Mr. Cornwell was married March 16, 1857, to Miss Mary Tucker, who died on the 25th of April, 1858. On the 20th of October, 1859, Mr. Cornwell was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Stott and they became the parents of the following children: Laura, the wife of C. S. Robinson, of Walla Walla; Oliver T., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Charles E., a resident of Tacoma; Nannie E., the wife of A. M. Cation, of Walla Walla; Arthur G., also of Walla Walla; Minnie E., the wife of Albert Cheney, of Trout Lake, Washington; and Raleigh, who died when about sixteen years of age. The mother of these children passed away in June, 1893, and Mr. Cornwell died in Walla Walla about 1898.
Mr. Cornwell was a staunch advocate of republican principles and served in the territorial legislature as a joint representative from Walla Walla and Whitman counties. His ability won recognition in that body and he was acknowledged to be one of its most valued members. Whether the matter in hand was some question relating to the management of his large farm properties or some problem of government he was always quick to distinguish between the essential and the non-essential factors in a situation and resourceful and sound of judgment in advising a course of action. The same spirit of dogged perseverance that led him as a boy of seventeen to refuse to admit defeat and lie down to die when it seemed humanly impossible to continue further on the way to Oregon was manifest throughout his entire life and that which he undertook was successfully accomplished.
JOHN P. ANDERSON.
John P. Anderson is one of the worthy citizens that Sweden has furnished to the new world and although he came to this country in limited circumstances, he is today one of the well-to-do ranchmen of Walla Walla county, owning a valuable tract of three thousand acres. He was born in Sweden on the 15th of July, 1853, and is a son of Andrew Bengston and Bula Johnson, who spent their entire lives in that country. In their family were seven children, four of whom are still living—one in Sweden and the others in America.
John P. Anderson passed his boyhood and youth in his native land, where he pursued his education in the public schools. Believing that better opportunities were afforded young men on this side of the Atlantic, he came to the United States in 1872 and after spending three years in Illinois proceeded westward to Washington. Locating near Walla Walla, he was in the employ of others for two years and then took up a homestead, where he has since spent the most of his time. As the years have gone by he has steadily prospered in his farming operations and has added to his property until he now owns three thousand acres of land, all improved, and he also has a beautiful home in Walla Walla surrounded by eight acres of ground, on which he raises all kinds of fruit.
In early manhood Mr. Anderson married Miss Anna Gamberg, also a native of Sweden, and to them were born nine children, of whom Arthur and Mabel are deceased. Those living are Victor, who is now on the ranch; Bessie, at home, and Melvin, Carl, Bengt, Otto and Alice, all in school. The wife and mother passed away November 15, 1916, leaving many friends as well as her immediate family to mourn her loss, and her remains were interred in Mountain View cemetery. She was an earnest member of the Christian church, to which Mr. Anderson also belongs, and in politics he is a staunchrepublican but has never been an office seeker. He is one of the self-made men of the community, his success in life being due to his own energy, enterprise and good business ability.
ALONZO L. SANFORD.
Among the citizens of Columbia county who have attained success in their chosen calling and are now able to lay aside all business cares and enjoy the fruits of former labor is Alonzo L. Sanford, who for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits but is spending the sunset of life in ease and retirement. He was born in Clark county, Illinois, on the 2d of November, 1845, and is a son of Peleg and Malinda (Greenleaf) Sanford, natives of New York state, whence they removed to Illinois in 1832. There the father bought a tract of government land at one dollar and a quarter per acre and built thereon a log cabin, in which the family lived for several years. Throughout the remainder of his life he continued to operate his farm and there his death occurred. His widow subsequently came to Walla Walla, Washington, and here she passed away. In their family were five sons, of whom three are still living.