Ancestral Roots & History

My great grandfather, Wiley Eli Cornett was born on April 4, 1881 and died in 1958. (Findagrave.com) He had a son named Walter Allen Cornett Sr., and this would be my grandfather and also the father of Billy Edward Cornett, (my father). I have some genealogy papers from a family member who was researching the Cornett ancestry back in 1993, that states Wiley’s actual death date as being February 28, 1958. I can’t confirm this fact with her as she now has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t remember much. So his exact death date is just one piece of evidence that I will need to verify.

Wiley Eli Cornett (1881-1958)
Buried at New Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery (York County, PA)
Find A Grave Website (Photo Credit: Beckey and Taylor Russell) taken November 3, 2011

In honor of my great grandfather, Wiley Eli Cornett, a World War I veteran, I write this article based on the knowledge I have obtained so far. Having located Wiley’s World War I Draft Record (1917-1918), he was 37 years of age at that time; During the time Wiley was enlisted, the influenza epidemic of 1918 claimed approximately 50 million people. Not only were our soldiers dying in the first World War, but their lives and the lives of other civilians were being taken due to this influenza outbreak. (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/influenza-epidemic/)

According to his WW1 Draft Registration Card, Wiley was of medium height and build, and had dark brown hair and gray eyes. His home address was listed as Mayberry, Madawell, West Virginia as of September 12, 1918, which was the date when his registration card was signed. He is listed as a machinist (1917-1918) and his employer was listed as James Jones & Co, also of Mayberry, Madawell, West Virginia. I am not sure how long he worked for this employer and believe the company is no longer in existence. I have tried searching for the company but was unable to find anything on the business. Any suggestions on where I should look? I’m stumped on this particular piece of data. Below is a digitized copy of Wiley’s registration card and as you can see there isn’t a whole lot of detail, but there are some clues in which I can work with.

Wiley Eli Cornett Draft Record Page 1 (1917-1918)

Wiley Eli Cornett World War 1 Draft Record Page 2

I am also currently reading over two different census records where he is listed as head of household, one from the year 1910 and the other a 1920 Federal Census, respectively. When looking at the Federal Census of 1910 for St. Clair, Smyth County,Virginia, it states that he was a farmer at the age of 26 and he had his wife Izora Evelyn Cornett, aged 27, and 4 children listed under him as well. So this tells me his wife Izora was a year older than him and they had 4 children by the time they were in their mid 20’s. They had two daughters and two sons, Flossie B. was aged 9, Nina E. age 5, Charlie B. age 3, and Walter A. age 1.

On the Federal Census of 1920, in the Speedwell District of Wythe County, Virginia, Wiley is listed as head of household, a laborer on a farm, aged 36, with 5 children. The new addition to the four children from the 1910 census, was a daughter named Virgie Mae, age 5. So this tells me that Virgie was born 5 years later, so approximate birth year for her was most likely 1915 or somewhere in that range.

Event Timeline 1881-1958

1881– Alexander Graham Bell was the first person to use a metal detector.

1881– Ulysses S. Grant goes bankrupt after putting all of his financial assets into the purchase of a house.

1882– A.A. Milne is born, English author known for Winnie the Pooh books

1882– On April 3rd, Jesse James was assassinated.

1886– The first Coca-Cola is sold.

1890– Idaho became the 43rd state to be admitted to the Union.

1893– The Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown.

1897– Amelia Earhart was born.

1899– Al Capone was born.

1903– Call of the Wild is published.

1906– Ford Model K is first produced, along with the Ford Model N.

1910– Kellogg’s offers first cereal prize in the form of a booklet called, Funny Jungleland.

1912– The RMS Titanic sinks after striking an iceberg.

1920– Wallstreet Bombing

1926– Marilyn Monroe was born.

1931– Hoover Dam is constructed.

1940– New York Rangers win Stanley Cup.

1946– My mother, Carolyn, was born 🙂

1952– Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis get married.

1958– My great grandfather Wiley Eli Cornett dies.

The above events may or may not have shaped Wiley’s life, but it’s also good to know the events that took place in his lifetime. There are many questions that I still do not have the answers to, but I hope one day I find them. That’s what a genealogist does right?

Find A Grave Image Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=79784959

Izora Parks Cornett (Born June 21, 1880- January 28, 1960)

Izora Parks-Cornett was my 3rd great grandmother, who was born in the year 1880. What I found interesting about this particular funeral card was the texture of the paper. It is soft and flexible but also resembles a plastic type of paper. I am not sure what kind of paper that her information was printed on, but it is definitely unique. The inside you can see some of the texture from the image above.  This funeral card came from my mothers collection that was saved over the years. I am very thankful for this little piece of history!

Twenty-one years ago today, at 12:36 a.m. to be exact, I gave birth to my first son, John. I remember to this day, what the entire pregnancy was like before I had to be rushed to the hospital for delivery. On the day I found out I was to become a mother for the first time, I was in an emergency room with my mother wondering if I ate something to cause me to be this sick. I was 18 years old. What was I going to do with an infant who would depend on me for the rest of his or her life? So many thoughts ran through my mind at that time. I was elated with joy, knowing I was carrying this baby which is a part of me and would forever be.  I had a “little someone” that I would one day be able to hold and cradle in my arms, who I would love dearly more than my own life, and I would receive that same love in return.

