Elder Interview-Delores Cornelius
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Delores CorneliusEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.064Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Cornelius, Delores (Metoxen) Born 7/20/1933 Parents: William W. Metoxen & Evangeline (Wheelock) Metoxen Maternal grandparents: Benjamin and Ida (Cornelius) Wheelock Paternal grandparents: Simon and Olivia (Skenandore) Metoxen She has 4 living sisters and 3 brothers that are decease. Her grandpa Metoxen had a big farm he had cows, pig’s horses and chickens. They always had a big garden. They use to grow Oats. Her grandpa Wheelock lived on Ray Road. He lived in an old log house. She never knew her grandma Wheelock, because she died before her mother got married. Her mother went to Haskell School and then she went to Carlisle School. And her father went to Haskell too. Her mother always had some kind of job. She was a town treasurer, town clerk. Her dad was a supervisor for the town of Oneida. Then they worked for the Community Health Clinic. Her mother was a piano player at the Methodist Church. Her father could speak and understand the Oneida language. Her mother couldn’t speak, but she could understand the language. Her grand parents spoke Oneida language all the time. But her grand father didn’t want to teach their children to speak Oneida language because he got punched when he was growing up. She went to Elm Hill until 8th grade. A then she graduated from West De Pere. Her dad always had a car. Her parent’s would go shopping in Freedom. She had to milk the cows, feed the chickens, horses and cows, collect the eggs and work in the garden. She uses to go Cherry picking with her Mother and sister. On Sunday’s they wake up eat breakfast, then they would go to church and when they came home the would have a late dinner. On Christmas Eve they would go to church, when they came home they would eat a little. They had to wait until morning to open up their gifts. They got only on gift a piece. And we were so happy with that one gift. Her mother always made doughnuts and coffee for the company that would come over for New Years Day. If someone got sick her mother would take them to Dr. Hill. Her mother knew a lot of native medicines. She use to go out in the wood’s and pick some plant’s to doctor us up. After she graduated in May, she got married in June. She had 10 children. She was married to Orrville Cornelius. They were married for 23 years, before they got divorce. All her children ggraduated from High School. She has 37 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, and 2 more on the way. Her sister use to make corn soup and corn bread. Her parents sang Oneida songs. Her advice to the young is to stay in school and get the education you need to get ahead.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media