John Calvin Tilley (b. January 17, 1837, d. September 20, 1906)
TIlley Family
John Calvin Tilley (son of Edmond Tilley and Sarah Ferguson) was born January 17, 1837 in Ashe County, North Carolina, and died September 20, 1906 in Keyrock, West Virginia. He married Sarah Rutherford.
Notes for John Calvin Tilley: Resided in Ashe County and enlisted in Iredell County at age 24, August 15, 1862, for the war. Wounded in the head at Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13, 1862. Reported absent without leave through February, 1863. Returned to duty prior to July 1 - 4, 1863, when he was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Hospitalized at David's Island, New York Harbor, on or about July 17, 1863. Paroled and transferred to City Point, Virginia, where he was received on September 8, 1863, for exchange. Returned to duty in March - April, 1864. Reported absent wounded in May - June, 1864. Place and date wounded not reported. Reported absent without leave "with foot off" during September 1864 - February 1865.
John, soon after the Civil War ended in which he had lost a leg, left his worn out farm and with big hopes for a better life for his family, traveled two weeks in two overloaded ox wagons, reached Tilley Fork and their new home. John had purchased his brother in law's, Thomas Laxton, property after his death from his widow who remarried. John was an industrious man and acquired much acreage in, around and beyond the area. It was told that he was the first to build a house out of sawed lumber. He and older boys cut suitable trees, sawed them into logs, chained them together and snaked them by ox team all the way to Pineville to the new saw mill, then bring the sawed lumber back by ox wagon. Beside being a farmer, John found time to tote the mail to Raleigh, Beckley and back three days a week on horseback, and teach a term or two of school during the winter months when there was little farming.
More About John Calvin Tilley: Burial: 1906, Gunter-Tilley Cemetery, Wyoming Co. WVA. Military service: Bet. August 15, 1862 - September 1864, Army of Northern Virginia.
Children of John Calvin Tilley and Sarah Rutherford are:
John Calvin Tilley (b. January 17, 1837, d. September 20, 1906)
Notes for John Calvin Tilley: