Birth: 11 Feb 1837 Lancaster, Ontario, Canada
Death: 21 July 1924 Walnut Creek, Mitchell County, Kansas
Marriage to Richard Richardson: ?
Marriage to John Johnson: 14 Feb 1875 Wisconsin
Birth: 11 Feb 1837 Lancaster, Ontario, Canada Cornelia Alsista Underwood was born 11 Feb 1837 in Lancaster, Ontario, Canada which is on the St. Laurence River, 28 miles northeast of Cornwall, Canada and near the US/Canadian border.
Lancaster is 950 miles from Dane County, Wisconsin.
Was Cornelia's family new to Lancaster, or had they been there for many years? At this point, we don't know. If they were an established family in Lancaster, they may have gone there as Loyalists during the American Revolution. Or they might have been Scottish immigrants. However, the surname Underwood is a has Anglo-Saxon origins, so it is more likely, IF the family had been in Lancaster for several generations, that they were originally Loyalists.
From Wikipedia:
Grew to Womanhood in New York
Cornelia's obituary indicates that she "grew to womanhood in New York", then moved to Wisconsin. We don't have the dates for either of these events. Lancaster is very near the New York border.
Death: 21 July 1924 Walnut Creek, Mitchell County, Kansas
Marriage to Richard Richardson: ?
Marriage to John Johnson: 14 Feb 1875 Wisconsin
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| Cornelia Richardson Johnson |
Birth: 11 Feb 1837 Lancaster, Ontario, Canada Cornelia Alsista Underwood was born 11 Feb 1837 in Lancaster, Ontario, Canada which is on the St. Laurence River, 28 miles northeast of Cornwall, Canada and near the US/Canadian border.
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| Lancaster, Ontario, Canada |
Lancaster is 950 miles from Dane County, Wisconsin.
Was Cornelia's family new to Lancaster, or had they been there for many years? At this point, we don't know. If they were an established family in Lancaster, they may have gone there as Loyalists during the American Revolution. Or they might have been Scottish immigrants. However, the surname Underwood is a has Anglo-Saxon origins, so it is more likely, IF the family had been in Lancaster for several generations, that they were originally Loyalists.
From Wikipedia:
Charlottenburgh and Lancaster were two of the original eight "Royal Townships" established along the Saint Lawrence River in Upper Canada in the 1780s. This area was first settled by United Empire Loyalists. The development of this area was encouraged by Sir John Johnson, a wealthy landowner loyal to Britain, who was forced to abandon his land holdings in New York State during the American Revolution.
From the late 18th century to the early 19th century, the area was almost entirely settled by Scottish emigrants from all over the Scottish Highlands due to the Highland Clearances. Specifically, the Inverness-shire area of Scotland. Canadian Gaelic / Scottish Gaelic had been spoken in Glengarry County since its first settlement in 1784.
Grew to Womanhood in New York
Cornelia's obituary indicates that she "grew to womanhood in New York", then moved to Wisconsin. We don't have the dates for either of these events. Lancaster is very near the New York border.
Cornelia's First Marriage
By 1875, when she married John Johnson, Cornelia had a daughter, Ada, about 6 years old. Census records indicate Ada was born in New York or Iowa. One record indicates Ada's father's name was Richard Richardson.
We assume Cornelia's first husband died and left her a widow, but we have no record or proof of that.
Possible Scenerios and Questions - At this time we do not have the answers.
• Cornelia married Mr. Richardson in New York, then moved to Iowa, then to Wisconsin.
• Cornelia married Mr. Richardson in New York, then moved to Wisconsin. Cornelia's obituary does not mention her living in Iowa.
• At the time of Cornelia's death, Ada is living in Sioux City, Iowa. Did they move there because Ada had relatives on her father's side living in Iowa? Or was it for
14 Feb 1875 Cornelia A. Richardson married John Johnson in Wisconsin.
When they joined their families, John had 4 children ages about 13, 7, 5, and 3 years old.
Cornelia had a daughter, Ada, about 6 years old, from a previous marriage.
Cornelia's maiden name "Underwood" is from her daughter, Ada's, 1925 census record.
1876 Moved to Hayes Township, Mitchell County, Kansas
Traveled by wagon.
1879 Birth of daughter, Minnie Hellena Johnson
Cornelia's obituary indicates she had two additional children who died in infancy. We don't know their birth dates, but assume these children were born in Kansas.
1881
Frankie's wedding announcement tells us that John is living in Pittsburg Township, Mitchell County, Kansas. But is his family there as well? We don't know.
1885 Census
The 1885 census tells us that John and family are living in Hayes Township.
Travel to Wisconsin
We don't have the date, but at some point, Cornelia went to Wisconsin to visit family.
About 1889
Moved to Walnut Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas
about 1902
Husband John Johnson had a "stroke of paralysis" (from obituary)
8 Apr 1904
Death of John Johnson
1905 Census
Cornelia (68 yrs) & Eugene (36) are living by or with Ed (29) & Minnie (25) , Harold (3), Curtis (1).
Cornelia and Gene are listed as a separate household and living in a separate house. Cornelia is listed as house only, no farm.
Isaac is not listed. He has already gone to live at the State Hospital for Epileptics in Parsons, Kansas.
