Benjamin P. Cornelius

Benjamin P. Cornelius
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office 1893—1894
Constituency	Washington County
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office 1917—1918
Constituency	Washington County
17th Mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
In office 1903—1906
Preceded by	William N. Barrett
Succeeded by	John Dennis
Personal details
Born	November 9, 1850 Hillsboro, Oregon, US
Died	December 24, 1930(1930-12-24) (aged 80) Hillsboro, Oregon, US
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Esther A. Barrett
Profession	Farmer

Benjamin Peyton Cornelius (November 9, 1850 – December 24, 1930) was an American politician and judge in Oregon. A Republican, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon. The son of Thomas R. Cornelius, he was also the sheriff of Washington County and a judge in that county.

Early life

Cornelius was born to Thomas Cornelius and Florentine Wilks on November 9, 1850, in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon.[1] He was raised in that county and was engaged in agriculture before marrying Esther A. Barrett on November 11, 1871, in neighboring Glencoe.

Cornelius became involved in politics as a Republican and served as a delegate to the county's party convention and state conventions starting in the 1880s.[1]

Political career

In 1884, Cornelius won his first election when he was elected as the sheriff of Washington County.[1] He was elected again in 1888, and in 1894 was elected as a county judge.[1] In 1892, Cornelius entered state politics and was elected to a two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives as a Republican representing Washington County.[2]

Following his term as county judge he returned to farming before winning election as mayor of Hillsboro in 1903.[3] The seventeenth person to serve as mayor of Washington County's seat, he was in office from December 15, 1903, until December 4, 1906.[3] Cornelius returned to the Oregon House in 1917 after winning election in 1916, again representing Washington County.[4] Benjamin P. Cornelius died on December 24, 1930, at the age of 80.

References

1. Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), and Republican League of Oregon. Republican League Register, a Record of the Republican Party in the State of Oregon. Portland: Register Pub. Co, 1896. p. 191.
2. Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, 1893 Regular Session (17th). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on June 19, 2016.
3. Mayors: City of Hillsboro. The Hillsboro Argus, October 19, 1976
4. Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, 1917 Regular Session (29th). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on June 19, 2016.