"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco:
W. H. Lever, 1901.  p. 273.
 
JOHN F. CORNER

     Whitman county has been signally favored in the character of her public
officials, and among the number who have given excellent administration in the
line is the subject of this review, who has given effective service in the
office of county auditor. He is a native of the state of Missouri, having been
born at Worcester, that state, on the 13th of June, 1870, the son of Watson L.
and Elizabeth J. Corner. Mr. Corner remained in his native state until he had
attained his legal majority, receiving his preliminary education in the public
schools and completing a course of study in the high school at Mexico, Missouri.
He thereafter put his acquirements to a practical test by engaging in teaching
in district schools, being successful in his pedagogic endeavors. In September,
1891, he came to Endicott, Washington, where he was principal of the public
schools for a period of two years. He then accepted a position as bookkeeper and
clerk for the Endicott Mercantile Company, retaining his incumbency for two
years, after which he was engaged for a like period as principal of the schools
at Elberton. Mr. Corner's next movement was to engage in the mercantile
business, being associated in the enterprise with J. H. Giles, under the firm
name of Giles & Corner. This enterprise was established at Elberton, in April,
1897, and there Mr. Corner remained until the fall of 1898, when he disposed of
his mercantile interests, having been elected that fall to the office of county
auditor, in which he served until January 14, 1901. His official position, of
course, rendered essential his removal to the county seat, Colfax, which has
since continued to be his home and where he is held in marked esteem in both
business and social circles. Fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order
of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World and also with the Good Templars.
He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from the age of thirteen
years, taking a constant and lively interest in all branches of church work.
     On the 25th of August, 1892, in Colfax, Mr. Corner was united in marriage
to Miss Senora Griggs, who was born in Mexico, Missouri. They are the parents of
three children; Sula Marie, Ivan Harold and Julia Elizabeth.
     In January, 1901, the Canutt & Carter Implement Company was organized, with
Mr. Corner as office man, each member, Joseph E.. Canutt, G. B. Carter and John
F. Corner, being equally interested.
 

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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2009 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.