The adjoining town of Amity was laid out two days later by Willard D. Blake (February 5, 1840 – June 1, 1875).

[5] Walter Cornell was born in Rhode Island, came to Illinois in 1837, served three years as County Treasurer, and was a director of the railroad.

Indeed, several early houses built in Cornell were soon moved a few blocks down to the Amity part of the town.

[5] The original town of Cornell was centered on a block of public land, which is today called North Park.

[7] Years ago the town had several grocery stores, a bank, four churches, a stockyard, a harness shop and a newspaper, the Cornell Journal.

[8] Cornell is located in northwestern Livingston County in the northeastern part of Amity Township.