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THOMAS G. CORNELL
THOMAS G. CORNELL, president of the Farmers’ National Bank, of
Freeport, Armstrong county, was born May 19, 1861, in Blairsville, Pa., son of
S. M. and Mary (Skeene) Cornell.The Cornell family originated in Holland, but the name of its founder in
America is not known, nor the date of his arrival in this country. S. M.
Cornell, father of Thomas G. Cornell, was born in Virginia, and when fourteen
years old went to Philadelphia, Pa. Later on in life he became connected with
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a master carpenter, and still later with
the Northern Pennsylvania Railroad Company as trainmaster. Leaving the latter
company he located at Johnstown, Pa., to enter the employ of the Cambria Steel
Company. Following this association he entered upon a general contracting
business at Blairsille, Pa., where he remained in active work from 1869 to
1895. In the latter year he retired, and so lived until his death, Jan. 2,
1911. He was a Republican, hut never cared to hold office. He and his wife had
six children, all of whom survive, Thomas G. Cornell being third in the order
of birth. Mrs. Cornell survives, being now seventy-four years old. She is a
lady of true Christian character, and a consistent member of the Methodist
Church, in which she is very active.The Skeene family had its origin in England, from which country two
brothers came to the Colonies in the sixteenth century. Their names are not
known. James Skeene, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Cornell, was a farmer,
and lived and died in Pennsylvania, where his daughter Mary (Mrs. Cornell) was
born.Thomas G. Cornell attended the common schools until he was thirteen years
old, when he became a messenger boy in the superintendent’s office of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Blairsville, which position he held for two
years. For the following three years he clerked in a drug store. Once more he
entered the services of the railroad company, this time as rodman, and when he
had been with them three years in this capacity he was promoted to be
timekeeper in the superintendent’s office at Blairsville. Until 1886 he
continued in this position, leaving it to become chief clerk for the Norfolk
& Western Railroad Company at Norfolk, Va., in the M. W. department.
Returning to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, he was made chief clerk of the
M. W. department of that company’s western Pennsylvania division, and so
continued until he resigned, April 1, 1891, to engage in an undertaking of his
own.In 1891 Mr. Cornell became associated with the coal and stone interests at
Freeport, Pa., operating coal mines extensively, and in 1900 he formed the
firm of The Cornell Coal Company, one of the largest independent coal
producing companies in western Pennsylvania. He is one of the organizers of
the Farmers’ National Bank of Freeport, which has a capital stock of $50,000,
all of which is paid up; and a total of resources of $401,997.99, according to
the statement issued Sept. 1, 1911. The hank is recognized as one of the sound
financial institutions of western Pennsylvania. The officials are: T. G.
Cornell, president; VV. A. Jack, vice president; W. Fred Turner, second vice
president; F. K. Weaver, cashier, and W. E. Phillips, assistant cashier. Under
the conservative policy of Mr. Cornell the interests of the depositors are
safeguarded, while the stockholders are given a fair return for their
investment. Mr. Cornell’s connection with large institutions has given him a
wide experience, which he is putting to practical and efficient use in
connection with his banking business.On Nov. 12, 1885, Mr. Cornell was married, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Margaret
Maher. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have had three children. A strong Republican, Mr.
Cornell has been called upon to represent his party’s principles upon
different occasions as an official of Freeport. Socially he belongs to the
Manufacturers’ Club, of Philadelphia, and the Duquesne Club, of Pittsburgh. A
man of high principles, possessed of sound judgment, Mr. Cornell has forged
steadily ahead, and is now numbered among the leading financiers of his part
of the State.Source: Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H.
Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 2001 by Laurel Black Morris for
the Armstrong County Beers Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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