William Benjamin Cornwell (November 25, 1864 – April 8, 1926) was an American lawyer, businessperson, newspaper editor and publisher, and railroad and timber executive in the U.S. state of West Virginia.

[1] Cornwell studied jurisprudence at the West Virginia University College of Law and graduated from the institution.

[5][6] He commenced practicing law in Romney, and shortly thereafter, was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Hampshire County in 1892, and continued to serve in that position until 1900.

[11] In 1890, shortly after Cornwell began practicing law in Romney, he and his brother John Jacob Cornwell purchased the newspaper The Review from C. F. Poland,[12] who assured the newspaper's subscribers in a November 6, 1890, farewell editorial that the new owners would continue to publish the Review while following "Jeffersonian principles.

"[1][6][13][14][15] At the time they purchased the newspaper, The Review used the Wirgman Building's second floor for its offices and printing plant.

[1][13] Cornwell and brother John Jacob were corporators and shareholders of the South Branch Boom and Lumber Company following the issue of its incorporation charter on May 1, 1901.

[17] They were also corporators and shareholders of the Potomac White Sand Company of Green Spring, West Virginia, following the issue of its incorporation charter on May 10, 1902.

[18] On August 20, 1906, the Hampshire Southern Railroad Company (HSRC) was incorporated to facilitate the construction and operation of a rail line along the south branch of the Potomac River connecting Grant and Hardy counties to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Green Spring via West Romney Station at Romney.

[6][19][20][21] In addition to Cornwell, the company's corporators included his brother John Jacob, Duncan Sinclar, and his law firm partner Raymond J.

[23] The HSRC continued to operate this rail line until December 11, 1911, when it was purchased by the Moorefield and Virginia Railroad Company.

[21] Cornwell and Eugene Ailes, the son-in-law of his brother John Jacob, served as officers of the conveyancing company for the transaction.

[21] Cornwell organized and became the president of the Winchester and Western Railroad Company (WWRC) which had been incorporated in Virginia on August 16, 1916.

[26][27] Residents of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia purchased $75,000 worth of stock in the WWRC prior to its construction.

[27] By May 17, 1921, the Inter-Mountain Construction Company had completed 40 miles (64 km) of the WWRC line between Winchester and Wardensville.

[28] Under his leadership, the WLC acquired 35,000 acres (14,000 ha; 55 sq mi) of tracts of mountainous woodlands in Hardy, Hampshire, and Frederick counties in proximity to the Winchester and Western Railroad line.

[25] He received first aid treatment from a physician present at the residence and was taken to his Winchester home where he regained consciousness.