Frequently, after heavy rains, the road connecting Davidson and (soon-to-be) Cornelius would become impassable. The hill leading into Davidson would become so muddy that many cotton farmers found it safer and more convenient to conduct their business just south of Davidson in a small frame building. The success of the cotton purchasing business later inspired the owners to construct a cotton mill where raw cotton could be converted into cloth. The owners of the cotton firm lacked the money needed to make the idea of a cotton mill a reality, but they knew Joseph Benjamin Cornelius (1833-1914) could supply the investment needed and the mill was opened. Although not a resident of Cornelius, the town recognized the significant role of J.B. Cornelius (principal stockholder in the cotton mill) by naming the Town Cornelius.
General Notes
Note
The Cornelius area had been settled since at least the 1750s. Potts Plantation was established near Cornelius in 1753. The town of Cornelius, the second youngest of Mecklenburg County's six incorporated towns, was founded in 1893, but not incorporated until March 4, 1905. Many historians have traced the town's origin to a dispute over cotton weighing.
In the late 1800s, two thriving cotton firms located in Davidson disagreed on whether an official town cotton weigher should be appointed. After a heated election was held and legislation enacted, a town cotton weigher was hired, and the firm that opposed the appointment decided to relocate much of its operations just south of the Davidson town limits.