I read pregnancy books, baby naming books, and a “mother to be” package of papers that a health department would give a new mother. It showed different images of how your body would look through the varying stages of pregnancy, what I would be feeling, weird cravings other mothers have had. Let me tell you the weird cravings kind of freaked me out! Who wants to eat soot out of a fireplace anyway? The only cravings I had with my son came in the form of a king size “Snickers” bar and a 32 ounce “Coca-Cola”! I know it’s not the best thing to be eating, but I had to have them-EVERY DAY!

In terms of how I really felt throughout my entire pregnancy, is like this: Imagine waking every morning, as soon as your eyelids open, jumping out of bed like it was in flames, to rush to the porcelain god of thrones, retching and feeling like your gut was twisted in knots! Morning sickness for me was actually “all day and night sickness”. I was sick all day, into the late night hours and even found myself hugging the toilet at ungodly hours.  Would this feeling ever go away?? From what I had read, it would only last a month or two then my body would adjust to all the changes my baby was creating in me. WRONG! Who wrote that garbage anyway? It was a big fat lie- at least from my own experience it was! I suffered morning, noon, and night sickness for the first 7 months of my pregnancy! Yuck.

To all those mothers that say they enjoyed their pregnancy and actually glowed throughout the entire thing, well in plain terms, “you suck!” (Said in a nice way of course) The only glow I had was perspiration from vomiting so much. Certain smells just triggered my morning sickness too, which didn’t help me at all! Shalimar perfume, the smell of eggs cooking and anything else being fried, and cigarette smoke all made me ill. I wasn’t a smoker and therefore, couldn’t stand the smell of stale smoke.

During my pregnancy, I loved to feel my baby kick. At first, it felt like butterflies in my stomach but as my baby grew it became more intense. I remember laying down to go to sleep, laying on my back, my stomach would shift to the side and I would pull up my night shirt and just watch the little feet poke my stomach out in a deformed kind of way. It was truly amazing!

Being that it was my first pregnancy, I didn’t know what to expect as far as labor pain was concerned. After watching movies where women were giving birth and screaming obscenities at their husbands, I just knew I couldn’t be in labor yet because I wasn’t like those possessed looking women  I seen on television. My water broke mid afternoon on July 15th. Sitting on the sofa, I was in pain but thought it wasn’t time yet. But the pain intensified to the point that I couldn’t sit still or get comfortable. Legs stretched out, my stomach like a big balloon under my clothing, I decided it was time to see my OB and get to the hospital.

My “to-be” in-laws drove my fiancee and I to the hospital, which was a good 40 minutes away. I can’t remember the exact time we left for the hospital but I know it was after 11 p.m. In the car, I can remember them saying, “I didn’t think you were in this much pain!” Really? I guess this is what labor is supposed to feel like then. I was nervous, but not about to have a panic attack. Calls were being made for family to visit because I was about to have my son! I had my fiancee, John, my mother Carolyn and Helena, my soon to be mother in law in the delivery room with me. The mothers wanted to watch me give birth to their very first grandchild. I was a little self conscious knowing that they would be watching the actual delivery but that soon passed. I was given ice chips to chew on and oxygen to help me breathe better. The hardest part about delivering was having to bypass a severe contraction when all I wanted was to push! Pushing the head out was the worst I think, as the nurse put both her forearms on my stomach and tried to help push him out as my body was getting weaker and I felt like I didn’t have the strength to push any longer. That was uncomfortable! I can remember saying, “Can I have something for the pain?” and the doctor saying, “No, you are too far along for any of that. You are delivering this baby au naturel.”

So now my son John Raymond has been born! Everyone that was in the delivery room held my son before I did. Finally I had enough and wanted to hold my baby in my arms. I felt complete! There is nothing that compares to holding your infant in your arms for the very first time. I held him so long, laying him on my chest, he fell asleep and so did I. In comes the nurse, scolding me for that! So I insisted he be kept in the room next to my bed. I didn’t want to be apart from him for one second!

Happy birthday son!

And the rest, as they say, is history…

To the best of my ability, I am attempting to transcribe David Cornutt’s (Cornett) Will, dated September 1847.

In the name of God, Amen. Be it remembered that I, David Cornutt of Grayson County, Virginia , being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory (or you may say this, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life; and being of sound mind) *helped?* be Almighty God for the same, to make and publish this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following (that is to say)

First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son, William Cornutt, the sum of one dollar, I do also give and bequeath unto my three younger sons, James Cornutt, John Cornutt, and Reuben Cornutt, the sum of three dollars, I also give and bequeath to my four daughters Lilly Hooten, Roda Graham, Diada Sotherlin and Pheroby Andrewson (Anderson) all my money and nots (?) and movable property which several legacies or sums of money. I will and order shall be paid to the said respective legatees (legacies) within six months after my decease. I further give and devise to my four daughters Lilly Hooten, Roda Graham, Diada Sotherlin, and Pheroby Andrewson all my land entire and my slave with the appertanances?  and lying in the same county and state afore and equally to be divided between them and lastly as to all the rest, residence and remainder of my personal estate of what kind and nature service I give and bequeath the same to said two son in laws Thomas Sothalin and John Anderson, whom I hereby appoint sole executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal, April 9th 1837 in the year of our Lord.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said above named David Cornutt to be his last will and testament in the presents of us who at his request and at his presents have here unto subscribed our names as witness to the same.

John Cornutt

William Roberts

Michael Shuler

Virginia: In the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Grayson County, September Term, 1847.

This last will and testament of David Cornutt, deceased was proved in open court by the oaths of John (this is where the page cuts off and I assume that the oaths were given by those signed as witness to the will and testament of David Cornutt)