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Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative
citizens, together with biographies of all the governors of the state and
of the presidents of the United States.
Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1892


Page 193

    MRS. MARY J. CORNWELL.  We are pleased to represent in this Record one
of the prominent women farmers of Genesee Township, Genesee County, who is
a native of this township, being born here January 26, 1841, and has done
credit to her native home and the abode of her life time by successfully
carrying on farming operations on her fine estate, which is situated on
section 30.  Her father, JOHN WOOLFITT, is one of the foreign born citizens
who have helped to make Genesee County the spledid agricultural district
that it is to-day, and he brought hither from his native England those
sterling qualities of an English farmer which have made England the garden
spot of the world.  Thoroughness and system mark English farming and while
the conditions surrounding agricultural life there and in the wilds of
Michigan are vastly different, those same qualities are just as valuable
and even more essential among pioneer people.
    Mr. WOOLFITT had reached mature years before leaving Lincolnshire,
England, where he was born, and it was in 1834 that he came to Michigan.
Here he took up Government land in Genesee Township, Genesee County, and
built a log house upon the place.  This was his home throughout the
remainder of his life as he lived to the good old age of eighty-seven
years.  His good wife, JANE

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Page 194

ALLEN by name, was a native of Canada and was early bereaved of both
parents as her father died when she had completed only half of her first
decade and her mother was taken from her when the little girl was only
eight years old.  She was a little lassie of thirteen years when she came
to Michigan and she was brought up by Mr. J. BERRYMAN, and here met and
married in Flint City the father of our subject.  She is still living and
now in her old age she has about her eight of her nine children, all of
whom, six daughters and three sons, grew to man's and woman's estate.
    The brothers and sisters of our subject are ELIZABETH A., wife of
ROBERT BARKLEY of Otisville; CAROLINE B who married CHARLES JOHNSON, who is
now deceased; CHARLOTTE F., who is Mrs O. KINGMAN, of Charlotte, Mich.;
EMMA R., married WILLIAM CURTIS and lives near Clio; AMOS, who resides at
Bay City; WILLIAM E. lives on the homestead; MATILDA H. KINGMAN lives in
Genesee.  Mrs CORNWELL has a fine farm of one hundred and forty-eight acres
which she carries on by the help of hired men.  Here she pursues general
farming and upon her estate she keeps an excellent grade of stock.
    The children of our subject are CHARLES E., who married IDA WOODRUFF
and lives in Saginaw; ELLA M., who died at the age of 12 years; EDGAR L.;
WILLIAM C. and JENNIE M. who all live in Saginaw where the latter is
attending school as are also ELMER J. and LEROY W., while the youngest son,
TRYON A., resides with his mother and attends school in Flint.  Mrs.
CORNWELL has one grandchild ARTHUR B., the son of CHARLES E.

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