Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

In 1880 he had a furniture store in Mexia, Limestone Co, TX & lived a few doors from Daniel J. Corley. He handled the estate of Mary, 2nd wife of Leonard L Daniel.

The Encyclopedia of Texas says that his father died in the Civil War. It also says that when he was nine years old his mother took him to Florida where they settled near Pensacola. There is some question about this time line since he was a bit older than that when his father apparently died (more research needed). He attended school there at night since he worked in the daytime. He went to Texas in 1876 where he went into business with his brother D. J. Corley. Two years later he arrived in Mexia, Texas, and went into the furniture and funeral business. He owned the water works for a period of time, but later sold it. He served on the school board as well as being mayor during his residency in Mexia.

His obituary said he established his furniture business in 1876 (Mexia Weekly Herald) or in 1877 (Dallas Morning News). He was active in the business until he became ill prior to his death. He organized and was the first president and manageer of the Mexia Water, Light & Ice Company. He also served as president of the first School Board. The funeral was conducted by the pastor of the First Methodist Church, R. C. Edwards, and the presiding elder of the distrcit and former pastor of the local Methodist church R. O. Sory. (Mexa Weekly Herald)

Death Certificate:
He was John R. Corley (John Roberts Corley was added to this name) residing at 310 Carthage, Mexia, Texas. He was male, white, and married. His wife was Elizabeth Z. Record Corley. He was born 24 Mar 1854 in Alabama. He was aged 84 years, 10 months, 9 days. He was a retired merchant. He father was Shadrach Jacob Corley, born in Alabama, and his mother was Lucy Roberts, born in Alabama. Jack Corley was the informant. He died 3 Feb 1939 at his home in Mexia. The cause of death was myocarditis with hydoslator (?) pneumonia contributing. Jack Corley was the informant, and also he was the undertaker. Burial was in Mexia Cemetery, 5 Feb 1939.

1880 Census, Mexia, Limestone Co., TX, Sup Dist 4 Enum 6 Page 440 Family 98
Corley, John R. 26 Furniture Merchant AL AL AL
, Lucy A. 46 Mother AL SC SC
, Willie 19 Brother AL AL AL
, Emogine 16 Sister AL AL AL
, Ellen 14 Sister AL AL AL

1900; Census Place: Mexia, Limestone, Texas; Roll T623_1655 Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 59
McKinnie
311/313, Corlie, John R., head, w, m, Mch 1854, 46, m, 12, AL, AL, AL, Furniture Dealer, own, free, house
----, Elizabeth Z(?), wife, w, f, Jan 1863, 37, m, 12, TX, TN, NC
----, Kathleen T(?)., w., f, Aug 1888, 11, s, TX , TN, NC, at school
----, Alice A., dau., w, f, Dec 1889, 10, s, TX, TN, NC, at, school
----, Mary L., dau., w, f, Feb. 1872, 8, s, TX, TN, NC
----, Zuleska(?) E., w, f, Dec. 1894,5, s, TX, TN, NC
----, Martha J., dau., w, f, May 1896, 4, s, TX, TN, NC
----, Lucille H(?)., dau., w, f, Sep 1899, 3/12, TX, TN, NC
Newcomer, Katy, servant, f, w, Nov 1878, 21, Dv. 0 children, 0 living, LA, LA, LA, housekeeper
Yavins (or Yevins? hard to read), Gable, servant, b, m, Mch 1878, 22, Dv., TX, MS, TX

1910, Census Place: Mexia town, Pct. 4, Limestone, Texas, Page 4B, Enumeration District No. 41
802 McKinney St.
72/73, Corley, John R., head, m, w, 56, m1, 23, AL, AL, AL, merchant, furniture, emp, own, free, house
----, Elizabeth B., wife, f, w, 47, m1, 22, 9 children, 9 living, TX, TN, NC, none
----, Alice, dau., f, w, 20, s, TX, AL, TX, none
----, Mary, dau., f, w, 18, s, TX, AL, TX, none
----, Zuleika(?), dau., f, w, 16, s, TX, AL, TX, none
----, Martha, dau., f, w, 13, s, TX, AL, TX, none
----, Lucile, dau., f, w, 11, s, TX, AL, TX, none
----, John R., son, m, w, 7, s, TX, AL, TX, none
----, Francis, dau., f, w, 4, s, TX, AL, TX, none
----, George, son, m, w, 1 11/12, s, TX, AL, TX, none

1920; Census Place: Mexia, Limestone, Texas; Roll T625_1829; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 93; Image: 284
409 McKinney
37/40, Corley, John, head, own, free, m, w, 64, m, FL, FL, FL, furniture, furniture company, own acct
----, Elizabeth, wife, f, w, 55, m, TX, TN, NC, none
----, Kathleen, dau., f, w, 31, di, TX, FL, TX, none
----, Alice, dau., f, w, 30, s, TX, FL, TX, bookkeeper, furniture company, wages
----, Mary, dau., f, w, 27, s, TX, FL, TX, salesman, dry goods
----, Lucille, dau., f, w, 21, s, TX, FL, TX, none
----, John, son, m, w, 17, s, TX, FL, TX, salesman, Corley Furniture, wages
----, Frances, dau., f, w, 14, s, TX, FL, TX, none
----, Jack, son, m, w, 11, s, TX, FL, TX, none

1930 Census, Mexia, Limestone, Texas, Series: T626 Roll: 2371 Page: 174, family 410 E. Carthage St.
89/117, Corley, John R. head O, 4,000, owns a radio, does not live on a farm, m, w, 76, m, 33, FL, AL, AL, retail merchant, Furniture Store
----, Elizabeth B., wife-H, f, w, 66, m, 23, no, yes, TX, TN, NC, none
----, Lucile, daughter, f, w, 30, s, TX, FL, TX, none
----, Jack, son, m, w, 21, s, TX, FL, TX, Undertaker, funeral parlor