The 1870 United States census showed J. W. L. Corning (age 25, born in New York, book keeper) married to Mary (age 21, born in Connecticut) living in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The 1880 United States census showed John W. L. Corning (age 34, born in New York, cashier in store) married to Mary E. (age 30, born in Connecticut) and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Children Leavitt (age 9, born in Minnesota), Mary B. (age 7, born in Minnesota), Charles R. (age 5, born in Minnesota), and William S. (age 2, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1885 Minnesota census showed J. W. L. Corning (age 40, born in New York) married to Mary (age 35, born in Connecticut) and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Children Levitt (age 14, born in Minnesota), Mary B. (age 13, born in Minnesota), C. R. (age 10, born in Minnesota), and Emily A. (age 4, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1895 Minnesota census showed John W. L. Corning (age 50, born in New York, brick manufacturer) married to Mary E. (age 46, born in Connecticut) and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Children Leavitt (age 24, born in Minnesota), Mary B. (age 23, born in Minnesota), Charles R. (age 20, born in Minnesota), Emily A. (age 14, born in Minnesota), and Clifford I. (age 5, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1900 United States census showed Jno. L. Corning (age 55, born in November 1844 in New York, brick manufacturing) married to Mary E. (age 50, born in June 1849 in Connecticut) and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Children Emily A. (age 19, born in November 1880 in Minnesota), Leavitt (age 29, born in September 1870 in Minnesota), Chas. R. (age 25, born in September 1874 in Minnesota), and Clifford I. (age 10, born in September 1889 in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1905 Minnesota census showed John W. L. Corning (age 60, born in New York, manufacturer) married to Mary E. (age 56, born in Connecticut) and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Children Emily A. (age 24, born in Minnesota) and Clifford I. (age 15, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Corning, John Wheeler Leavitt, manufacturer of brick; born at Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1844; son of Edward and Catherine M. (Austin) Corning; educated in public and private schools; married at Brooklyn, N. Y., 1869, to Mary E. Rogers. Began business career in flour and feed business, Hartford, Conn., 5 years; then bookkeeper one year in New York City; came to St. Paul, 1868; was with Noyes Bros. & Cutler for nearly twenty years, then started to manufacture fireproofing material until 1895, when he joined in organizing present firm of Greiner & Corning. Member Builders’ Exchange. Republican. Member School Board four years and Common Council four years. Congregationalist. Mason. Club: Commercial. Office: Germania Life Bldg. Residence: 481 Dayton Av., St. Paul. (The Book of Minnesotans, A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the State of Minnesota, Albert Nelson Marquis, A. N. Marquis & Company, Chicago, 1907, Page 104)
Corning John W, St Paul. Res 481 Dayton av, office 800 Germania Life bldg. Manufacturer. Born Nov 22, 1844 in Brooklyn NY, son of Edward and Catherine M (Austin) Corning. Married November 22, 1869 to Mary E. Rogers. Educated in private schools of Brooklyn NY and West Cornwall Conn. Clk in flour and feed store in Hartford Conn 5 years; in New York City 2 years; came to St Paul in 1868; with Noyes Bros & Cutler 1869-87; Corning Clay Works, manufacturers fireproofing tile 1887-95. Member Greiner & Corning mnfrs of Chaska brick 1895 to date. Member Board of School Inspectors St Paul 4 years; Board of Alderman 4 years. (Little Sketches of Big Folks Minnesota 1907, An alphabetical list of representative men of Minnesota, with biographical sketches, R. L. Polk & Co. Publishers, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, 1907, Page 90)
The 1910 United States census showed John W. L. Corning (age 65, born in New York, brick manufacturing) married to Mary E. (age 60, born in Connecticut) and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Children Emily A. (age 29, born in Minnesota) and John C. I. (age 20, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1920 United States census showed J. W. L. Corning (age 75, born in New York, brick manufacturer) living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Daughter Emily (age 39, born in Minnesota) also lived with John.
Brick Manufacturer Passes Away. J. W. L. Corning, president of the Chaska Brick & Tile Co., Minneapolis, Minn., died at his home January 7. Mr. Corning was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1844. He moved to St. Paul, Minn., where he continued to reside until his death. (Brick and Clay Record, Industrial Publications, Inc., Chicago, February 8, 1921, Volume 58, Number 3, Page 234)
Death of J. W. L. Corning. The St. Paul papers last week contained an announcement of the death of J. W. L. Corning, president of the Chaska Brick & Tile Co., and for many years the partner of the late Frederick Greiner in the brick manufacturing business. He was well known in this city having visited here very frequently in the past. In recent years he has not been here very often, owing presumably to advanced age. He was a fine man of the highest character and those who knew him well esteemed him very highly. (Weekly Valley Herald, Thursday, January 13, 1921, Volume LVIV, Number 14, Page 1)