My Genealogy Hound

ABRAHAM CORELL. Man does not come into the world with mature thoughts and feelings. He learns a few isolated facts, and from these he evolves related truths, and only at the time of saying farewell to the world is he a man in stature and intellect. His life is but a preparatory school for the life to come. It is so with everyone, and not less so to the man whose name is above. He developed, he acquired, he struggled, he died, when to the infinite mind he was only ready to live well, but a nobler life is continued above.

Mr. Corell was born in Albany County, N. Y., August 10, 1815, and inherited his sturdy traits of character from his Scotch-Irish ancestors. His parents, Abraham and Mary (Miller) Corell, were natives respectively of New Jersey and New York, and their nuptials were celebrated in the latter State. Of the eleven children born to them our subject was the ninth child in order of birth and the fifth son. When four years of age he moved with his parents to Livingston County, N. Y., and there remained until the age of twenty-two. His scholastic training was received in the common schools, and at the above-mentioned age he went with his father to Girard, Erie County, Pa., and there engaged in farming. Our subject was a natural mechanic, could shoe horses and could turn his attention to almost anything of that kind. In connection with farming he carried on carpentering, and was unusually successful in his different occupations.

In 1850 he left the Keystone State for the West, and settled in Niles Township, Berrien County, Mich., on the farm where Mrs. Corell now resides. At that time there were no improvements on the place, except a small frame house and a log shed for a barn, and about eight acres under cultivation, he began at once to make great changes in the place, and on this farm passed the remainder of his life, dying December 23, 1883. He was a man of industry and perseverance, and one who left an unsullied record as an inheritance to his children. In politics he favored the Republican party, and held a number of local offices, being Justice of the Peace for some time. His widow, who was formerly Miss Ann Elizabeth Brownell, was born in the town of Cambridge, Washington County, N.Y., November 1, 1818, and was the daughter of Benjamin Brownell, who was also a native of that county and a soldier in the War of 1812. His father, Benjamin Brownell, was born in Rhode Island, and was of English descent. Some of the Brownells were in the Revolutionary War.

Mrs. Corell’s mother, formerly Susanna Fish, was a native of the Empire State, as was also the latter’s father, Benjamin Fish, who came of English-Quaker stock. They were relatives of Ethan Allen, leader of the Green Mountain boys, and the Brownells were related to Col. Elsworth. Mrs. Corell’s father and mother were married near Albany, N. Y., April 17, 1808, but later located in the town of Cambridge, where the father followed farming until 1826. From there they moved to central New York, where the father continued tilling the soil, and later moved to Erie County, Pa. This was in 1833, and they remained there until 1847, when they came to Berrien County, Mich. In this county both passed the closing scenes of their lives, the father dying at the age of seventy-two, and the mother when eighty-three years of age. They were the parents of twelve children, three daughters and nine sons, ten of whom grew to mature years, and four of whom are now living.

Mrs. Corell is the sixth child and eldest daughter. By her marriage to Mr. Corell, she became the mother of eleven children, six daughters and five sons: Delia L., who died at the age of twenty-eight; Ann E., wife of Edward Terriene, of Chicago; Susan A., wife of Elwood S. Chamberlain, of Kansas City; George A. (see sketch); Alice J., who died at the age of four years; Perry D., of Plainview, Neb.; Horace G., also of Nebraska; M. Alice, at home; Charlotte F., who died at the age of six years; John, who died at the age of four years; and Benjamin, who died at the age of twenty months. Mrs. Corell has a good farm of ninety-eight acres, and this has been carried on by her son George since the death of Mr. Corell. She is a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, and is well liked by all who are favored with her acquaintance.