Background
Cornies was born in the Vistula delta Mennonite settlement of Bärwalde (Niedźwiedzica), near Danzig (Gdańsk) in West Prussia. He was a son of Johann Cornies (born in Mühlhausen, East Prussia) and Aganetha Cornies.
Cornies was born in the Vistula delta Mennonite settlement of Bärwalde (Niedźwiedzica), near Danzig (Gdańsk) in West Prussia. He was a son of Johann Cornies (born in Mühlhausen, East Prussia) and Aganetha Cornies.
Cornies was the first president of The Agricultural Improvement Society, an Odessa-based commission that supported German colonists. The organization introduced modern farming practices to the colonies and later extended its reach to education and social life. The society introduced dryland farming, use of fertilizer, and four-year crop rotation.
Planting tobacco and mulberry trees for sericulture were promoted.
Cornies owned a large estate, Jushanlee, a model farm and showplace of south Russia. Crown princes Alexander I and Alexander II as well as other government officials visited the estate.
His holdings were expanded by gifts from the government for his services and totaled 100 km2 (25,000 acres) at his death. He owned a large herd of thoroughbred cattle, 8,000 merino sheep, and 400 horses.
Cornies helped also in the establishment of agricultural colonies for Jews, the so-called "Judenplan".