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During their first few years of married life, Thomas Jennings Cornelius and Susan Francis Swaim Cornelius resided in Eastland, Tex. Sorrow struck the young family when in 1887 their first child, Dana P., died at the age of 18 months. A second child, Michael E., was born two years later in 1889. In 1891 the Cornelius family began a long trip in a covered wagon to Dickens. A third child, Theodore T., died on the trip and was buried on the roadside. After their arrival in Dickens, Thomas Jennings Cornelius helped in building the county courthouse in Dickens. The historical building is still in use today. The family lived in a half dugout and this is where their fourth child, David Homer, was born Jan. 9, 1892. Thomas and his family lived in Dickens two years. They left on a vacation to their former home in Eastland and never returned to Dickens! Five more children were born to Thomas and Susan Cornelius: William F., Ono Lee, Paul S., Mattie Fay, and Wayne T.David Homer Cornelius grew up with his brothers and sisters in Dublin, Tex. He received his teaching certificate from Cisco College in Cisco. D.H. and Bessie Lee Compton were married Dec. 22, 1915, in Bunyon. Two children were born while they resided in Bunyon: William Thomas "Billy", July 27, 1919, and Dorothy Lee, Sept. 23, 1922. D.H. Cornelius and his family moved to Crsobyton in the fall of 1924. He was no newcomer to West Texas since he was born in Dickens, but that had been 30 years ago! Two more children were born while they resided in Crosby Co.: Oretha Fay, Feb. 8, 1928; and David Compton, June 11, 1931. D.H. was a farmer and rancher all his life. In 1937, he began raising registered Hereford cattle. Because of his interest in livestock, he helped organize the first livestock show in Crosby Co. Cornelius also helped organize the first coop gin in Crosbyton and served as a director. When Crosbyton Clinic Hospital began serving the community, Cornelius served as one of the original directors. The Corneliuses were lifelong members of the Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Dec. 22, 1965.
D.H. Cornelius died Dec. 14, 1968, and Bessie Cornelius died Oct. 29, 1970. They are buried in Crosbyton Cemetery.
Children of D.H. and Bessie:
(Written by D´Ann Cornelius)- William Thomas "Billy"
- Dwayne Cornelius
- Janice Cornelius Leatherwood
- Dorothy Lee Cornelius Williams
- Oretha Fay Cornelius Hefner
- David Compton Cornelius
Source: "A History of Crosby County 1876-1977" © Crosby County Historical Commission 1978; Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas.
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Source: Adams Funeral Home
Transcribed by Bettye Odom
Source: Adams Funeral Home
Transcribed by Bettye Odom
CROSBYTON (Special) - Services for Mrs. Bessie Cornelius, 79, will be at 2:30 p.m. today in the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lee Crough, pastor, officiating.Burial will be in the Crosbyton Cemetery under the direction of King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cornelius, a native of Tennessee, died about 4 a.m. Thursday in the Crosbyton Hospital following a lengthy illness. She had lived in Crosby County since 1925.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Grady Williams of Los Gatos, Calif., and Mrs. Neal Hefner of Lubbock; two sons, Billy and Compton, both of Crosbyton; two brothers, Otis and Doyle Compton, both of Fort Worth; a sister, Mrs. J. J. Logan of Dublin; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family has asked that memorials be made to the Heart Fund.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, November 5, 1970
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
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Crosby County TXGenWeb Project
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