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Thomas Hillary, eldest son of John Hanson Hillary and Mary Waters, was born in Frederick County, Md., June 4, 1841. On Lee's invasion of Maryland, in September, 1862, he and some half dozen others joined Capt. Benjamin P. Crampton's company, G, 7th Virginia Regiment. Early in the War between the States the same neighborhood had sent to this company some twelve or fifteen of its magnificent horsemen. At that time T. F. Mason was captain, with Thaddeus Thrasher second lieutenant; also of this section who was killed at Kernsville. Naturally Thomas Hillary sought a home with those of his home life. Like them, he had been reared on horseback, as it were, and he was so superb a horseman that he presented the appearance of a centaur. This company had fifty-seven Marylanders in it; and in all the battles led by Turner Ashby's as captain, colonel, and general none followed better than they. For his bravery and personal courage Thomas Hillary was praised by officers of the Laurel Brigade, which consisted of the 7th, 11th and 12th Virginia Regiments, and Elijah V. White's battalion, 35th Virginia Cavalry and Chew's Battery. These associates were an inspiration, to say the least, and with General Rosser he continued to the close of the great conflict.

Thomas Hillary was married in 1877 in the State of Ohio, and after many faithful years in the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company he passed from time to eternity September 30, 1915. His mortal remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Zanesville, Ohio.