Cornelius Traveller

Cornelius Traveller was born Sep 29, 1819 in St. Maylebone, England to Thomas and Jane Moore Traveller. Cornelius is a Pioneer of Richmond. Cornelius was a veteran of the Indian Wars.

History

During his early life, Cornelius participated in many trades—a Pavilion Boy, 1829; Butcher, 1832; Salesman, 1833; Cabinetmaker, 1835. During his time as a cabinetmaker, Cornelius ran away from home and his employment and moved to Dublin, Ireland with a Yorkshireman. This ended up being a bad decision for Cornelius.1

"Here we stopped for four or five days until our money got exhausted. we could not get any work, so I sold my tools and we went across the Channel by steamer to Liverpool. I tried to get work but found a trade strike on. We then joined the trade society, got our care and one penny per mile for traveling expenses to the next town. So we went from town to town... to Huddersfield, which was my companion's birthplace. He did not want to go any further so he left me to travel by myself. I had walked so much that my feet were sore, my shoes worn out, and my true position presented itself before me. I was determined to return home as soon as I could get the means to do so."1

Cornelius took a steamboat to London and walked 9 miles to his home. During his walk, Cornelius had not eaten for 36 hours by the time he reached home. After arriving home, he began working for his previous employer once again.1

Cornelius married Ann Eliza Atkins on Aug 17, 1840 in St. Luke, England. During his work in cabinet making, Ann died from consumption in 1853, leaving Cornelius to raise three children.1

"In October 1853, my brother Robert came to me and preached the doctrine of the Latter-day Saints, and in the evening I went with him and to the meeting in High Holber, and heard the principles of the gospel preached by the servants of God, and I have never since that time had the least doubt in my mind as the authenticity of the same, and on December 11, 1853, I was baptized in Irlington Baths by Elder William Elliss of Holbron Branch at Hacking. I was ordained a priest, afterwards an Elder, and was president of the Sunday School, acting teacher, clerk of the branch, and had a district to tract every Sunday."1

Cornelius Traveller remarried to Frances Elizabeth Hobbs on Christmas Day, 1854 in Hackney, England. The Traveller family set sail to the United States on the Jeremiah Thompson on Sep 25, 1855 and arrived in New York City, New York on Oct 25.2 They traveled to Florence, Nebraska Territory and joined the John Smith Company on June 22, 1860 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 1. The Travellers lived in the Salt Lake Valley until 1864 when they moved to Richmond.1

Indian Wars Service

On Sep 14, 1864, the Richmond Home Guard was established with Henry Standage as its Captain. At any cost, the city Guard was to protect. Most of the Guard, including Cornelius, consisted of Minute-Men. They had regular drills every night.3 The Home Guard was released from active duty on Oct 25, 1864.4

Epilogue