1873
THOMAS LEE FARLEY SR. was born on March 30, 1873 at Pipestem, Mercer County, WV to his parents Alexander D. Farley, 1850-1936 and Sarah Paulina Dwiggins Farley 1840-1936. We find him in the following US FEDERAL CENSUSES 1880, 1900, 1920, 1930 and 1940. He had 2 siblings born before him, William Alpheus Dwiggins, 1866-1920 and Edna Earl Farley, 1871-1947.

1880
The first time I find my grandfather is in THE 1880 US FEDERAL CENSUS, page 17, lines 42-50. He is 5 years old. He is living with his parents Alexander, age 30 and Sarah P. Farley age 35, at Pipestem, Summers County, WV. At this time, Thomas had 7 siblings; stepbrother, William Alpheus Dwiggans, age 15; sisters, Edna Earl, age 8; Mary Alice, age 7; Lou Emma, age 4; brothers, Oscar Chapman, age 2; and Victor Green, age 1. William, Edna and Mary attend school. Their dad was a farmer.

1890
No Record. Most of the census' were destroyed by a huge fire on Jan 10, 1890 in THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT BUILDING in Washington DC.

1900
Next we find him in THE 1900 U.S. FEDERAL CENSUS, page 24, lines 84-92, living at Pipestem, Summers County, WV. In this record only his middle name, Lee is used. He is age 27 and still single. He is living with his parents Alexander, age 50, and Sarah P., age 55. They have been married for 29 years. They own their home. Thomas' occupation is Day Laborer.

His sister, Edna Earl, age 28, has married Elbert Walter Young. Her husband is not listed with her in this Census, but their firstborn son, Kyle is 1 year old. Also, they are recorded in several later censuses. They had a large family.

His other siblings that are still living at home in this census, are Josie May, age 18; Fannie B. age 14; Oscar Chapman, age 23 and Victor Green Farley, age 21. They all could read and write. Their dad was a farmer. Thomas, Oscar and Victor worked as Day Laborers.

1910
In THE 1910 US FEDERAL CENSUS, page 3, line 43, we find 37 year old Thomas is living at a Boarding House (lines 30-46), at Stanford, Raleigh County, WV. He is a miner working in a Coal Mine. He is single. His name is listed as Lee T. Farley.

1913
Thomas, age 40, marries Dollie Boyd, age 24, in Kanawha County, WV.

1914
On Nov 10, 1914, Thomas and Dollie have twin sons, Clinton Eulean (Death Nov 16, 2011) and Eugene Douglas (Death Oct 28, 1974). They are living in Johnson County, Kentucky.

1916
Dollie dies in 1915 or 1916. Thomas is widowed with 2 young sons.

1918
In the U.S. WW I Draft Registration, Card F., we find Thomas, age 44, living at Gardener, Mercer County, WV. (It list his birth year as 1874, instead of 1873.). His occupation was farming. His nearest relative was Louise Farley.

1919
Thomas marries Sarah "Sallie" Margaret Farley Basham Lilly.

Sallie has twin daughters, Dollie Faye and Willie Mae, with her first husband, widower, Isaac Edmond Basham. (Issac and his first wife, Malinda Harvey Basham were the parents of 7 children. I do not know who raised them after their fathers death. Their ages were from 6 to 17).

Her second husband was James Garfield Lilly, they had 1 son Beecher P. Lilly. Her second husband was shot and killed on May 3, 1917 by her brother. According to the newspaper, her husband was abusive. Now with their combined family, Thomas and Sallie have 2 sets of twins and a young son.

In THE 1920 US FEDERAL CENSUS, page 11, lines 24-30, we find Thomas, age 45 and wife Sally, age 38 with their family, twin daughters, Willie and Dollie, age 9; twin sons, Clinton and Eugene, age 5; and son Beecher, age 2 years 11 months. It list all of their surnames as Farley. Their home is mortgage free. Thomas is a farmer in General Farming. They live in the Jumping Branch Precinct, Summers County, WV.

They have their first son, Denny Harold, born on June 6, 1920. (Death Feb 7, 2005)

1922
Birth of their second son, Edward G. Farley on March 23, 1922. The infant only lived for 11 days. It list his death date as March 1922. (Eleven days later his death should be April 2). This was found on FHL Film Number: 589345.

1923
They have their third son, Walter Lee Farley on Jan 4, 1923 (Death Apr 14, 1977). Sarah (Sallie) has the Flu and Complications from childbirth. She dies on Jan 6, 1923. The Mid-Wife took baby Walter home with her to care for. (I do not know how long she kept him. He is with his dad in the 1930 Census). Sallie's twin daughters go to live with their Basham half-sisters and family. Young Beecher Lilly is adopted by Abney and Lottie Meadows from Hinton.

1930
In THE US FEDERAL CENSUS, page 12, lines 79-85, we find 55 year old widowed Thomas, living in the Jumping Branch District, Summers County, WV. His twins sons Clint and Gene are age 15 now, Dennie is age 10, Walter is age 7, and Alie is age 4. This is the only place that I find Alie, maybe he was the son of Clara Lilly, age 45, a servant was listed in this census. Thomas owned his home/farm and continues in farming.

Thomas' brother Oscar Chapman dies on Nov 3, 1930.

Thomas, age 57, marries Winnie Ellen Bolen Hall, age 26 (my maternal grandmother) on July 15, 1930. She is a young widow with 4 young children, 7 year old Garnet Easter (Death June 11, 1997); 6 year old Raymond Owen (Death Sep 16, 2003); 3 year old William Jennings (Death Oct 18, 1987); and 2 year old Vivian Marie Hall (Death Mar 9, 1993). Her late husband, and their father, Lawrence David Hall, had died in a tragic "accident" on Apr 14, 1929. He burned to death in the Mullens Jail, Mullens, Wyoming County, WV.

1931
My mother (the only daughter and sibling of this very large family still living as of Nov 2020) was born on May 15, 1931. She is the oldest child from their marriage.

1932
Daughter, Mary Betheline Farley was born on Dec 13, 1932. (Death on Mar 6, 2013)

1936
Daughter, Elizabeth Ellen Farley was born on Feb 21, 1936. (Death Jan 25, 2001)

1938
Son, Thomas Dean Farley was born on June 3, 1938. (Death Jan 20, 2001)

1940
In THE 1940 US FEDERAL CENSUS, page 9, lines 10-18, we find Thomas, age 66 , his wife Winnie, age 36, and their children, 9 year old Nellie, 7 year old Mary, 4 year old Elizabeth, and 1 month old Emma who was born on April 3, 1940 (Death Sep 3, 2013). Jennings is 13 years old and Marie is age 12. They live on the Ellison Ridge Road, Jumping Branch District, Summers County , WV. Their home/farm is rented. Thomas is a farmer.

1941
Son, Thomas Junior (still living) was born on May 31, 1941.

Thomas' sister Leona "Lou" Emma Farley Farley dies on June 20, 1941.

1942
Son, Clowney Ray Farley was born on April 21, 1942 and died on May 25, 1942.

1943
Son, Thomas Lee "JUNIOR" was born on May 30, 1943, died on Apr 29, 2019.

1945
Son, Gene Autry Farley was born on Dec 30, 1945. (Death May 30, 1996)

1947
His sister, Edna Earl Farley Young dies on Apr 12, 1947.

1948
Daughter, Betty Lou Farley was born on April 4, 1948. (Death Apr 20, 1985)

1956
My grandfather died on March 19, 1956. I was almost 5 years old at that time. I remember him. He would play his Banjo when he felt like it. He had to use Oxygen all the time. He had been sick for a long time.

Aldetta Wallace Akers
Granddaughter