Charles A. Cornell American Inventor (1897-1952)
Charles Agnew Cornell
Cornell School
Charles & Rhea Belle marriage certificate
117 W. Coshocton Street
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Charles Agnew Cornell was born on June 7, 1897 in St. Albans Township, near Alexandria in Licking County, Ohio. His parents, Joseph H. and Charlotte McQuade Cornell, owned a stately styled home and large farm that was located on what today is known as Duncan Plains Road. Cornell Cemetery is nearby the family home. Charles' parents and his siblings and other relatives are buried at that location.
Early ancestors of the Cornell family traveled from New England to the Licking County, Ohio area in 1805. In 1806 Charles' grandparents Archibald and Sarah Peck Cornell became the first permanent settlers in St. Albans Township, having bought the land on which they established their Cornell farm. Charley, as he was often called, attended a one-room schoolhouse, Cornell School, near his family farm. His mother, Lottie, had been a schoolmarm at this school before she was married to Charles' father. Charles later graduated from the Alexandria High School and also attended Ohio State University. In May 25, 1918, at age 21, Charles enlisted in the National Guard in Washington, DC. He was part of the Gas Defense Service and Chemical Warfare Service that included time in Philadelphia and Long Island, NY. The Chemical Warfare Service (CWS) deployed and prepared gas weapons for use throughout the world during World War II. However, these weapons were never used in combat. Private Charles Cornell was honorably discharged on January 10, 1919. He was able to return to his former position with the Goodyear Tire Co. On January 13, 1940 Charles married Rhea Belle Kasson Howard. The couple lived in the stately home at 110 South Main Street in Johnstown, Ohio. The home is still located at this address, but, has been changed architecturally as before and after photos can be seen below. In the newer photo the barn where Charley invented his "tech patch" can be seen behind the house.
Technical Rubber Company is founded . . .
Charles Cornell had worked for a tire manufacturer and saw problems with common repair methods, which used heat and pressure and the process could take hours. So Charles left a stable job, and, with his wife Rhea Belle founded the Technical Rubber Company. Charley often worked out of the barn behind their home at 110 S. Main St. in Johnstown, Ohio. It was at this location that he developed the revolutionary cold chemical vulcanization process for tire repair. This ingenious process could be used to develop repairs for tires and inner tubes in hot or cold applications. His invention transformed the tire repair industry, allowing for safe, efficient repairs that are still standard today. In March 1942 Charles and Rhea Belle Cornell moved their emerging business out of their barn and to 117 W. Coshocton Street in Johnstown, Ohio. In November 1942 Charles was named Special Consultant to Director of Rubber in Washington, D.C. in regards to Tire and Tube Repair Materials. During WWII the Technical Rubber Company was helping as a crucial effort for the war machine. |
Cornell Family Home
Cornell Cemetery
Alexandria High School
Chemical Warfare Service Seal
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E. Coshocton Street
Johnstown Independent May 25, 1960
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Continual Growth . . .
Since the company In 1944 was still growing steadily it was decided to move their shipping and office sections of the business to the former Priest Chevrolet on East Coshocton Street. In 1960 the Technical Rubber Company celebrated being in business for 20 years. The Johnstown Independent newspaper captioned this event as: "A Man, An Idea and A Barn". An Unfortunate Death in Michigan . . . Charley and Rhea Belle Cornell often visited their vacation home in the Les Cheneaux Islands in Michigan. In July 1952 Charley had taken a small boat across to Cedarville to mail some letters. It was believed that his boat hit a floating log in the water which threw him from the boat and he tragically drowned. Cremation was done in compliance with his wishes, his ashes were to be strewn over the lake (near the Les Cheneaux Islands in Michigan) from which his body was re-covered. A special memorial service for Charles Cornell was held at the Johnstown Methodist Church on July 26, 1952.
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Continuing the Legacy . . . The Technical Rubber Company is often referred to by a variety of names such as TECH, Tech International and TRC. No matter the name, this global business remains a family-owned business that continues the legacy of founder Charles Cornell. It is directed by the fourth generation of family leaders and continues to be headquartered in Johnstown, Ohio where it got its original start. The most recent name is TRC and is made up of a family of brands that each specialize in creating products and systems that are trusted globally by businesses, consumers, and government clients. Their global footprint spans across 7 locations with group offices in Lisburn, Northern Ireland; Turnhout, Belgium; Rovereto, Italy; Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Charles Cornell developed an industry that continues to be a valued asset to his home community of Johnstown, Ohio. |