Mrs. Ole Cornelius died at their farm home near Presho, S.D. on Sunday, Nov 13th, and the body was brought here and buried in the Orum cemetery on Thursday, Rev. A. F. Schafer of Kennard officiating. She leaves a husband and three sons aged 18, 13 and 7 years. She was 37 years of age, and had been ill for about two years with cancer. Mr. Cornelius drew a homestead in the Tripp county land lottery some two years ago, but still owns his farm near Orum where he had lived for many years.

#2-30 Nov., 1910 - The Tribune - Mary (Hansen) Cornelius

Mary Hansen Cornelius was born in Washington county, Neb., near Blair on the first day of May in 1873. She lost her mother in infancy and was adopted and raised by her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John A. From. On the 20th of February, 1891, she was married to Ole Cornelius. For a period of eighteen years she and her husband lived in their old home until they went to Tripp county, where Mr. Cornelius had drawn a claim in the recent land lottery. They filed on a quarter in the White river country and, besides farming, conducted a general store and post office, naming it Paliapesto, after the old Indian butte, a landmark near there. Mrs. Cornelius was always her husband’s right hand in his various undertakings. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius, three of whom survive her, James, aged 17; Nels, aged 15; and Melton, who is six years old. The other two, a boy and girl, died when two and a half years old. She has been in poor health for about six years, the physicians pronouncing her trouble enlargement of the spleen. Although at this time she was given little encouragement, she has always been hopeful and cheerful to the last. All that medical aid could do for her was done, and her life was lengthened for six years, but the end came when no one was looking for it. She had only been confined to her bed three days before her death, which occurred while her husband and two oldest children were in Lyman county, Mr. Cornelius arriving about an hour after she had passed away. Her remains were brought back to the old home for burial. The funeral services were conducted from the Danish Mission church by the Rev. A. F. Schafer of Kennard. Besides her immediate family, she leaves a brother, Hans Hansen of Paha pesto, S.D.; a sister, Mrs. Mary Unland of Arlington; four half brothers, Willie, Otto and Eddie Hansen, all of Fremont; four half sisters, Mrs. Christene Christensen of Blair; Mrs. Selma Spencer of Wisner; and Rose and Bessie Hansen and Oscar Hansen, who are at home with their mother at Bennington, the father having died two years ago. Many beautiful floral tributes were offered by her many friends, for Mrs. Cornelius made many friends wherever she went. The family and relatives have the sympathy of all in their bereavement.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #116373318