History of Cornell, Illinois
Walter B. Cornell laid out a plat on June 15th, 1871, from the southwest quarter of Section 11, and named it Cornell. Two days after, Willard D. Blake, his neighbor on the south, platted an adjoining section of his farm and named it Amity. The strife for supremacy was carried on for several years, but the only evidence of the conflict now remaining is two beautiful parks, North Park, on the original site of Cornell, and South Park in Amity. While the former name of Cornell has been retained, the most of the business houses are in the portion formerly called Amity. Cornell, with other parties, built several houses on the plat laid out by him, but they have since been removed.
In 1873, the village was organized by the election of H. M. Cornell, Jason Curtis, John Withrow, George Bradley, James O. Pond and Joseph Rucker, as Trustees. At their first meeting, July 18th, Cornell was elected President; James W. Willis was appointed Clerk; Jason Curtis, Treasurer; and Samuel Blake, Street Commissioner.
The town site presented many attractions. The board have usually pursued a wise policy in making streets and other improvements so that the appearance of the village is such as one would expect to find in a town twice as old. At one time lots in Cornell were worth more on the market than in either of its neighbors, Pontiac or Streator. When the village was incorporated in 1873, the question of licensing saloons came before the people and has been the main point at issue at the village elections ever since, with varying results.
Cornell Business Directory 1898
Churches:
Methodist Episcopal: a frame building, seating capacity of 300. Membership is 180. Rev. T. C. Moots was a pastor.
Baptist: have a neat frame church building, seating 200, Rev. Hartwell Churchill, pastor.
Catholic: have a neat frame building, Rev. Tonnes, rector.
The Dunkard Church, has a substantial frame building with a seating capacity of 250.
Secret Societies:
Beacon Lodge,No. 618 I.O. O. F. instituted June 23, 1876
Cornell Rebekah Lodge No. 388
Excelsior Camp, No. 1664, Modern Woodmen of America
Cornell Supreme Court of Honor No. 528
John H. Johnson Post No. 769, Grand Army of the Republic
John H. Johnson Woman’s Relief Corps No. 72
Attorney:
C. A. Herbert, Attorney at Law
Barber:
F. C. Cusic, barber
Blacksmith:
John Sullivan, Blacksmith
Baxendale & Sullivan, Blacksmith
Clothing and Shoes:
J. E. Shackelton, Clothing and Shoes
Contractors and Builders:
Edgar A. Thompson, Contractor and Builder
Charles Lishness, Contractor and Builder
Drugs and Medicines:
J. P. Guernsey, Drugs and Medicines
J. M. Syphers, Druggist
Furniture and Undertaking:
Lishness & Barton, Furniture
General Merchandising:
E. A. Jamison, General Merchandise & Mfg. of Drain Tile & brick.
Miner Brothers, General Merchandise
Mrs. K. Allen, General Merchandise
C. W. Shackelton, General Merchandise
Grain:
The Middle Division Elevator Co., John Evers, Manager, grain
Hardware and Farm Machinery:
George Whitham, Hardware, Farming Implements and Grain
F. J. Spaulding, Hardware and Farming Implements
Harness:
William Riches, harness
Hotels:
Lundy Hotel, F. M. Lundy, proprietor
Insurance and Collections:
B. F. Brown, Insurance and Collections
J. J. Vanderree, Real Estate, Insurance and Collection Agents
Livery and Feed Stables:
E. Gourley, Livery and Feed Stable
Lumber and Coal:
D. M. Brown, Lumber, Coal, Contractor and Builder
Manufacturers:
W. J. Reeve, Feed Mill
David Heckman, Wagon Shop
W. S. Wayman, Wagonmaker
Meat Market:
W. P. Corbin Meat Market
Millinery and Dressmaking:
Mrs. Ida Harding, Dressmaking
Mrs. C. A. Herbert, Dressmaking
Mrs. M. Lilly, Millinery
Painters and Paper Hangers:
U. G. Connett, Jeweler, Painter and Paper Hanger
Alfred Martinson, Painter and Paper Hanger
Physician and Surgeon:
T. W. Jones, physician and surgeon
H. C. Sawyer, physician and surgeon
Printers and Publishers:
The Cornell Journal, $1.00 a year, established 1890; A. E. Tiffany, Editor
Restaurants and Bakeries:
J. B. Baringer, Restaurant
D. D. Mills, Confectionery
Miscellaneous:
M. J. Rhodes, Electric Lighting
D. W. Blake, Postmaster
George Myers, Railroad and Express Agent.
