The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

CORNELL, Myron J. (1829-1920) and Cornelia A. (1836-1922)

An active layperson and the younger brother of prominent evangelist Merritt E. Cornell, Myron Cornell and his wife, Cornelia (née Lyon), moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1856 and resided there for the rest of their lives. Myron Cornell engaged in various lines of business in Battle Creek before settling down on a nearby farm in his old age. 1EGWLM 812.4

At some point after their move to Battle Creek, Myron became a Sabbatarian Adventist, possibly in 1859, when J. N. Loughborough notes in his diary that “Bro. White … baptized Myron and others.” There are a number of mentions of Cornelia Lyon in the Review going back to 1853, so it is probable that she had become a Sabbathkeeper several years earlier than her husband. In 1861 Myron Cornell was chosen to be a deacon in the newly organized Battle Creek church, a position that he held till his death. The denomination drew extensively on his administrative talents. Among many other assignments, he served on the executive committee of the Michigan Conference, was a director of the Health Reform Institute, and sat on the board of Cedar Lake Industrial Academy. 1EGWLM 813.1

Myron Cornell's solid reputation and administrative ability no doubt explain why in 1897 Ellen White gave Cornell the power of attorney to care for her business affairs in Michigan. Thus, in 1902, she wrote from St. Helena, California, asking him “to inquire if the outstanding debts for the rent of my house in Battle Creek have been collected.” Earlier, in 1869, Ellen White had written several searching testimonies during a time of crisis when Cornelia Cornell, with others, had joined forces to level unfounded charges against the Whites. 1EGWLM 813.2

See: Obituary: “Myron J. Cornell,” Review, Feb. 17, 1921, p. 22; obituary: “Cornelia Cornell,” Review, Aug. 10, 1922, p. 22; Battle Creek and Marshall City Directories … for 1883 (Coldwater, Mich.: A. Nedham & Co., 1882), p. 41; 1870 U.S. Federal Census, “M. J. Cornell,” Michigan, Calhoun County, Battle Creek, Ward 3, p. 15; J. N. Loughborough, 1859 Diary (Center for Adventist Research, Andrews University), entry for Jan. 1, 1859; search terms “Myron J. Cornell,” “M. J. Cornell,” and “Cornelia Lyon” in Review and Herald online collection, www.adventistarchives.org; Ellen G. White, Lt 155, 1897 (1897); Lt 165, 1902 (Oct. 23); Lts 9, 10, 13, 1869 (July 7, Aug. 15, Sept. 24). 1EGWLM 813.3