Our Roots: How Cornelius Was Formed

DID YOU KNOW? ? Cornelius was formed due to one businessman’s decision in 1885.

RJ Stough possessed the gumption to re-locate his cotton weighing scales to a small frame building outside the Davidson town limit. Stough’s move side-stepped a new regulation the Town of Davidson imposed on the cotton farmers and brokers with the appointment of an official cotton weigher. 

His cotton weighing station became a convenient location for farmers across the region to sell their crop, and eventually a general store grew from the popular pit stop. The foundation was set for a bustling center of commerce.

Pictured here is the Stough-Cornelius store c. 1920s (photo: Jack Conard Jr)