Cornelius M. O’Brien

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Cornelius O’Brien was an Oregon farmer born on March 15, 1839 in Plymouth, Pennsylvania to Michael and Catherine (Murphy) O’Brien.

Cornelius’ parents were from Cork, Ireland. His father, Michael, born in 1806, was educated at a Dublin university and married Catherine, who was born in 1808. The couple arrived in New York City where he was involved in business. After some time spent in the American metropolis, Michael and Catherine visited Caracas, Venezuela, where Catherine’s uncle lived. They lived in South America for a number of years, but the climate had a very deleterious effect on Catherine’s health. They returned to New York City where Michael re-entered the mercantile business.

The family fortunes were wrecked in the panic of 1837, and in 1838, the family moved to a farm in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania where the lived the rest of their life. By 1848, both Michael and Catherine had died. An elder daughter then took charge of the household, keeping the family together. In a few years she died and the home was broken up, an aunt taking the younger children.

Cornelius began school in Pennsylvania. His older brother, John, married in 1851, and in 1853, Cornelius came to Wisconsin with his brother’s family and they settled in Oregon. Cornelius continued is education in Brooklyn.

In 1861, Cornelius bought 80 acres, broke 30 acres and the next year 20 acres. In 1864, he bought 95 more acres and settled on his farm in April 1865 living in a building that would later be used as a granary.

In 1875, Cornelius built one of the largest and best farmhouses in his town, making a close examination of a number of recent buildings, combining the best points of each. The house was an upright and eighteen feet high, 18×28 and 16×26 respectively; the kitchen in 14x16x20; the whole painted, blinded and finished in the best manner; two carpenters worked fifty days on the inside finish.

Mr. O’Brien was married on January 4, 1876, to Miss Abigail Berry, daughter of Michael and Mary Berry, of St. Lawrence County, New York. They had four children. In the 1906, History of Dane County, Emmet S. lived in Fitchburg, and of the others, Philip G. and Louis R. still lived at home. Emma died at the age of 24 in 1904 and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oregon.

In 1884, he purchased 60 acres in Fitchburg and then 5 years later in 1889, he bought 143 adjoining. Cornelius continued to expand his Oregon farm and in 1895, he purchased another 105 acres adjoining making his total landed possessions 483 acres.

Cornelius was described as having an unusual natural ability in his agricultural pursuits and was a very successful farmer.

Mr. O’Brien was a Democrat and he and his wife were Catholic.

Cornelius died on May 15, 1907 at the age of 68. Abigail would live 20 more years, dying on Christmas day 1927. Cornelius and Abigail are buried with their daughter Emma in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oregon.

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