Thomas Everly
Thomas Everly, farmer and stock raiser, resides on Section 2, Prairie Township, where he has a good farm of 160 acres. He is a native of Holmes County, born August 1, 1839, a son of Adam and Naomi (McConkey) Everly, natives of Wayne County, Ohio, the former of German and the latter of Irish descent. The father died in 1881, aged sixty-two years; the mother is now living in Wayne County. Of their eight children but two are living: Thomas and one daughter, Rachel, wife of Joseph Filkey, of Fredonia, Kas.
Thomas Everly received only limited educational advantages, his services being required in the work of the farm. He remained at home until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when, in October, 1861, he enlisted in the defense of his country, and was assigned to Company B, McLaughlin's squadron of Ohio Cavalry. He participated in forty-five hard-fought battles, besides numerous skirmishes, but escaped all without injury. Among the most important of his engagements we note the following: the campaign of eastern Kentucky, under Gen. Garfield, and at Jennings' Creek; then for two years was engaged in guerrilla warfare, and finally was in the siege of Knoxville (Tenn.). In January, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran, was assigned to Gen. Stoneman's division of cavalry, and went with Sherman to Atlanta. At Marietta, Ga., he was transferred to Gen. Kilpatrick's division, and was with Gen. Sherman on the march to the sea, participating in the battles at Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, Hillsboro, Macon, Waynesboro, Savannah, Lexington, Akron, Blackwell, Averysboro, Bentonville, Raleigh, and at the surrender of Gen. Joe Johnston, at Durham Station, N.C. His regiment then went back to Raleigh, N.C., where he participated in the closing scenes of the war. He was discharged at Charlotte, N.C., October 15, 1865, and was mustered out November 15 following.
After the war he returned to his home, and has since been engaged in the more peaceful pursuits of agriculture He now has a valuable farm, all well improved, and is making a specialty of stock raising, having a number of thorough-bred Holstein cattle and fine horses. He was married January 25, 1866, to Martha R., daughter of Peter and Sarah (Albertson) Painter, and a native of Holmes County, born May 10, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Everly have had three children: Ora W., Roy P. and Myrtle L. Ora W. married Louie R. Bushey, and they have one child, Guy. Mr. Everly is a Democrat; he and his wife are members of the Disciples Church.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889