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JOSEPH CORNS, ornamental painter, London, was born at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. England, May 13, 1828. He is a son of Abraham Corns, a native of England and a gunlocksmith by trade. He came to America in 1853 locating in Lancaster County. Penn.. and there died in December, 1861. He married Sally Robinson, a native of England, who died there of the cholera in 1849. They only had two children -- a son and daughter the latter now deceased. Our subject learned ornamental japanning on waiters etc., in England and has in his possession a piece of such work executed by himself when but eleven years of age. He was twenty-five years old when he accompanied his parents to America and, after nine years' residence in Lancaster County, Penn., went to Harmony, Clark Co., Ohio, and from thence to London about the close of the war. He has since been engaged at his trade, and that of house-painting and frescoing. In the latter line he was employed in decorating the walls and ceilings of the different houses of worship, and the schoolhouse of London. Mr. Corns, is connected by membership with Madison Lodge, London Encampment, No. 126, I. O. O. F. and Chandler Lodge, No. 138, Masonic. He was married, March 2, 1850, to Anna Bracknell. Six children have been born to them, four living -- Annie S., widow of O. C. Smith, deceased and present wife of Dwight Olds of Springfield; Mary, wife of "Cad'' Peterson a farmer of Union Township this county; William and Harry.
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