HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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city; was educated in the public schools of Aurora, Jennings Seminary and Yale College, graduating from the latter in the class of 18S7, and from the Union College of Law, Chicago, in 1889. In the latter year he became manager of the Aurora Gas Light Company, and immediately began developing its property. In 1890 the same interests controlling the Aurora Gas Light Company purchased the property and franchises of the Aurora Electric Light & Power Company, and in 1902 these combined interests secured franchises for gas in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles, and laid mains to those towns, the name of the company then being changed to the Fox River Light, Heat & Power Company, which also incorporated the gas and electric light interests. In 1894, with other parties, he bought the Joliet Gas Light Company, which has since developed rapidly. In 1900 he built a gas plant at La Grange, known as the La Grange Gas Company, and extended mains to La Grange Park, the Grossdales, Western Springs and Hinsdale. Mr. Copley is at present (1904) Treasurer and Manager of the Pox River Light, Heat and Power Company and the Joliet Gas-Light Company, and President of the La Grange Gas Company. From 1894 to 1898 he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Republican State Central Committee representing the Aurora District, and at the same time was Chairman of the Finance Committee. From 1896 to 1898 he was President of the Illinois State League of Republican Clubs, and has been a member of the Library Board and Park Board of Aurora, and a Trustee of Jennings Seminary for several years. In 189L he was married to Miss Edith Strohn of Los Angeles, Cal.
ARTHUR M. CORNING, retired merchant, Batavia, Ill., born at Fort Ann, Washington County, N. Y., March 11, 1843; was reared and educated in his native State and trained to mercantile pursuits. Coming to Illinois in 1862, he located in Batavia, where for two years he was in the employ of the Howard Paper Company of that city. He established a mill at St. Charles, Ill., for bleaching straw and manufacturing printing paper there from, and about 1866 went to Moline, Ill., and started a mill of a similar kind in that city. Later he returned to Batavia, and for several years was interested in various patents that required him to visit Michigan, Connecticut and other States. He was living in Chicago at the time of the great fire in 1871, but in 1883 returned to Batavia, where he was engaged in merchandising until 1889, when he retired from active business. Mr. Corning has held various municipal offices in Batavia. He was married to Miss Susan Hughes, of Dexter, Mich.
EUGENIO K. W. CORNELL, Elgin, born at Galway, Saratoga County, N. Y., May 10, 1823. received his education in the public schools, and in 1846 he removed to Elgin, Ill., where he practiced dentistry four years. From 1850 to 1879 he was engaged in the dry-goods and furniture trade, being connected with the firms of Wilder & Cornell, the McClure Company, and Wait & Cornell during that time. He was assistant manager of the Elgin Packing Company in 1879, and ten years later became manager, but retired in 1900. He is a Trustee of the Baptist church.
BYRON S. CORNWELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Lily Lake, Kane County, Ill., born in Herkimer County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1852; came to Illinois with his parents in boyhood, and located in Kane County in 1872; purchased a farm from his father near Lily Lake station in 1890, where he now resides. He has been
