He entered the service as 5th Sergeant at Camp Dick Robison Ky, Aug. 4, 1862, and belonged to Co. H, 7th Ky. Cav. He was discharged July 10, 1865 by reason of expiration of term of service. He first engaged in battle at Franklin Tenn.; afterwards engaging in the Battle of Resaca, the principal battles of Hood on his march to Nashville, and on the Wilson Raid.
He was never wounded nor confined in hospital; was taken prisoner by Kirby Smith, at Richmond Ky., Sept. 1862. Was paroled in June 1863.
He deems the East Tennessee Campaign as the most important event of his service.
Mr. McQuerry first enlisted in '61, served three months, then enlisted in the twelve months service, furnished his own equipment, took part in the Battle of Wild Cat Ky, serving all this year without pay. The Gov. would not receive twelve months troops so he was disbanded, and then served in a Gov. wagon train until Aug. 1862, then enlisted in the 7th Ky Cav.
As written in the Personal War Sketch compilation of
members of the GAR Post 350 in Greenfield, Greene county, Il.
"History Of Greene County, IL" pub. 1879, page 685"
McQuerry, John, farmer, Sec 9-15, P.O. Greenfield (Town 10, North Range 10, West), was born in Garrett (sic) County, KY June 28, 1841 born of Joseph and Rachel McQuerry; had very poor advantages in his youth. At the age of 16 he ran away from home in company with William STANTON (STANTON bio page), of Carrollton (Greene cnty, IL) and came to this county on foot; was at one time four days on the road and had but one meal in the time, and from Alton to Carrollton without anything to eat; he remained there 2 years; helped to burn the brick now in Pierson's bank building; returned to Kentucky a short time before the breaking out of the war; though of Sourthern birth, yet he was loyal to the Union cause, and at the outbreak of the war enlisted in the Home Guards, and was in the twelve month's service, and was on duty at Cumberland Gap; then went into the 7th Volunteer Cavarly, and served until the close of the war, and was in all the battles that the regiment participated in, and was always at the fron; had 2 brothers in service with him; all were fortunate and returned home in possession of life and limb; in the Fall of 1866, he returned to this county, and began work in good earnest; on Dec 29, 1866 he was married to Sarah J. COOLEY, born in KY, Aug 5, 1851 (A Sarah COOLEY, age 9, is found on the 1860 census of Garrard county, KY with Eliza COOLEY (f,40), Mary (f,13), Elbert (m,5) and William (m,3)). They had 5 children, Oscar, b. 08/11/1868, Avery b. 02/07/1870, Effie b. 10/21/1871, Neice b. 04/17/1874, Golden b. 02/21/1876. When he began renting, had nothing but his team and willing hands; soon bought 22 acres of land; 2 years afterward bought 40 more, subsequently bought 80 acres of Wm. CANNEDY, then 40 acres of S. LEMASTERS, and March 2, 1877, bought the JACKSON farm, Sec 9 and now has 309 acres of land in all. This he has attained by his own industry and good management.