Elder Interview-Gerald Cornelius
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Gerald CorneliusEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.070Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Cornelius, Gerald Everett Born 3/5/1929 Parents: Frederick Guy Cornelius & Mercy Edna (Metoxen) Cornelius I’ve got 4 bothers and 3 sisters. They lived on Town Road about a ½ mile south of Chicago Corners. I was the middle oldest. We had a little farm, we cut wood, milked the cow’s feed the cows and horses. We didn’t have running water or electricity. We had a well there. We did most of the shopping in De Pere and some at Masses. The first car I can remember was a 1927 Chevrolet. My mother and father spoke Oneida language, but they didn’t teach the children the language. Dad went to Tomah School and my mother went to Carlisle School. My mother would make quilts and corn soup and corn bread. And she did some butchering of some animals. I don’t remember Christmas time too much; all I can remember is a tree and a cocking with candy and oranges in them. I don’t even remember who trimmed the tree. We went to school at Chicago Corners; we had to walk a ¾ of a mile to school. When I finished school I went to work on a farm by Freedom, I worked there for about 7 or 8 years. After that I went in the service in 1950. I was in the Navy. I was there for 4 years. My dad was in the Army. After the service I went to work on a boat. I went to the Methodist Church when I was young. I got married to a woman named Carol. We have 2 girls and 5 boys, and have 10 grandchildren. Advice to the young is to say in school and graduate.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media, Military