From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print.
Sarah Jane Shanks and her husband John, Kentuckians, who emigrated to Texas in 1851 from Bowling Green, Kentucky, are chronicled in a series of over a hundred letters written by Sarah Jane to various members of her family during the journey and continuing to the latter part of her life in the 1890’s. Their daughter Sarah Jane (“Puss”) married a Kentuckian, Dan Cornwell.
Dan and Sarah Jane Cornwell settled on the banks of the Trinity River in 1852. The Dan Cornwell home was between Harwood and Victor (now Olive) Streets, fronting on Bryan Street, with the rear of the lot reaching Federal Street. This location is now the site of 2001 Bryan Tower. Dan traded a saddle for the land in 1867 and built a log cabin there. He later replaced the log cabin with a two-story frame house with front porches upstairs and down.
Thomas Calvin Cornwell was the first child born to Dan and Sarah Jane. Thomas was one of the four Cornwell brothers on the police force in Dallas’ early days.
The second son was George Edwin Cornwell, born ‘June 11, 1854. George served as assistant chief of police under Chief James Arnold, and succeeded him as Chief of Police in 1898, being the last to hold that office while it was an elective office.
Robert Lee Cornwell was born January 1, He was appointed Dallas Chief of Police in 1909 and later resigned because of ill health. Another brother, John Shanks Cornwell, born in 1870, served in Dallas law enforcement work for 45 years.
Two daughters were born to Dan and Sarah Jane Cornwell before 1865. Ellen Joseph Cornwell married Richard Runnels Nelms. Richard Nelms was elected Dallas Water Commissioner in 1911. During his term, contracts were let for the building of White Rock Lake and plans were made for the Bachman dam project. Ellen’s younger sister, Jennie Bland Cornwell, married Charles Henry Potter, who came to Dallas from Kalamazoo, Michigan with his father William Henry Potter in 1877.
James A. Cornwell, a fifth son of Dan and Sarah Jane Cornwell, lived in Fort Worth.
By Eva Potter Morgan, Dallas.
