Stewart County Georgia Biographies Bio of Rev. John H. Corley 1824 - 1900 Submitted by Charlene Parker Sep 2002 ****************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profitor for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ****************************************************************************************** From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller J. H. CORLEY Of Welch descent, on his father's side and of Irish on his mother's Rev. J. H. Corley was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, October 2, 1824. When seven or eight years of age he moved with his father to Augusta, Georgia where he attended school for three or four years. His father then moved to Macon, Georgia, and it was during his residence there that he was converted. The great meteoric shower in 1833 spread general gloom over the inhabitants of the city and country, and seriously impressed him in reference to the salvation of his soul. He became converted. In 1835 or 1836 his father settled in the country near Jonesboro and there young Corley joined the church at Tanner's by baptism, and began to preach. It was here he married Miss Julia A. Youngblood on the 26th of January, 1844 and was licensed to preach two days afterwards. He was uneducated and was distressed about himself for that reason, but near the close of 1845, Elder L. Towers offered to educate him either at Mercer University or Cave Springs, or at his own private school, Eusebia Institute. He selected the last named place and spent three years there in school. In 1848 he moved his little family and took charge of the little school there, and at the same time preached to a number of churches in the country. He was called to ordination by the Mariah Church in Coweta County, and was ordained on the 28 of May 1848, by Elders Joshua S. Calloway, George B. Davis, Trustin Phillips and Joel C. Tommy. His ministry was quite successful and he baptized many converts. From here he moved to a farm on Flint River in the winter of 1852-'53. The result was disastrous in the extreme, for within a year he lost his two children by sickness and also lost his home, besides being involved in debt between two and three thousand dollars. From there he moved to McDonough and entered in law partnership with Col. L. T. Doyal but remained in the law practice for only a short time. He accepted a call from Forsyth Church and two country churches and spent two years at that place. When the war came on he entered the army and remained over a year. In 1863 he settled on a farm ten miles west of Buena Vista and preached every Sunday to some of the various churches. He remained there until 1871 when he moved to Dawson and took charge of the church there and also of the church at Ft. Gaines. During the five years he thus preached, many were added to the membership of both churches. He withdrew from their pastorate in 1877 that he might enter on mission work among the freedmen. He remained in the Bethel Association preaching for many and various churches until he became too feeble to attend his meetings. He died on April 2, 1900 at his home in Ft. Gaines. He left at his death a minister son, J. G. Corley and two daughters, who were provided for by the Bethel Association. ******following notes added by Debra Crosby 1850 Coweta County Ga Census page 348 19th division 914 Jeremiah Corley 56 m Carpenter 1000 SC Charlotte 55 f SC Arminta M. 16 f Ga James 14 m Ga E. J. Stafford 18 f Ga Georgia A. C. 1 f Ga 1850 Coweta County Ga Census page 349 19th division 918 John H. Corley 27 m B. Clergyman 1300 SC Julia A. 29 f SC Nancy C. 5 f Ga Martha A. 4 f Ga John L. 2 m Ga Jeptha G. 7/12 m Ga Richmond Prusky 24 m Farmer Ga Willis B. Corley 63 m Farmer SC Nancy 62 f Ireland Bethelehem 18 f SC 1850 Coweta Co. Ga census page 368 19th division 1216 Elbert D. Corley 35 m farmer SC Mary 33 f GA Willis F. 10 m Ga George 8 m Ga William A. 7 m Ga John J. 6 m Ga Elbert J. 3 m Ga Martha E. 1 f Ga 1840 Census Richmond Co. Ga Willis Corley age 50/60 page 288 1820 Edgefield SC census page 127 Abner Corley 1 m 16/18 1m over 45, 2f 16/26 1f 16/45 1f over 45 1810 Edgefield SC. census Abner Corley 3m 0/10, 1m 10/15, 1 m 45 over ; 1f 0/10, 1f 10/15, 2f 16/25, 1f 45over Willis Corley 1m 0/10, 1m 16/25; 2f 0/10, 1f 16/25 American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) CORLEY, Abner Birth Date: 1759 Birth Place: South Carolina, Volume: 34 Page Number: 357 Biographical Info: Rev.War Reference: Census of pensioners for Rev. military serivces. Washington, DC. 1841. (195p.):142 SOUTH CAROLINA - FEDERAL PENSION REPORT 1835 ABNER CORLEY EDGEFIELD DISTRICT PRIVATE INFANTRY AND CAVALRY $55.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE $165.00 AMOUNT RECEIVED DECEMBER 14,1833 PENSION STARTED AGE 76