Colonel Cornell's Coach

Description

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Photographs

Notes

S. Douglas Cornell belonged to the eighth generation of Cornells in Americas. Douglas came to Buffalo with his father and graduated from Hobart in 1860. There he excelled in oratory and dramatics, talents he exercised later as stage manager of the Buffalo Amateurs. After graduation he began an active business career with his father. Mr. Cornell's father desired his son's services in his rapidly increasing business, hitherto conducted under his own name; the young man returned from the West and devoted himself to the interests of the firm, which thus acquired the style of S. G. Cornell & Son. The firm was so known until 1867, when it was reorganized as the Cornell Lead Company. Under this name the business was successfully carried on until 1888 when Mr. S. Douglas Cornell retired from active pursuits. Mr. Cornell for many years was connected with the National Guard. N.Y. He enlisted as a private in the Seventy-fourth regiment, in which he soon became a noncommissioned officer. The attention of Brigadier-general William F. Rogers was called to the faithful young man, who was thereupon given a staff appointment as junior aide-de-camp. Mr. Cornell remained on the staff of general Rogers for fifteen years while that officer was a Brigadier-general, and afterwards a Major-general in command of the Fourth division. After serving through various subordinate ranks, Mr. Cornell won the position of assistant adjutant-general and chief of staff, with the rank of colonel. This position he retained until the reorganization of the national Guard, and the abolishment of divisions. In 1862 S. Douglas married Lydia Hadfield of Buffalo and they had three children, Peter Cortelyou, Lydia, and Douglas. His wife was from a distinguished old English family. They spent the summer months in Cobourg, Ontario, in a beautiful villa, known as "Hadfield Hurst." E. A. Kent designed some alterations to Hadfield Hurst. (Katharine Cornell was married in her aunt's house in Cobourg at 139 Queen Street in 1921 or 22.)

Date of Original

c. 1870

Subject(s)