John G. Cordner (1857-1939), Architect
DBA: J. G. Cordner, Architect
John Gilmore Cordner was born in Ohio in March 1857.[6] He and his wife Adella were living in Keokuk County, Iowa in 1880, and in Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1885. At both locations he was identified as a carpenter,[9][10] but in 1885, he was also a charter member of the Western Association of Architects.[7:302] Cordner relocated to Lincoln by 1889.[17][g]. Lincoln city directories listed him as both a carpenter and an architect in 1890, then as an architect through 1930, sometimes alone and occasionally in partnerships. With six children to support by 1900, he was also listed in the 1900 census as a farmer, on ten acres of land east of Lincoln where the family resided from 1898-1937. He was active as a poultry man and was also superintendent of the Sunday School at the State Penitentiary. [11][37][d] He moved with his wife, M. Adella, to California around 1937 to be nearer to two of their several children.[6] Cordner died on June 12, 1939 in Alta Dena, California.[3][36]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1889-1937
Educational & Professional Associations
1880-1885: John Cordner, carpenter, Keokuk County and Oskaloosa, Iowa.
1889: John G. Cordner, carpenter, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1890-1898: J. G. Cordner, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1891: Placey & Cordner, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1898-1902: architect, for J. H. Craddock, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1904: draftsman, Lincoln Sash & Door Co., Bethany, Nebraska.
1905-1906: J. G. Cordner, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1906-1912: Woods & Cordner, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1913-1930: J. G. Cordner, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Buildings & Projects
1889-1905
While he is know to have been associated with architects Otis Placey and J. H. Craddock in his early years in Lincoln, no specific projects associated with Cordner have been firmly documented dating from his first decade and a half in the capital city. He apparently lived in the suburban college town of Bethany Heights in that period [h] and real estate transactions from that time hint that he may have been combining his occupations of carpenter and architect on residential projects in Lincoln and Bethany.
Nance House (ca. 1889), 1848 C St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[17][g]
House (ca. 1889), 1235 N 66th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[35][h]
1906-1912
In 1906 Cordner entered into a highly productive partnership with A. W. Woods that lasted a half-dozen years and resulted in dozens of residences and commercial buildings in Lincoln and several churches across Nebraska. See Woods & Cordner, Architects for their projects.
1913-1930
Cordner apparently resumed a solo practice around 1913 and completed numerous commissions before World War I. While he continued to be listed in Lincoln directories as an architect through 1930, no subsequent projects by him have been identified after 1917.
Fred Gardner House (1913), 1956 F St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[18]
C. F. Howard House (1913), 1435 C St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[24] (LC13:D07-0387)
Mark Woods house (1913), 2501 South St/2101 Sheridan Blvd, Lincoln, Nebraska.[19]
R. E. Mattison House (1913), 2222 Sheridan Blvd, Lincoln, Nebraska.[20] (LC13:D05-516)
Emerson-Brantingham Implement Company (1913), 401 N 9th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5] (LC13:C09-101)
College View Carnegie Library (1914), 3800 S 48th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][2][21] (LC13:F03-282)
Burton A. George house (1914), 1826 S 26th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[22][b]
Lancaster County Poor Farm house (1914-1916), 7000 NW 27th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[23]
Bennett Hotel (1915), 700 P St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[25]
Alex Wekesser house (1915), 1821 S 13th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[26]
Paul Holmes Building (1915), 1339 O St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[27]
George Gauer house (1916), 2474 Park Ave, Lincoln, Nebraska.[14][29][[[#Notes|[f]]] (LC13:D05-257)
Charles Meyer Storefront (1916), 1228-1234 O St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[15][30]
Beatrice Craig House (1916), 2521 Sumner St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[31] (LC13:D06-0183)
Branch Brothers Building (1916), 1010 P St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[12][28][e] (LC13:C09-011)
Garage for E. R. Ellen (1916), Oak, Nebraska.[16]
Building (1917), 1015-1025 P St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[32]
E. G. Bonahan Building (old Bowl-Mor) (1917), 302 S 9th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[33] (LC13:C08-316)
Remodeling and addition to S. M. Fogelson Store (1917), 144-146 N 10th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[13]
Building (1917), 212-220 S 10th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[34]
Undated
Entrance, Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][a]
Bankers Life Building (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
Masonic Building for Blue Valley Lodge No. 64 A.F.&A.M. (n.d.), south of Sokol Hall, Wilber, Nebraska.[8]
Notes
a. Cordner's obituary [3] lists the entrance to Wyuka Cemetery among his projects, without date. The cemetery improvements made between 1908-11 (entrance, barn, superintendent's house, administration building) were all designed by Minneapolis architect, Lowell Lamoreau. Cordner was likely the local associated architect or superintendent of construction. See Woods & Cordner, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
