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. and died on August 1,
1932. 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.
Daughter Mayme Elizabeth Waddell was commissioned as a
missionary to China in 1915.
Daughter (Harriet) Ruth Waddell 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.
From 1912 to 1924 he served as Commissioner of Hennepin
County's 5th District. He served as
Hennepin County Commissioner for the Fifth District from
1912-1924.
Waddell was an Odd Fellow and a Mason. 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.
This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.