Cornelius Iman

 Cornelius Iman was a gunsmith in Scheer, Grant County, in the mid- to late 1800s.  He was born in Pendleton County in 1830.  In 1853, he married Hannah Kimble.  In 1862, he joined the Union Army, 7th Regiment (The Bloody Seventh).  He was discharged a little over a year later due to illness.  He died in 1885 and is buried near Scheer.  This place is likely where he lived and practiced the gunsmith trade. 

In the 1850 Hardy County census, Cornelius is living at home with his parents.  Grant County was created from Hardy County in 1866. Hardy County was created from Hampshire County in 1786.  In the 1860 Hardy County census, Cornelius is listed as a gunsmith.  In the 1870 and 1880 Grant County census, he is listed as a gunsmith. 

We have not discovered who he learned the trade from, but his rifles tend to follow the style and architecture of Hampshire County rifles.  However, he did not strictly adhere to that school in all of his work. One thing unique to most Iman's rifles we have seen is the patchboxes of his own designs.  He did not use the typical acorn finial Hampshire County rifle of that era. His engraving was limited and straightforward. One thing he did repeat on his rifles was a single circle engraved around screw heads on the brass furnishings.  He liked using a two screw tang, which was not as common in this area as in other places. 

The following two-half-stock percussion rifles are attributed to Iman.  The first rifle has been in the same family since it was made.  This family lived in Scheer.  This rifle was made late in Iman's career, possibly as late as the 1880s.  The patchbox is crude, not nearly as neat as those on Iman's earlier rifles.  It is possible that this was a later addition. The two screw tang was used by Iman on all of his rifles I have seen to date; this was not typically used by other makers in this vicinity. The side plate is of a similar design to that used in the finial of the patchbox in some of his rifles. The profiles of the stock are nearly a duplicate to the Cornelius Iman rifle on page 136, Gunsmiths of West Virginia. Many of Iman's rifles employed this style, which is similar to that of the Hampshire County Rifles made after 1840.  The one thing that we have not seen on other rifles made by Iman is the long cheek piece. Hopefully, someone will have a signed Iman rifle with this same feature. This rifle has a beautiful black finish that has not been cleaned or disturbed. It is nice to see this, and I wish we saw more rifles being left in the black.  I am sure it provided much game for the family for many years. 

                                                      Page 136 Gunsmiths of West Virginia 

Patchbox from a signed Cornelius Iman rifle. 

          The second rifle, and the one below, is another half-stock percussion rifle that is attributed to Cornelius Iman.  This rifle features a nicely designed brass patchbox with five piercings. The capbox on the cheekside with the star piercing in the finial panel is a nice touch.  If you enlarge the brass furnishings on this rifle, you will notice Iman's straightforward and relatively simple engraving.  

                                                               Remnants of patch grease

                                                                                   

                                           Top panel of a patchbox from a signed Iman rifle
 

                                                                   Riddle Percussion lock

                                             For more on Corenlius and his rifles, Click Here

Also see Cornelius Edward Iman (1830-1885) - Find a Grave Memorial

Thanks to the owners of these rifles, who allowed us to share them with you. 

Thanks to James Whisker for allowing us to use his photos.

                                                                             FB

CORNELIUS IMAN, GUNSMITH GRANT & HARDY COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. 1830-1885

        

                                                                               

CORNELIUS IMAN RIFLE

CLICK IMAGES FOR LARGER VIEW

                                  

                                         

       THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH WAS PROVIDED TO US BY JAMES B. WHIKSER

Iman, Cornelius 1830-1885). gunsmith. Cornelius Iman was a son of Emanuel and Barbara (Seitz) Iman and was born in Pendleton County. He married Hanna Kimble (1836-1929), daughter of James and Jane (Porter) Kimble. They had issue: Susanna (b. 11/19/1856); James Monroe (b. 7/30/1854); John (b.1858); Abraham (b.1860); Mary A. (b.1862); William Edgar (b.1868); Sara Jane (b. 6/27/1870); Rhoda Viola (b.1872); Rutherford (b.1876); Alice (b.1879); Henry (b.1882); Henry (b.1882); and Alva (b.1879). In 1862 Iman enlisted at Greenland, Grant County. His enlistment papers described him as a gunsmith, standing 5'11" tall, with black hair and dark eyes. He served in Company I, 7th Virginia Infantry, Union Army, known as the Bloody 7th as they had the highest casualty rates of all WV units. They were the only WV unit in The Army of the Potomac and fought in every major battle in the east including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg, and Appomattox. Hardy County Home Guards, Private under Captain Daniel C. M. Shell Co. on roll dated 12 November1862 .He contracted scrofula and on 13 February 1863 was given a medical discharge from the army. In 1870 he lived near Patterson Creek, Grant County, with real estate valued at $300 and personal valuation of $100. In 1870 he was a gunsmith living in Union district, south of Petersburg, near Mill Creek, Grant County [Census]. Cornelius died on 7 June 1885 at Pansy, Grant County: Cornelius E. Iman; white; male; born - Pendleton County, WV; died June 7, 1885 in Milroy Dist., Grant County, WV; aged 55 years 1 month 20 days; parents - Emanuel and Barbara Iman; occupation - gunsmith; cause of death - heart disease; death source - Hannah Iman (wife). His widow was granted a government pension because his death was related to the disease contracted in the army [Death Register No. 1: 25 Grant County; Census; Ancestry].

                                 

                                                             CIVIL WAR PENSION

                                 

                                                                 1860 CENSUS

                                                             HARDY COUNTY

 Below is a beautiful halfstock 36 cal rifle made & signed by Iman. The rifle & accouterments where Cornelius Iman's personal hunting outfit, according to family history. 

                                                                        

Click Pictures for Larger View

                         Pictured Below is another halfstock  rifle made and signed by  C E Iman

                                                        Click pictures for larger view

Below is a signed full stock rifle. 

                                                                            

                                                                      

Below signed C E Iman Fullstock Percussion Rifle 

                                                 Below Is An Attributed Iman Rifle 

                                                                        

Recently Added Another Fine Rifle Made by C E Iman

Cornelius Iman's Grave just off RT 93 in Scherr WV

SPECIAL THANKS TO JAMES  B. WHISKER, FOR SHARING THIS RESEARCH WITH US.

PHOTO OF CORNELIUS IMAN RIFLE FROM PAGE 136  "GUNSMITHS OF WEST VIRGINIA" , BY FRED R. LAMBERT & JAMES B. WHISKER. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION FROM  JAMES B WHISKER.

IF YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON CORNELIUS IMAN OR PICTURES OF HIS WORK , WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOU CONTACTING US.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO SHARED PICTURES OF THEIR RIFLES WITH US . 

Hope You Enjoyed, BMS