CORNELIUS CHAMBERS

Cornelius Chambers gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. August 31, 1846
D. March 16, 1848
Find A Grave memorial (click here)
  • Father: Jedadiah O. Chambers born about 1811 in New York; Jedadiah died September 6, 1887 in Independence, IA; buried in West Union Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, IA
  • Mother: Catherine (unknown) Chambers born about 1825 in New York
  • Step Mother: Eunice (unknown) born about 1833 in Illinois; married (1) Xavier Brown; married (2) Jedadiah O. Chambers; Eunice died February 12, 1900; buried in West Union Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, IA
  • Siblings:
    • Josephine Chambers born about 1846 in Illinois
    • Myron Chambers born about about 1849 in Illinois; married Josephine E. Leroy (1851-1913); Myron died in 1935; Myron and Josephine are buried in Harlington Cemetery, Waverly, Bremer County, IA
    • Charles Fremont Chambers born December 23, 1861 in Lake County, IL; married Esther Judith Rosier (1861-1936); Charles died January 10, 1940 in Oelwein, Fayette County, IA; Charles and Esther are buried in West Union Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, IA

According to the Gazette (Cedar Rapids IA) Wednesday, January 10, 1940, page 8:

“C. F. CHAMBERS, 78,
PROMINENT FAYETTE
COUNTY MAN, DEAD

Special to the Gazette,
   WEST UNION – C. F. Chambers, 78, of West Union, died early Wednesday at the Oelwein hospital.  He was Fayette county recorder four years, county auditor eight years, and twice was postmaster for a total of sixteen years.  He also had served as city clerk, member of the school board, and had been prominent in all branches of the Masonic lodge.  He is survived by a son, C. B. Chambers, president of the First National bank at Oelwein, and a daughter, Miss Catharyne Chambers, principal of the high school at Clear Lake.”

Additional Information:

(NOTE: The following census records give the location of Cornelius’ parents.  Census records indicated that in 1870, Eunice was the wife of Jedadiah which indicates that Catherine, the mother of Cornelius, might have passed away.)

According to the 1850 U.S. Census for the Town of Goodale, Lake County, IL, the household members were:

“J. O. Chambers, age 48, occupation: mill (illegible), born in New York; Catherine Chambers age 25, born in New York; Josephine Chambers, age 6, born in Illinois; Miron Chambers, age 1, born in Illinois”

According to the 1860 U.S. Census for the Town of Goodale, Lake County, IL with a Forksville post office, the household members were:

“J. A. Chambers, age 46, occupation: farmer, born in New York; Catherine Chambers, age 33, born in New York; Josephine Chambers, age 15, born in Illinois; Mirone Chambers, age 10, born in Illinois; James Smith, age 13, born in Illinois”

According to the 1870 U.S. Census for the Town of Grant, Lake County, IL with a Fort Hill post office, the household members were:

“(illegible possibly John C) Chambers, age 57, occupation: farmer, born in New York; Eunice Chambers, age 39, born in New York; Josephine Chambers, age 19, born in New York; Myron Chambers, age 21, occupation: work on farm, born in Illinois; Frank Chambers, age 11, born in Illinois; James Chambers, age 7, born in Illinois; Cora Chambers, age 5, born in Illinois; Dora Chambers, age 1, born in Illinois”

According to the 1880 U.S. Census for West Union City, Fayette County, IA, the household members were:

“Jedidiah Chambers, age 70, married, occupation: laborer, born in New York, parents born in Germany; Eunice Chambers, age 45, wife, married, born in Illinois; Frank Brown, age 20, stepson, single, occupation: laborer, born in Illinois, parents born in New York; James L. Brown, age 18, stepson, single, born in Iowa”