"Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen" 1776-1889, by H. H. Hardesty, 1889; Vol. II, pages 599-600.

THOMAS DAVIS entered the army June 12, 1861, at Ironton, Ohio, at the age of 28 years, enlisting
in Co. H, 2d W. Va. V. I.; participated in engagements at Cheat Mountain, Port Republic, Culpeper
C. H., second Bull Run, Rocky Gap, Droop Mountain and Dublin Depot; was wounded Aug. 29, at Second
Bull Run, by gunshot through both shoulders; in hospital at Washington, D.C., about three months;
on detailed duty at Beverly, W. Va., in winter of 1863, he having been transferred to Co. H., 5th
Va. Cav.; furloughed in April, 1863, from Beverly, about 11 days, and rejoined his command at that
place; discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment at Wheeling, W. Va., June 25, 1864;
member of Encampment No. 9, U. V. L.

Mr. Davis was born in Jackson county, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1830, and settled in this county in 1879;
his parents, who are deceased, were Lewis and Maria (Evans) Davis; at Pomeroy, Ohio, March 3,
1859, he married Florilla McKain, born at Wheeling, W. Va., July 3, 1835, the daughter of
Thomas and Margaret (Cooper) McKain, deceased; the children of this marriage are three, born in
the order named; Thomas C., Lewis E. and Blanche. Of the relatives of Mr. Davis who served in the
late war were Peter Davis, a brother of Mr. Davis, captain of a Missouri regiment; William McKain,
brother of Mrs. Davis, captain of Co. I, 33d O. V. I., killed in battle of Reseca, May 14, 1864.
The Command to which Mr. Davis was attached (5th W. Va. C.) was that part of the army that
participated in what is known in history as the Salem raid on Tennessee and Virginia Railroad,
and rendered great service to the country. The most noted of all raids was that of General Averill
in the winter of 1863-4. The object of the expedition, which was planned by General Kelly, was to
cut the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and so sever the communication between Lee, in Virginia,
and Longstreet, in Tennessee. The command of the real expedition was given to General Averill. On
the 8th of December he started from New Creek, near Maryland border, with four mounted regiments
and a battery. In his report of the expedition General Averill says: "My command subsisted entirely
upon a very poor country, and suffered cold, hunger and fatigue with remarkable fortitude. My command
has marched, climbed, slid and swam three hundred and fifty miles in fourteen days." This was the
Salem raid. Mr. Davis is at present engaged in rolling mill work, and lives at New Castle, Pa. 
 

Transcribed by Linda Cunningham Fluharty from book in personal library.
www.lindapages.com