A Walker Corlis

Photographer:
A. W. Corlis
Pontiac, Ill.

A Walker Corlis
(1895 - 1937

1865 Apr 26
Villa Nova, Ontario, Canada, IL death certificate. Corlis is born to Ezarah Corlis and Sarah Walker
1881
Townsend, Ontario, Canada census: A Walker Corlis at age 16
1884
Hartford, CN, 1900 US census, arrival in US
1885 - 1907
Niagara, NY, from 1933 US Border Crossing Statement; Corlis has been in the US from 1885 to 1907
1891 May 30
Bessemer, MI, Gogebic Iron Spirit news item says Corlis it the new photographer
1891 Jul 25
Bessemer, MI, Gogebic Iron Spirit news item sys Corlis has redecorated the studio
1891 Aug 29
Bessemer, MI, Gogebic Iron Spirit small ad for studio in Bessemer, MI
1891 Sep 12
Bessemer, MI, Gogebic Iron Spirit news item says Corlis has redecorated the studio again

1891 Sep 26
Bessemer, MI, Gogebic Iron Spirit Item says Corlis has gone to Milwaukee for the past week
1891 Oct 03
Bessemer, MI, Gogebic Iron Spirit item says Corlis has returned from Milwaukee
1892 Mar 05
Bessemer, MI, Gogebic Iron Spirit item says Corlis went to Ashland Thursday
1892
Ann Arbor city directory NOT listed
1894
Ann Arbor, MI, city directory as photographer at 6 e Huron (published every two years)
1896
Ann Arbor, MI, city directory NOT listed
1896 Jun 09
Norfolk, Ontario, Canada, W A Corlis and Edith D Dunkin are married
1899
Ontario, Canada daughter Edna H Corlis is born
1900 Jun 01
Hartford, CN, US census as photographer; res 65 Lincoln st
1901
Hartford, CN, city directory NOT listed

1901
Youngstown, OH, city directory NOT listed; Corlis was probably IN Youngstown but had missed getting in the directory
1902
Youngstown, OH, city directory as photographer but not at own studio
1903 to 1908
Youngstown, OH, city directory as photographer at 215 n Phelps
1907 Nov 08 thru Nov 14
New Castle (PA) Herald, six display ads say Seavy’s ground floor studio has hired A W Corlis
1908
Youngstown, OH, city directory as photographer at 215 n Phelps
1909
Youngstown, OH, city directory NOT listed
1910 to 1933
(Moline, IL) Dispatch, Obituary says A W Corlis operated photo studios in Toronto and Montreal, Canada during these years
1917 Mar 07
York, Ontario, Canada, marriage to Nellie Steele
1921 Jun 01
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Canada census, as photographer

1923 to 1937
(Rock Island, IL) Daily Times Obituary says A W Corlis lived with son John in Moline, IL, since 1923
1929 Apr 07
Niagara Falls, NY, Border Crossing, visit to US
1933 Dec 08
Niagara Falls, NY, Border Crossing, visit to US
1935
(Moline, IL) Dispatch, Obituary says A W Corlis moved to Rock Island in 1935
1935
Toronto, Canada, voter list says he has residence in Toronto, Canada
1937
Rock Island, IL, city directory, no occupation shown; res 1517 14 1/2
1937 Dec 11
Rock Island, IL, state death certificate, A Walker Corlis dies at age 72

Although A. Walker Corlis (1865-1937) moved around a lot, living mostly in Ontario, Ohio and Michigan, he apparently lived with his son John in Rock Island, Illinois from 1923 until his death in 1937.

There are a lot of gaps in the documentation of the whereabouts of A Walker Corlis. Nothing was found to document his presence in Pontiac, IL. The best guess is that he never lived there and the cabinet card at the top was probably finished on a side trip while living in Rock Island, IL, 1923 to 1937.

Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 30 May 1891

Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 25 Jul 1891

Hurley, WI, Montreal River Miner and Iron County Republican - 22 Aug 1891


Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 29 Aug 1891


Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 12 Sep 1891

Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 26 Sep 1891


Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 03 Oct 1891


Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 05 Mar 1892

Bessemer, MI Gogebic Iron Spirit - 16 Mar 1891

At the left an advertisement that shows Corlis was in a brief partnership with Constable's Gallery. This is the only evidence found that notes this so it must have been very brief.

Below shows that Corlis was working for another gallery in 1907. Again, it was probably very brief.

New Castle, PA, Herald - 07 Nov 1907

Davenport (IA) Daily Times - 13 Dec 1937

Moline, IL, Dispatch - 13 Dec 1937

photographer: Corlis
6 Huron st, Ann Arbor, MI
example from auction site
This card probably finished around 1894

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.