William "Manon" Cornett was a Kentucky politician and served as Chief of Staff to Congressman John W. Langley from 1912 to 1914. and Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the State of Kentucky from 1921 to 1924.History of Kentucky by Judge Charles Kerr, Volume 5, Page 307 and 308 published by the American Historical Society, 1922 https://archive.org/details/historyofkentuck05kerr
Manon was born on September 9, 1882, in Cornettsville, Kentucky (near Hazard), and died May 3, 1956.
Early life
Manon Cornett was the eldest child of Eli H. Cornett and Jane Combs Cornett. In 1900 at the age of 18 he was listed as a 'farmer'1900 Kentucky Census, Perry County, Kentucky At 19, he attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, for one year.History of Kentucky by Judge Charles Kerr, Volume 5, Page 307 and 308 published by the American Historical Society, 1922 In 1903 he married Clara Belle EversoleOctober 13, 1903, Hazard, Perry County, Ky marriage certificate. and had three (3) children: Juanita Nell Cornett (wife of Arch Glass Mainous), Joseph E. Cornett, and Claribel Cornett. Manon's father, Eli H. Cornett, was Sheriff of Perry County, Kentucky.Sheriff's of Perry County, Kentucky: Eli H. Cornett (1898-1902) http://hazardkentucky.com/more/sherifflist.htm
Life in Washington, DC
In 1912 he was appointed the private secretary (i.e. Chief of Staff) for Congressman John W. Langley and lived in Washington, D.C., at 1801 1st Street, NW though 1915.1912 Washington DC City directory1913 Washington DC City directory1914 Washington DC City Directory While in Washington he was involved with an organization called the 'Sons of Jonadab'December 13, 1913, Washington Post, Washington, DC
Life in Frankfort, Kentucky
After his stint with Congressman Langley, Manon and his family returned to Hazard, Kentucky. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Deputy Insurance Commissioner by the incoming Republican Governor Edwin P. Morrow, a post he held for 4 years (ending in January 1924). While in Frankfort, he lived at 416 West Main Street.1922 Frankfort City Directory During this period, Manon was published in various news articles discussing various Insurance Matters.March 3, 1921, The Clay City Times, Clay City, KentuckyFebruary 24, 1922, Mountain AdvocateMarch 9, 1921, Breckinridge Times
At the Kentucky underwriters meeting held at Frankfort, Kentucky he gave a headline speech on January 13, 1921, that was covered on the front page of The State Journal.January 13, 1921 The State Journal, Frankfort, Kentucky 'Insurance Men hear Speech of Manon Cornett' Later in the year, he attended the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 27, 1921.
After politics Manon left politics in 1924 at the age of 36 returning to Hazard, Kentucky.1930 Hazard, Perry County, Census By trade, he was a lawyer. He died on May 3, 1956, at the Shady Grove Sanitarium in Eminence, Kentucky. He is buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Lexington, Kentucky with his family.
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