Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 121, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1920 — WEALTHY BANKER AND LAND OWNER DEAD [ARTICLE]

WEALTHY BANKER AND LAND OWNER DEAD

Cornelius Montford Horner, a prominent citizen of Monon, Ind., and the largest land owner in White county, died at 7 o'clock Monday morning at St. Elizabeth hopsital in Lafayette of a complication of diseases. He had been in poor health for some time. " Starting out in life a poor boy, with a country school education as his sole possession and no influential friends or rich relatives to assist him, the success he attained was the result of his individual efforts. Mr. Homer w#s the son of Elias and Dorothy (Smith) Horner, aqd was bora in the town of Wapakoneta, ,Auglaize county, 0., January 3, 1842. ‘ln 1844 his father, who was engaged in merchandising, came to Indiana and for a time was located -in Michigan City, afterward opening a small store at New Durham. The father was also a minister of the gospel and belonged to the Northwest Indiana Conference. Mr. Horner .left the home of his parents when 13 years old and went to Pulaski county, where he worked and attended the common schools. Later he engaged in farming and taught school, continuing in that pursuit until he answered the call of President Lincoln for volunteers for one hundred days' service. Before the expiration of his enlistment he re-enlisted in the 151st valunteer infantry and continued in the service until the end of the war. He participated in many battles and engagements, among them being those at - Stone River and Nashville. He returned to Francesville at the close of the war and in 1865 moved to Monon, Ind., where he opened a general store, which he continued to operate until 1894. Besides running the store Mr. Horner invested in many enterprises and was exceptionally successful. He founded tne Bank of Monon in 1892 and served as its president. Besides his farms and business interests, Mr. HomeT owned valuable property in Decatur, HI.; two business blocks in Des Moines, la., and property in Illinois, Kansas and several Indiana counties. Mr. Horner was one of the wealthiest men of White county, his estate being valued at several million dollars.