Yes. That is correct, in a sense
Times were much different back then. The word Literate also had a much different meaning. My Grandmother had a 6th grade "education". My Grandfather (her husband) had an 8th grade education. (Those Grandparents were on my Mothers side of the family)
Neither of them were considered "Literate" by the standards of those days. Yet, (And I do remember very well) they were both very "well read" people.
By todays standards, they might well be college professors.
Now, as far as my own parents were concerned......
My Mom & Dad both "graduated" high school at the 10th grade level.
I remember my Mom talking about how, only 2 years after she graduated high school that it became 11 years till matriculation and then just a little over 1 year later it became the 12 years which we still have even until this day
The word "Literate" back then did really mean a "man of letters". Almost everyone could "read & write". (It was all they had..... there was no "Radio, Movies, TV, computers, etc.)
But
Being "Literate" back then meant "Not having to go to a Dictionary" to "look up" a word.
It was a different time & place.
My Grandfather on my fathers side had only a 4th grade education and yet read much. It is remembered that he would read several publications and then go down to the old "barber shop" and "quote word for word" what he had read and then engage the others in discussion.
(He was in his '80's at the time)
God Bless