My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE A. CORELL, and energetic and prosperous farmer located upon section 4, Bertrand Township, Berrien County, Mich., is a native of Erie County, Pa., and was born near Girard, March 2, 1846. His paternal grandfather, Abraham Corell, Sr., was a native of New Jersey, of Scotch-Irish parentage. He removed to Albany County, N. Y., and there, in 1795, married Miss Mary Miller, who was of Knickerbocker descent. In the year 1819 they removed to Livingston County, and thence, in 1837, to Erie County, Pa. In 1853 Mr. Corell removed to Iowa, and there died in 1857, at the age of eighty-six and one-half years.

Abraham Corell, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Albany County, N. Y., August 10, 1815, and removed with his parents to Livingston County. In 1837 he went to Erie County, Pa., and at the age of twenty-four years. February 10, 1839, married Ann Elizabeth Brownell, who was born in Washington County, N. Y., November 1, 1818. When seven years old she removed with her parents to Chautauqua County, and later to Erie County, Pa. Her parents were from Rhode Island, and the father, Benjamin Brownell, was a descendant of Ethan Allen, noted in the Revolution as the commander of the Green Mountain boys.

In March, 1850, the father of our subject came with his family to Berrien County, Mich. A kind friend and upright citizen, he was deeply mourned when, December 23, 1883, he passed to his rest, aged sixty-eight years, three months and thirteen days; the mother survived her husband and is now living in Niles Township.

George A. Corell was one of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, born unto his parents, seven of whom lived to adult age, and six yet survive. Our subject was the fourth child and eldest son in order of birth, and was only four years of age when he arrived in Berrien County. He enjoyed instruction in the public schools of Niles and resided with his parents until twenty-two years of age. December 23, 1873, Mr. Corell was united in marriage with Miss Morna Alice Gragg, a daughter of Mortimer David Gragg, a native of Jefferson County, N. Y. Her mother, Hester Ann (Cronkhite) Gragg, was born in New York and was of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Gragg were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Corell was the third child and the third daughter. She was born in Niles September 13, 1851, and was educated in the public schools of her home locality. Mr. and Mrs. Corell have spent their married life upon their present homestead, which has been brightened by the birth of five intelligent children, two sons and three daughters: George E., Horace B., F. Genevieve, Delia L. and Mary Alice.

Mr. Corell has devoted the greater part of his time to the pursuit of agriculture, and is a practical tiller of the soil and a successful stock-raiser. He is a carpenter by trade, and, commencing in that business at the age of twenty-three years, continued in the same profitably for seven years. He owns a highly improved farm of eighty acres and has also worked his mother’s homestead of ninety-six acres. Our subject is actively connected with the Republican party and was elected Highway Commissioner in 1893. He has from his earliest manhood been deeply interested in both local and National affairs, and during the past twenty years has been identified with the progressive movements and business enterprises of this township, and is regarded as a man of worth, liberal ideas and public spirit. Fraternally, Mr. Corell is a member of the Royal Arcanum at Niles and has many warm friends within this well-known order.