The Commercial Hotel (1910)

Here's some info on the builder of the Commercial Hotel and its location. John Corley was also involved in the water, ice, and electric company (tomorrow's photo).

CORLEY, John Roberts 3/24/1854 2/3/1939 "John Roberts Corley was born March 24, 1854 in Monroe Co., AL. John R. Corley came to Mexia in 1876. He was a building contractor and established a furniture/funeral business when the town was three years old. He served as President of the first school board of which he was a member for 25 years. He organized and became the first president and manager of the Mexia water, light and ice company and was a past Mayor of Mexia. He was married Oct. 18, 1887, in Dallas to Elizabeth Z. Record, member of a pioneer Dallas Family. Her father was George W. Record for whom Record Crossing in Dallas was named. She died July 15, 1961,at the age of 98 years. When Mr. Corley arrived in Mexia, the town had only a livery stable, blacksmith shop, a union church and lodge hall, a few grocery stores,several saloons and a lot of cowboys. Shortly after his arrival he erected a home for Gn. Enricque Mexia on S. Belknap St., which was destroyed by fire. Later he built the old Farmer's State Bank Building, 105 N. Sherman St.; The Commercial Hotel, 100 W. Commerce and an addition to Westminster College Main Building in Tehuacana. He was known as an outstanding citizen, church, business and civic leader and he believed in his family and his fellow man, and in his God"--This was taken from the Corley Marker.