My Genealogy Hound

Thomas B. Kerby, farmer, fruit grower and native of Washington County, Ark., was born on the 16th of April, 1848, and his early days were spent in following the plow and attending the common schools, where he received a good practical English education. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Col. Brook’s regiment of cavalry, and served until the close of the war, participating in a number of skirmishes. After his return home he engaged in farming, and has made that his chief occupation through life. He has farmed successively in Washington, Jackson, Bates, Washington, Crawford and Washington Counties, locating on his present farm, about two miles from Boonsboro, in March, 1884. He has a good farm of 113 acres, with seventy-five acres under cultivation, and twelve acres in orchard, and from the products of his farm and orchard derives a comfortable income. While residing in Jackson County he was married January 2, 1870, to Miss Rebecca Ashley, who was born in Fayette County, Mo., and reared and educated there. Their union has been blessed in the birth of six children: William F., Annie Laurie, Alice May, Jessie C., Henry Lee and Charles Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Kerby and their four eldest children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kerby’s parents, Henry Franklin and Rebecca (Coulter) Kerby, were born in Tennessee, and were married in Arkansas. The father was a farmer, and served as sheriff of Washington County at a very early day. He died on the 8th of January, 1867, having been a resident of the county thirty-six years.