Much of the following information came from Waddell’s daughters, Mayme Elizabeth Waddell and Harriet Ruth Waddell, as written in June 1961. Scott Coltrane, a Baston descendant, has also provided a great deal of information as he researches the history of his most illustrious family.
Corwin Burnet (C.B.) Waddell was born on June 25, 1860 in Elmwood, Ill. His father was William Waddell, a blacksmith who moved to Illinois from Bakerstown, Pennsylvania. His mother was Harriet Burnett, who was born in Carmichael, Pennsylvania, not far from Uniontown, Penn. where she lived before going to Illinois.
Soon after C.B.(known as Corey) was born, the family moved to Canton, Illinois, where he graduated from high school. He went to Nebraska with a carload of horses and in 1880, at the age of 20, he went to Minnesota with horses being shipped there. He stayed in Minneapolis (39 South 3rd Street) and drove a hack (hosteler) at E.W. Eddy and Sons. He took such good care of the beautiful black horses and his hack that he attracted more business than the others so was nicknamed “Earnie.” Many always called him by this name.
CW married Sarah Estelle Baston, who in 1886 inherited one fourth of the Baston farm on Excelsior Blvd. The Waddell home was at 5100 Excelsior Blvd., next to Sarah’s sister Emily Rixon‘s farm. Waddell’s obituary indicates that he came to the Park in 1881.
Daughter Mayme Elizabeth Waddell was commissioned as a missionary to China in 1915.
Daughter (Harriet) Ruth Waddell graduated from Lincoln High School in St. Louis Park in 1905, one of seven graduates. She went to Glencoe to be a normal school instructor in 1915.
For many years C.B. Waddell had greenhouses and was a truck or market gardener. He sold his goods at the Central City Market, Stall 301.
The Village of St. Louis Park was organized in 1886. C.B. Waddell served as the second Mayor of the Village in 1894-95. He also served as Mayor (President of the Village Council) from 1900-01 and 1904-06. He was a member of the school board from 1902 to 1906, serving as president the last year. [His obituary says that he was on the school board for 12 years.] From 1912 to 1924 he served as Commissioner of Hennepin County’s 5th District. [1908-1922]
The 1900 Census shows that the Waddells had six servants; one Bohemian female servant and the rest farm laborers.
In his role as a community leader, Waddell was a member of many organizations:
- The Odd Fellows
- The Masonic Order
- Scottish Rite
- OES and Rebecca Lodges
- The Shrine
- Minneapolis Driving Club
- Twin City Driving Club
He was also a “fanatic” about sulky racing, where the horse pulls a two-wheeled cart, just as Dan Patch did. Family lore is that he actually raced one of his stallions against Dan Patch in Chicago in the very early 1900s.
Waddell died on August 1, 1932 at his home on Excelsior Blvd.