Benjamin P. Cornelius

Benjamin Peyton Cornelius (November 9, 1850 – December 24, 1930) was an American politician and judge in Oregon. A Republican, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon. The son of Thomas R. Cornelius, he was also the sheriff of Washington County and a judge in that county.

Early life Cornelius was born to Thomas Cornelius and Florentine Wilks on November 9, 1850, in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon. He was raised in that county and was engaged in agriculture before marrying Esther A. Barrett on November 11, 1871, in neighboring Glencoe.

Cornelius became involved in politics as a Republican and served as a delegate to the county's party convention and state conventions starting in the 1880s.

Following his term as county judge he returned to farming before winning election as mayor of Hillsboro in 1903. The seventeenth person to serve as mayor of Washington County's seat, he was in office from December 15, 1903, until December 4, 1906. Benjamin P. Cornelius died on December 24, 1930, at the age of 80.