Benjamin P. Cornelius
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Peyton Cornelius (November 9, 1850 — December 24, 1930) was an American
politician and judge in Oregon
. A Republican
, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives
and as the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
. The son of Thomas R. Cornelius
, he was also the sheriff of Washington County
and a judge in that county.
. He was raised in that county and was engaged in agriculture before marrying Esther A. Barrett on November 11, 1871, in neighboring Glencoe
. Cornelius became involved in politics as a Republican and served as a delegate to the county’s party convention and state conventions starting in the 1880s.
as a Republican representing Washington County.
Following his term as county judge he returned to farming before winning election as mayor of Hillsboro
in 1903. The seventeenth person to serve as mayor of Washington County’s seat, he was in office from December 15, 1903, until December 4, 1906. Cornelius returned to the Oregon House in 1917 after winning election in 1916, again representing Washington County. Benjamin P. Cornelius died on December 24, 1930, at the age of 80 and was buried at the cemetery at the Old Scotch Church north of Hillsboro.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and judge in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
and as the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
. The son of Thomas R. Cornelius
Thomas R. Cornelius
Thomas R. Cornelius was a prominent American politician and soldier in the early history of Oregon. A native of Missouri, he moved to the Oregon Country with his family as a young man where he fought in the Cayuse War and Yakima Indian War against the Native Americans...
, he was also the sheriff of Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
and a judge in that county.
Early life
Cornelius was born to Thomas Cornelius and Florentine Wilks on November 9, 1850, in Hillsboro, Washington County, OregonWashington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
. He was raised in that county and was engaged in agriculture before marrying Esther A. Barrett on November 11, 1871, in neighboring Glencoe
Glencoe, Oregon
Glencoe is a neighborhood and former community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, the town, which was north of Hillsboro, died off after 1910 when neighboring North Plains was created to the west...
. Cornelius became involved in politics as a Republican and served as a delegate to the county’s party convention and state conventions starting in the 1880s.
Political career
In 1884, Cornelius won his first election when he was elected as the sheriff of Washington County. He was elected again in 1888, and in 1894 was elected as a county judge. In 1892, Cornelius entered state politics and was elected to a two-year term in the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
as a Republican representing Washington County.
Following his term as county judge he returned to farming before winning election as mayor of Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
in 1903. The seventeenth person to serve as mayor of Washington County’s seat, he was in office from December 15, 1903, until December 4, 1906. Cornelius returned to the Oregon House in 1917 after winning election in 1916, again representing Washington County. Benjamin P. Cornelius died on December 24, 1930, at the age of 80 and was buried at the cemetery at the Old Scotch Church north of Hillsboro.