Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 488-489; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Cornelius Mummert. Among the younger farmers who are
active in carrying on the agricultural interests in this county but few
have met with more success in the prosecution of their noble calling
than our subject. He is one of the most extensive farmers and
stock-raisers in Woodland Township, and bids fair to place himself
among the most substantial citizens of this part of the State.
Our subject is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in York
County, May 8, 1854. His father, Jonas Mummert was also a native of
that county, while his father came from Holland. After arriving in this
country he had located on a farm in Pennsylvania and there his
remaining days were passed in peace and tranquility.
The father of our subject was bred to the life of a farmer on
the old homestead in Pennsylvania and was there married, taking as his
wife Elizabeth Stremmel, a native of the same county. She is still
living, being now over sixty years old and is a faithful member of the
German Baptist Church. Mr. Mummert owned two hundred acres of land and
was one of the extensive farmers of York County. He also operated a
gristmill seven years. He finally disposed of his property in 1866, and
coming to this county purchased three hundred acres of choice land on
sections 7 and 8, Woodland Township. There were but few improvements on
the place and it was only by years of hard labor that it was brought to
its present fine condition. He erected the handsome brick house, in
which our subject now lives and put up buildings of a good class for
every needed purpose. He farmed extensively and raised a great deal of
stock. He was quite prominent in public affairs and while in
Pennsylvania served in various official capacities and assisted in the
draft during the war. He was a Democrat in politics. He was a member of
the German Baptist Church from the time he was twenty-one until his
premature death at the age of forty-eight years, when not only his
church was deprived of a valuable worker but his community lost a good
citizen. Fourteen children were born to him and his wife, of whom the
following grew to maturity: John, George, Conrad, Amanda, Cornelius,
Jonas, Moses, Polly, Andrew, Elizabeth, Savilla and Barbary.
Young Mummert was reared to a farmer's life on his father's
homestead in this county he being a lad of twelve years when his
parents removed hither. He received his early education in a German
school in Pennsylvania and as a boy he worked in his father's gristmill
and on the farm. He was of great assistance to his father in clearing
and improving his land here. After his father's death the farm was sold
to his father-in-law, and our subject is now living on the place and
managing it. It comprises three hundred and four acres, a part of which
Mr. Mummert owns and he has besides one hundred and forty-seven acres
of fine farming land in Vermont Township, all well-improved and under a
high state of cultivation. Our subject is a stirring, wide-awake man,
possessing shrewd business talents and other fine qualifications. He
has recently completed the finest barn in Fulton County at a cost of
$1,800 besides his own labor upon it. He lives in a commodious
two-story brick house, which occupies a high prominence, is shaded by
lovely trees and has a beautiful lawn, making this one of the
handsomest and most desirable places of residence in this part of the
county.
Mr. Mummert and Miss Sarah J. Cassell were married October 22,
1878, and they have reared three children whom they have named, Ida,
William and Jonas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mummert are members of the German
Baptist Church and politically he is a Democrat.
