Cornelia DeJean was born Harriet Cornelia DeJean was the daughter of Charles and Charlotte Ann (Nealie) DeJean.
Cornelia’s great-grandfather, Stephen DeJean was born in Paris in 1785 and 16 at the time of a rebellion in Paris. He made his way out of the Paris at that time and sailed for America.
Cornelia’s grandfather, Joseph DeJean, married Almira Lee in 1836, and in 1837 they left New York for Wisconsin arriving in Waukesha County with only $4. Selling his horse and other goods, Joseph raised enough money to make the journey to Rutland, Dane County. He originally obtained 40 acres and built a log shanty for his family. He later added another 120 acres. His wife, Almira, died in 1877. He later married Hannah, the widow of the late William Lockwood.
Cornelia’s father, Charles, married Charlotte Ellis in 1876. Cornelia was born on March 25, 1877 followed by brothers, Harry, Hiley, and Urban and sisters, Fern and Lucy. Another sibling, Burnice, died in infancy. Lucy, died in a tragic drowning accident in the Mississippi River while traveling to the Pacific coast to visit relatives. She was joined on the trip by a friend, Aletha Ernst, who also drowned.
Cornelia attended School District #3, in the Rutland Township. For one year, Cornelia’s family lived in Chicago and she attended J. R. Doolittle School in Cook County, Illinois. The family returned to the area and Cornelia attended High School in Stoughton, WI. After which, she taught school in Dayton and in Rutland in 1896.
In the days before women could go to large department store or boutiques to purchase their finery, the Village of Oregon had a number of millinery shops. Over the years, beginning in the 1870s there were at least nineteen millinery businesses. The making of hats was a popular item and many ladies joined the work force to fill orders. Since hats were worn on all occasions, it was necessary to have a few on hand to fit the appropriate dress or coat. Cornelia never married and chose a career in millinery. She started in 1901 as a trimmer in a shop in Chicago and then in LaPorte County, Indiana in 1902. Later in 1902, She purchased Miss Nellie Miller’s interest in a shop in Oregon; operating as Welch & DeJean’s Millinery Shop. In February 1903, Cornelia spent a couple weeks in Chicago, searching the newest millinery styles. She continued to make trips to Chicago once or twice a year to study the latest styles and trends in hats.
In May of 1903, Cornelia ran an ad in the Oregon Observer stating that “the firm of Welch & DeJean’s have in stock the largest line of millinery goods ever brought to this market. Flowers true to nature. Styles and shapes of hats in the vey latest. Trimmings and novelties perfect in design and workmanship. Every lady in the country is invited to call and see this mammoth stock of millinery.”
Over the next few years, ownership in the business changed and partner names changed to include DeJean’s and Bell’s Millinery in 1904 and DeJean’s and Genin’s Millinery in 1905. But in 1908, Cornelia acquired full ownership of the business and continued making hats and dresses until 1945. Cornelia I became a well known milliner in the Oregon area and enjoyed a thriving business. Cornelia died in 1945 at the home of my sister, Fern Neath.