Alta Cecil Corley, often referred to as “A.C.” or” Altie”, was born near New Denison, Illinois ESE of Marion on June 17, 1882 the son of Rolla Corley and Sadie Burnett. When the 1900 federal census was taken the farming family was located near New Denison with the 41 year old father, Rolla, and 38 year old mother Sadie. There were two children in the family, their son Alta C., a 17 year old farm laborer, and Elsie C. their 10 year old daughter. Alta was educated in rural county schools and attended Crab Orchard Academy headed by Professor J.W. Turner which evidently amounted to about 2 more years of education.
In 1905, 23-year-old Alta married Ethel Tate in Carbondale, Illinois. By the 1910 census, Alta and Ethel were living at 405 N. Washington Street in Marion. 27-year-old Alta was already working as a bookkeeper for a local coal mine. 25-year-old Ethel indicated that they had birthed only one child and that child was living with them, their 3-year-old daughter, Mildred. They owned the home they were living in free of mortgage.
On June 1st of 1916, Alta and his wife attended the 50 year Golden Jubilee celebration at Crab Orchard Academy which Alta had attended as a student put on by his old teacher, J.W. Turner. In the same year, Alta was elected as city alderman under Mayor Dausa D. Harwell. At this time, he was living at 716 E. Union Street.
When Alta filled out his WWI draft card in 1917 he was 36 years old and working as a bookkeeper for the W. Virginia Coal Mine north of Marion. He was his wife had now started living in their forever home located at 500 E. Thorn Street. Alta was described as tall, with stout build and had grey eyes and black hair. In the same year, he was noted as serving as a Director on the board of the Citizen’s Trust & Banking Company in Marion.
When the 1920 census was taken, Alta 37 and Ethel 35 were living at 500 E. Thorn Street which they owned mortgage free. Alta was working as a bookkeeper at a coal mine. Living in the home was their daughter Mildred 13 and Ethel’s widowed mother, Alice Tate aged 58.
A 1928 Marion city directory confirmed their home at 500 E. Thorn and also confirmed that Alta was working at Henderson-Wallace Coal Company as a bookkeeper.
The 1930 census confirmed Alta’s occupation and residence without change. Their Thorn Street home was then valued at $5,000 and the couple indicated that they had a radio in the home.
By the 1940 census, Alta had reached the age of 55 and his wife was 53. Their Thorn Street home was then valued at $3,000 and Alta was still employed as a mine bookkeeper. Alta indicated that his education level was 2 years of high school while Ethel’s education stopped at 8th grade. Ethel’s mother Alice Tate who was back living with them at the age of 79 indicated her education level was 6th grade.
In 1942, when Alta completed his WWII Draft record he was 58 years old, working for Wallace Coal Company and living in his home on Thorn St. He was then described as 6’, 180 lbs., grey eyes, grey hair and a light complexion.
Not much changed when the 1950 census was taken, Alta 66 and Ethel 64 were still in their home on Thorn Street and Alta was still working his bookkeeping job for the Wallace Coal Company.
Alta C. Corley died at the age of 70 years old of a heart attack while working at his coal mine office in the Bank of Marion building (now City Hall) on September 20, 1952. He had a heart ailment for several years. According to his obit, Mr. Corley was an employee of the Wallace Coal Company for 45 years. Besides his wife, Ethel, Alta left his daughter, Mrs. J.W. (Mildred) Tidwell of Herrin and a sister Miss Elsie Corley, 903 W. Chestnut St. of Marion. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery in Marion.
Ethel Tate Corley passed away at her daughter’s home in Herrin on August 3, 1956. She had been ill since March 6th. She left one daughter, Mrs. J.W. (Mildred) Tidwell of Herrin and 3 grandchildren. Burial was with Alta in Maplewood Cemetery.
Notes on Children:
Mildred Corley Tidwell, born December 27, 1906 in New Denison, married Dr. J. William Tidwell, lived in Herrin, taught English in West Frankfort, died in Gainesville, Florida at Palm Garden Nursing Home on August 11, 1994.
(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion street directories, WWI & WWII Draft records, J.W. Turner’s Diary, Southern Illinoisan, Marion Weekly Leader, Marion Daily Republican, Marion Opportunity City, FindaGrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on May 8, 2024)