John Corning was born in Troy, New York, in 1826. His father was a clergyman. His uncle was Erastus Corning, president of the New York Central Railroad for many years. John Corning began his railroading career at the age of 32, on the Michigan Central Railroad. Three years later, he was hired by his uncle, Erastus, and worked for the New York Central Railroad. John Corning became Assistant Superintendent within a short period. He became Assistant Superintendent of the Central Pacific Railroad in 1868. He maintained this position until his death, in 1878, at the age of 52. John Corning was married for 25 years and left no children.

John died in the Los Angeles area. The funeral was held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, California, and he was buried in his native New York.

It was common practice for towns to named in honor railroad men. Corning, New York, was named in honor of John's uncle, Erastus, and Corning, California, was named in honor of John.

The first railroad train arrived in Corning on October 1, 1882.

The Corning Observer began publication on September 21, 1888.

Mission olives were planted in the Corning area in the 1890s. The olives were used in oil production. In 1897, Nevadillo Blanco and Manzanillo olives became the oil-producing olives of choice, since they were less expensive. The inhabitants of the Maywood Colony, as Corning was then known, were shareholders in the Maywood Colony Canning and Olive Pickling Association.

The first airplane landed in Corning on August 1, 1919.

Initially, and for many years to follow, Corning, California, was known as "Corning--The Clean Town." On December 28, 1923, Warren N. Woodson changed the slogan to "Corning--The Olive Town."

© 1996 David Louis Harter, California Technologies