b. Cordner is listed as the contractor in the building permit.[22]
c. See Woods & Cordner, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
d. According to the U. S. Census of 1900, John and Adella's three older children were all born in Iowa between 1882 and 1887, and the three younger in Nebraska, between 1889 and 1899. From 1898 to 1937, the family resided east of Lincoln in the vicinity of 56th and L Streets, where the family home still stands (2016) at 325 S. 55th St.[11][37]
e. American Contractor lists this project as a $3000 storefront, 2 stories and basement, 50 ft. front.[12]
f. American Contractor lists "Res.: $5,000 2 sty. 7 bs. 26x76. Sheridan blvd. Archt. J. G. Cordner, 519 Bankers' Life bldg. Owner Geo. Gann, care Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Co. Bldr. Wm. Parks, will build on percentage basis. Taking bids. Excavating. Brk. veneer, shingle rf." Probably this is the same project as listed on Building Permit 6480 as the George Gauer house.[14][29]
g. John and M. Adella Cordner were involved in real estate transactions in Lincoln in 1889. They were listed as buying Lot 11 of Block 7 of Capitol Addition and reselling it two days later to the same party for a profit of $4000, perhaps reflecting payment for services rendered in building a house on the property. A large Queen Anne style house on that lot (1848 C St.) was later (1894) owned and occupied by businessman and former Nebraska Governor Albinus Nance. In 1918 the Nance house was remodeled by F. C. Fiske in the Tudor Revival style for C. H. Swallow. Nebraska State Historical Society has a photograph of the early appearance of the house (photo L741-2347).[17]
h. The 1890 Lincoln city directory lists Cordner both as an architect and as a carpenter, residing in the vicinity of 17th & C Streets. An addendum at the back of that volume (p. 270) again identifies him as an architect, but gives his home as "r. Bethany Hts.," suggesting he may have moved while the directory information was being gathered and updated. John and Adella purchased two lots in Bethany Heights in October 1889 for $7250.[35].
References
1. State Library Commission files.
2. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
3. “J. G. Cordner, Early Architect, is Dead,” Lincoln Evening State Journal (June 16, 1939) [includes portrait].
4. “J. G. Cordner, Early Lincoln Architect, Dies,” Lincoln Star (June 17, 1939).
5. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4877, issued January 29, 1913, and associated drawings.
6. 1900 United States Census, s.v. "J. G. Cordner," Lancaster Precinct, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
7. Industrial Chicago: The Building Interests Vol. 1 (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1891), accessed August 2, 2012, http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/oca/Books2008-03/industrialchicag/industrialchicag01good/industrialchicag01good.pdf
8. Blueprints (ca. 1913?) on file at the Wilber Museum; Janet Jeffries to D. Murphy, email communication, with snapshots attached, May 14, 2013.
9. 1880 United State Census, s.v. "John G. Cordner," Prairie Township, Keokuk County, Iowa. Accessed through Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
10. 1885 Iowas State Census, s. v. "John Cordner," Oskaloosa, Iowa. Accessed through Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
11. 1900 U. S. Census, s.v. "J.G. Gardner" in Ancestry.com, but clearly "Cordner" in enumerator's page. Accessed through Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
12. American Contractor (January 13, 1917), 64F.
13. American Contractor (May 19, 1917), 80B.
14. American Contractor (April 15, 1916), 92; (April 22, 1916), 95.
15. American Contractor (May 6, 1916), 102.
16. American Contractor (June 3, 1916), 51.
17. Lancaster County Register of Deeds, 48:77 and 49:256, 1889.
18. City of Lincoln Building Permit 4974, 1913.
19. City of Lincoln Building Permit 5006, 1913.
20. City of Lincoln Building Permit 5073, 1913.
21. College View Library National Register Nomination Form. Accessed: July 16, 2013. Online at: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/84002486.pdf
22. City of Lincoln Building Permit 5360, 1914.
23. City of Lincoln, Change of Zone application H.P. 43, Ordinance # 15334.
24. City of Lincoln Building Permit 4980, 1913.
25. City of Lincoln Building Permit 5977 and associated drawings, 1915.
26. City of Lincoln Building Permit 6140, 1915.
27. City of Lincoln Building Permit 6342, 1915.
28. City of Lincoln Building Permit 6851, 1916.
29. City of Lincoln Building Permit 6480, 1916.
30. City of Lincoln Building Permit 6698, 1916.
31. City of Lincoln Building Permit 6710, 1916.
32. City of Lincoln Building Permit 7065, 1917.
33. City of Lincoln Building Permit 7434, 1917.
34. City of Lincoln Building Permit 7464, 1917.
35. Lancaster County Register of Deeds, Deed 51:157, Mortgage 57:431, 1889.
36. Interred at Whittier, California, Rose Hills Memorial Park. See http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=147460316&ref=acom Accessed December 26, 2016.
37. Application for Lincoln landmark designation of the John and Adella Cordner House, 325 S. 55th Street, Lincoln, 2016. Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Dept. Item 4 on http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/plan/boards/hpc/agendas/2016/121516.htm Accessed December 26, 2016.
Page Citation
E. Zimmer and D. Murphy, “John G. Cordner (1857-1939), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, July 5, 2011. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, October 31, 2024.
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