Cornell article by Karen

Mary Jane Cornell
By Karen Cuccinello
This article came about because Karl Dubshinski, a history buff and antique dealer from Jefferson, lent me Mary’s 1862 teaching certificate. Notice the spelling of “Miss” is “Mifs”, they often used the elongated “s” that looks like “f” in words with a double ”s”. He wondered (and then of course I wondered) what became of Mary. Turns out Karl could just about throw a rock to where she ended up.
Mary J. was born in Schoharie County May 1835 to Daniel and Mary (Morey) Cornell. Her father was a miller and minister. She had siblings: Eleanor, Bertha Ann, Ellen and John.
I suspect Mary only taught school for one year as she married Norman A. Parsons of Stamford on October 21, 1863. Norman always listed as a farmer in the census reports where they lived, in Gilboa, Summit and Jefferson. They had at least four children: Fanny, Albert, Lula/Lulu May and Lois. Norman died in 1909 and Mary listed as a farmer with children Albert and Lula still living with her in Jefferson in the 1910 census. I believe Inez P. Burnett (born May 1887), who lived with Mary during her younger years, was her only grandchild born to her daughter Fanny, who married Rev. Malone Burnett and died June 17, 1887 age 26 at Norton Hill. Mary died May 3, 1913 in Jefferson (NYS Death Index). Both are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Jefferson. You can almost see Karl Dubshinski’s shop on Rte. 10 from their gravestone.
While researching Mary I discovered that her daughter Lula also became a teacher and taught at schools in Jefferson and Summit for about 20 years.
July 9, 1914 (Cobleskill Index)- Our hats are off and our congratulations are hearty for Stephen S. Cornell, the good natured prosperous East Jefferson farmer who took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Lulu M. Parsons, a most respected, well educated and well known lady of Eminence, but formerly of this town. The wedding ceremony was at the M.E. Parsonage at Summit and they were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Cornell. They enjoyed a few days in Schenectady and Albany and will soon be home at the Cornell farm, which by virtue of a transaction recently made, is now the property of Stephen S. Cornell. [Jefferson Courier]
Mary was 40 and Stephen was 48 years old when they got married and they lived in East Jefferson, then moved to Warnerville in 1919. Lula died November 16, 1940 in Richmondville/Warnerville (NYS Death Index) and Stephen died in 1959. Stephen’s farm belonged to Frank Laubmeier in 1959. Both are in Evergreen Cemetery.