Biographical Sketch of John CORNOG (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, page 872. "JOHN CORNOG, a representative business man and iron manufacturer of Downingtown, who furnished the stone for Girard college, Philadelphia, is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Effinger) Cornog, and was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1808. His paternal grandfather, John Cornog, was a native of Delaware county, where he followed farming as an occupation. He was a Jeffersonian democrat in politics, and married and had two children: Daniel and Thomas. "Daniel Cornog, the father of the subject of this sketch, after arriving at manhood removed to Radnor township, Delaware county, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred at an advanced age. He married Sarah Effinger, now deceased, and they were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, among whom were: John, Ferdinand, Charles, Anna Lindsay and Adalaide. "John Cornog was reared on his father's farm, received his education in the old subscription schools of Pennsylvania, and then engaged in the marble business near Downingtown, which he followed for a number of years. During that time he resided in Chester valley, so as to be convenient to his work, and shipped large quantities of marble to Philadelphia. He fur- nished all the stone used in the construction of the celebrated Girard college of that city. When he retired from the stone and marble business, he engaged in farming and iron manufacturing, which he has followed ever since. His farm lies near Downingtown, and his iron plant is situated seven miles from that borough, on Brandywine creek, where he employs a force of one hundred men, and manufactures iron for rolling mill purposes. "John Cornog was united in marriage with Eleanor Van Leer, and to their union was born a family of children, among whom were: George, now engaged in the hotel business in Philadelphia; Henry and Ferdinand, the latter now deceased. "John Cornog is intelligent, energetic and firm in his convictions of what he thinks to be right. He has always had large faith in the development of the material resources of his own county, and has been the pioneer in the line of the marble and stone trade. Amidst all the multiplied cares of his extensive business he has time to think of his friends, whom he is always glad to greet and render any service within his power. Success in business life comes not to every one who embarks in commercial pursuits, and of those who have succeeded in Chester county, Mr. Cornog deserves especial mention. His life has been one of activity and usefulness, and in all of his business enterprises success has attended his efforts."