February 1910
Eugene is court-ordered to the State Hospital for the Feeble-minded at Winfield.
Apr. 22, 1910 Census
Cornelia is now living in the same house w/minnie & Ed, Harrold (9), Curtis (7), Millard (4)
Her parent's birth places are provided:
Father's birth: Massachusetts
Mother's birth: Vermont
1915 Census
Cornelia is living with Minnie (36), Ed (39), Harold (13), Curtis (11), Millard (9)
1920
Cornelia is NOT listed on 1920 Census with Minnie & Ed. Was she visiting John's family in Wisconsin? Was she visiting Ada in Iowa? We don't know.
21 July 1924 Cornelia died at Minnie's home, where she had lived for the past 20 years.
I believe that Cornelia's death was unexpected and happened suddenly. Note the poem at the end of her obituary:
Also, her daughter Frankie was very distraught because she was out of town when Cornelia died, and was unable to make it to the funeral. See Frankie's page for more information.
23 July 1924 Burial at Walnut Creek Cemetery, Mitchell County, Kansas
Originally, the tombstone had a ball on top, but it was removed by vandals. Note that John's stone is on top, even though he died before Cornelia. Also note that the two portions are made of different types of stone. We can speculate on the reasons.
Cornelia had a daughter, Ada, about 6 years old, from a previous marriage.
Cornelia's maiden name "Underwood" is from her daughter, Ada's, 1925 census record.
1876 Moved to Hayes Township, Mitchell County, Kansas
Traveled by wagon.
1879 Birth of daughter, Minnie Hellena Johnson
Cornelia's obituary indicates she had two additional children who died in infancy. We don't know their birth dates, but assume these children were born in Kansas.
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| 1880 Census, Hayes Township, Mitchell County, Kansas |
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| Cornelia & John Johnson |
1881
Frankie's wedding announcement tells us that John is living in Pittsburg Township, Mitchell County, Kansas. But is his family there as well? We don't know.
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| 1885 Census, Hayes Township, Mitchell County, Kansas |
1885 Census
The 1885 census tells us that John and family are living in Hayes Township.
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| Front row, 2nd from right: Cornelia Johnson. Is the man with the long beard John Johnson? I believe the others are John Johnson's siblings. The photo was taken in Wisconsin. |
We don't have the date, but at some point, Cornelia went to Wisconsin to visit family.
About 1889
Moved to Walnut Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas
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| 1900 Census, Walnut Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas |
about 1902
Husband John Johnson had a "stroke of paralysis" (from obituary)
8 Apr 1904
Death of John Johnson
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| John & Cornelia Johnson |
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| 1905 Census, Walnut Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas |
1905 Census
Cornelia (68 yrs) & Eugene (36) are living by or with Ed (29) & Minnie (25) , Harold (3), Curtis (1).
Cornelia and Gene are listed as a separate household and living in a separate house. Cornelia is listed as house only, no farm.
Isaac is not listed. He has already gone to live at the State Hospital for Epileptics in Parsons, Kansas.
February 1910
Eugene is court-ordered to the State Hospital for the Feeble-minded at Winfield.
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| 1910 Census, Walnut Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas |
Apr. 22, 1910 Census
Cornelia is now living in the same house w/minnie & Ed, Harrold (9), Curtis (7), Millard (4)
Her parent's birth places are provided:
Father's birth: Massachusetts
Mother's birth: Vermont
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| 1915 Census, Walnut Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas |
1915 Census
Cornelia is living with Minnie (36), Ed (39), Harold (13), Curtis (11), Millard (9)
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| On back of photo: "Cornelia Johnson and her grandchildren" (& great-grandchildren?). Harold German (b.1900), back row directly behind Cornelia, is about 15 years old, so the photo was taken about 1915. The 3 boys with open shirt collars are Harold, Curtis, and Millard German, children of Minnie & Ed German. Clarence's children: Theodore, Lillian, Edna, Selma, and Roswell (b. 1915 & probably not yet born) Frankie's youngest child was born in 1893, so the other children are most likely Frankie's grandchildren & Cornelia's great-grandchildren. |
1920
Cornelia is NOT listed on 1920 Census with Minnie & Ed. Was she visiting John's family in Wisconsin? Was she visiting Ada in Iowa? We don't know.
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| Cornelia Johnson |
Obituary of Cornelia Richardson Johnson
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| Obituary of Cornelia Richardson Johnson |
21 July 1924 Cornelia died at Minnie's home, where she had lived for the past 20 years.
I believe that Cornelia's death was unexpected and happened suddenly. Note the poem at the end of her obituary:
We loved her, yes we loved her,But angels loved her more.And they have sweetly called herTo yonder shining shore.The golden gates were opened,A gentle voice said, "come."And with farewell words unspoken,She calmly entered home.
Also, her daughter Frankie was very distraught because she was out of town when Cornelia died, and was unable to make it to the funeral. See Frankie's page for more information.
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| Walnut Creek Cemetery, Mitchell County, KS |
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| Walnut Creek Cemetery, Mitchell County, KS |
23 July 1924 Burial at Walnut Creek Cemetery, Mitchell County, Kansas
Originally, the tombstone had a ball on top, but it was removed by vandals. Note that John's stone is on top, even though he died before Cornelia. Also note that the two portions are made of different types of stone. We can speculate on the reasons.