General Notes

[coosa1.ged]
"By 1895, there were two well-established commercials centers; one at
Bentleyville was operated by J. T. Miller and comprised a store, post
office, mill and gin.  Another center, know as Corley's Store, near Flint
Hill Church, soon became a key factor in the life of the Community.  This
outstanding country store, in later years, included a gin, mill, and
large blacksmith shop and drew customers from all over the territory
included in our discussion." (1)
(1)The Story of Flint Hill of Times Past and Present  by John D.
Samuels, Jan. 1969, page 3. This is a pamphlet that was printed and
distributed at Flint Hill Methodist Church, Coosa Co., AL.
"The second, and in many ways the most interesting, commercial center
was the W. J. Corley store.  It was one of the largest and most
interesting stores in the County and served a wide area - often beyond
the territorial boundaries of Flint Hill.  Trade came to the store from
many sections of the county.  It was interesting particularly in that it
served as a meeting place where people came and often stayed a long time;
a place where people exchanged their views and discussed the issues of
the day.  On Saturdays especially, great crowds came.  The store carried
almost everything in stock, in fact, it was a department store, including
clothing, shoes, hats, ect., as well as hardware, sugar, coffee, flour,
meat, lard, cloth, pins, needles, thread, tools, harness, plows, nails,
etc.  At Christmas time, oranges, apples, cnady, etc., as well as fire
crackers, were added to the stock.  Mr. Corley was a friendly man and
people from far and near liked to go to the store and trade.  They often
took along items to sell, such as chickens and eggs for ready cash.
One of the features in connection with the store operation was the
weeklong trips to Montgomery.  About every month or six weeks, wagons
loaded with produce, accompanied by sizeable heard of cattle driven
behind the wagons, would head out on Mondays for Montgomery.  It was a
two-day trip to Montgomery, about fifty miles, and like time to return.
Usually the caravan would stay in Montgomery through Wednesday and then
returned from the trip on Friday.  The writer regrets that he never
experienced the caravan trip to Montgomery.  The Corley store was, of
course, visited regularly by 'drummers.'  Goods bought through them were
shipped to Sylacuaga and then hauled by wagon to the store.  The trip to
and from Sylacauga was usually made by either one or two wagons and
required a little less then two days.
Mr. Corley was not lnly active in business, but also was very active
in all Community acitvities.  He gave liberally to the church and school
and along with his business and Coimmunity activities, he found time to
take an active part in County-wide affairs.  The was one of Coosa's
outstanding citizens.  He married Miss Fannie Miller, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. C. T. Miller, and they reared a very fine family, all whom were
outstanding citizens of the State." (1)
(1)The Story of Flint Hill of Times Past and Present  by John D. Samuels,
Jan. 1969, pages 26 & 27. This is a pamphlet that was printed and
distributed at Flint Hill Methodist Church, Coosa Co., AL
"Salem Items
W. L. Miller and John Culver made a business trip to W. J. corley's
store last Saturday." (1)
(1) The Chronicle, 2 Jun 1911, Salem Items, p. 5. Published in Rockford,
Coosa Co., AL. Microfilm: Located in the Alabama Archives and History,
Montgomery, AL.
1910 census records that A.M. Beasley was a hired man, working for W.J.
Corley