Roy Cornelius, editor and owner of the "Hoisington Dispatch," is a native Kansan and a young man of ability, who is evincing the same spirit and energy characteristic of the earliest citizens of Kansas and is doing his part toward carrying forward the work they began in the development of this great commonwealth. He was born March 31, 1883, on a farm in Groveland township, McPherson county, a son of John T. and Minnie W. C. (Voss) Cornelius. John T. Cornelius is a native of Quebec, Canada, born Sept. 14, 1847. He came to the United States early in life, and to Kansas in 1878, locating on a farm in McPherson county. He remained there until 1900, when he removed to Blackwell, Okla., and lived a retired life there until 1909, when he removed to Long Beach, Cal., where he now resides. He was married, in 1868, in Franklin county, Iowa, to Miss Wilhelminnie Voss, a native of Berlin, Germany, born Feb. 13, 1849, and who came to America with her parents when three years of age. To the parents of Mr. Cornelius were born nine children, of whom two daughters and one son died in infancy. The other children are: John P., born at Keokuk, Iowa, May 31, 1870, who is a farmer in Oklahoma and is married and has five children; Charles N., born Jan. 10, 1872, at Keokuk, Iowa, is a farmer in Oklahoma; Laura V., born in Keokuk, Iowa, Nov. 4, 1874, is the wife of J. T. Eakin, a farmer in Oklahoma; Sadie Rose, born in Keokuk, Iowa, Jan. 17, 1876, is single and lives at Los Angeles, Cal.; Walter A., born June 27, 1881, in McPherson county, Kansas, is editor and publisher of the "News," at Newport Beach, Cal.; and Roy is next in order of birth.

Roy Cornelius was educated in the public schools of McPherson county and at the Central Normal College, at Great Bend, Kan. He was graduated at the latter institution in 1900, and immediately afterward became connected with the editorial department of the "Barton County Beacon," with which he remained identified one year. Later he was city editor of the "Great Bend Daily Item." In 1902 he bought the "Hoisington Dispatch," a paper established in 1888, and which, under the able management of Mr. Cornelius, has become one of the most modern weeklies in the state and a profitable business venture. Upon becoming owner of the paper he installed a modern plant, with standard linotype machines, presses and other appointments essential to a complete equipment. In 1908 he was elected county printer, as provided by law, and in 1910 was reëlected to that position. Politically he is a Democrat and is a stanch supporter of his party's interests in both county and state politics. He has served as a delegate to different of the Democratic state conventions. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Knights Templars degree.

On June 9, 1907, at Hoisington, Kan., Mr. Cornelius was married to Miss Racey Helfert, daughter of Alois Helfert, a railroad employee. Mrs. Cornelius was born in Germany, May 14, 1885, her parents being natives of the Fatherland. She is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius have two daughters—Helen, born Nov. 27, 1909, and Esther, born April 11, 1911.