A HAPPY HOME.

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themselves in independent life, but to which they often returned, with feelings of gladness, certain of being received with a cordial and affectionate parental greeting. In the several places of their residence, the family were highly respected and esteemed for their uprightness and genial neighborly qualities.

CHAPTER III.

BIRTH, CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.

Birth of Ezra Cornell, 1807.-Vigorous Constitution.-Obedient Childhood.-Active and Studious.-Anxiety to attend School. -Superior Scholarship.-Meagre Educational Advantages.— Mechanical Tastes.-Assists building Pottery.-Erecting Dwelling. Surprising Success.-Ambition for Self-support.-Seeking Employment.-Syracuse a mere Hamlet.-Employment at Homer.-Visiting Home.--Decides to locate at Ithaca. -Early Advantages of the Village.-On Foot to Ithaca.Worthy Ambition.

Of all the worthy people assembled in Friends' meeting, at New Britain, on that pleasant Sabbath summer morning, July 4, 1805, probably not a single one contemplated, even in what might have seemed the wildest realms of imagination, the possibility of results which, down to the present time, have actually been realized from the marriage they were then called upon to witness, of the staid bachelor, Elijah Cornell, already approaching middle age, and the young and gentle maiden, Eunice Barnard. As related in the preceding chapter, the descendants of the couple then united in the bonds of matrimony, number at this

BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD.

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time, 1884, more than one hundred and fifty persons, all of whom, point with pride, to their common ancestry. The direct issue of this marriage was the birth of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, of whom all were reared to maturity, and married.

The eldest of these children, and the subject of this sketch, Ezra CORNELL, was born at Westchester Landing, Westchester County, N. Y., January 11, 1807. From his parents he inherited a superb constitution, which, with his temperate habits, enabled him to endure an unusual amount of labor, and throughout his active life, he was noted for the wonderful energy he devoted to the accomplishment of whatever undertaking, he was called upon to perform. In stature he was about six feet high, rather spare in figure, with fine muscular development. His features were rugged, with high cheek-bones and prominent forehead, indicating marked alertness of the perceptive faculties. He was remarkably industrious and never an idler, either as boy or man.

While

fond of the ordinary sports of youth, and a leader in those in which he engaged, his ingenious and practical mind led him, even during boyhood, to constant endeavor in an useful direction, such as repairing some damaged article or devising a new implement.

Naturally of an inquiring turn of mind, young Cornell early manifested an extraordinary desire for the acquisition of knowledge. He was a devoted student, and eagerly availed himself of every means for improvement within his reach. His privileges in this respect, however, were extremely narrow, as, owing to the inability of his parents to send him from home, in pursuit of an education, he was obliged to content himself, with the resources of the common school of the remote region of his residence, supplemented with such additional instruction, as his father's accomplishments qualified him to bestow.

As an evidence of the earnestness with which he embraced every chance to secure a good education, it may be related, that at the age of sixteen, with the sole aid of his brother, who was one year his junior, he undertook the chopping and clearing of four acres of heavy beech and maple woodland, plowing and planting it to corn, as the condition of being permitted to attend school during the winter term. This task was successfully accomplished, and the privilege thus secured utilized to complete his preparation for active life.

His peculiar faculty of observation and reflection not infrequently aided him to prosecute particular lines of study far beyond the limit of · the teachers' capacity, thus placing him great

ly in advance of the average scholar, who enjoyed the same facilities for instruction. The ending of school-days did not, however, as is too often the case, put a stop to farther effort for mental cultivation. On the contrary, all spare time throughout his entire life, was devoted to reading and investigation.

Endowed with rare talent for mechanics, he improved every opportunity, to pursue the studies relating thereto. No science was too intricate for his understanding, and in the years of maturity, he sustained himself creditably in association with those who had in early life enjoyed advantages of education very much superior to those afforded him. After leaving school, the following year was devoted to labor on the farm and in the pottery. The next year his father decided to build a more extensive manufactory, and engaged a carpenter for the purpose. Ezra was permitted to work on the job, and thus becoming somewhat familiar with the use of tools, he took a fancy to the carpenter's trade, as a means of livelihood.

Upon the completion of the new building, with the assistance, only, of his younger brother, he cut from the forest, the necessary timber and lumber, and erected for his father's family, a two-story frame dwelling house, which, at the