; six brothers, Tom, Fred and Jim Cornelius of Midfield, L. L. of New Braunfels and Gene and Foncie of Houston.

Pallbearers were A. O. Moore, Joe Zrubek, A. J. Pavlik, Floyd Cornelius, Leonard Cornelius and Dave Bolling.

The Daily Tribune, June 3, 1963
 

Copyright 2014 - Present by the Cornelius Family
All rights reserved

HOME