Joe Cornelius biography: 13 things about IOOF member from Spokane, Washington

Who was Joe Cornelius?

Joseph Morand “Joe” Cornelius was a Spanish-American man from Spokane, Washington, United States. He was born in Sonoma County, California, USA to Joseph Cornelius and Josephine Miranda.

Joe and his wife Freida C. Eike Cornelius, who is originally from Norway, lived in Spokane with their four children. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. His mother was born in Spain while his father was born in North Carolina, USA.
2. From Sonoma County, he moved to Spokane where he met Freida, who was working as a maid.
3. He was a harness maker with a shop in Spokane.
4. He was 27 years older than Freida.
5. He was born in 1857.
6. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), which was formed in Baltimore, Maryland, USA on April 26, 1819. 
7. In the 1880s, he lived in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County.
8. In 1907, he and Freida got married.
9. In 1908, Freida gave birth to their son Joseph F. Cornelius.
10. In 1917, Freida gave birth to their son Elmer Morand Cornelius.
11. In 1918, Freida gave birth to their daughter Eleanor Cornelius.
12. In 1919, Freida gave birth to their son Stanley Robert Cornelius.
13. In 1926, he died in Spokane at the age of 69.

Joe’s daughter Eleanor was married to Archie Rutherford. On May 25, 1982, Eleanor found Archie dead in their residence in South Hill.

Archie was fatally stabbed allegedly by Tracy Sabron Pruitt. On October 27, 2022, Pruitt was arrested in Los Angeles, California for Archie’s murder.

In May 2023, Pruitt died of bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli due to right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis while in the Spokane County Jail in Spokane. He was 63.