Edgar Thomas Conley

Edgar Thomas Conley (April 12, 1874 – August 21, 1956) was an American military officer who was Adjutant General of the United States Army from 1935 to 1938.

Early life Edgar Thomas Conley was born April 12, 1874 in Fairland, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States of America. Son of Charles William and Martha E. (Larrick) Conley, who owned a family farm called Green Ridge. Edgar was apparently named for an uncle born in 1840, who was a member of the 2d Maryland (Confederate Army) who died during the American Civil War. After graduating from Episcopal High School, in Alexandria, Virginia, Conley attended Lehigh University for a semester and then entered Braden's preparatory school in Highland Falls.

He was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on June 15, 1893. In 1905 Conley married Claire M. Conley, who was born in Ontario Canada, but became a naturalized citizen around 1900. The couple met when Conley was assigned to Fort Niagara, New York, and the marriage produced three children. Their son Edgar T. Conley attained the rank of brigadier general in the army and was the husband of Cecile Olive Truesdell. Cecile Truesdell Conley was the daughter of Major General Karl Truesdell.

Military career

Early years

Edgar Thomas Conley successfully completed his studies at West Point, where he earned the lifetime nickname of "Sheriff" for mediating a fight between cadets, and did well both academically and in extracurricular activities. Conley graduated and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant of Infantry on June 11, 1887. After a brief stint with the US 15th Infantry in the New Mexico Territory, newly promoted 1st Lieutenant Conley was assigned to Company G, 21st Infantry on February 1, 1898. The 21st Infantry was deployed for service in the Spanish-American War, landing on Cuba with the Fifth Army Corps in late June 1898. On July 1, 1898, the 21st Infantry took part in the assault on San Juan Hill outside Santiago, Cuba. Lieutenant Conley was cited for gallantry in the battle, making him eligible to wear the Silver Star Medal when it was approved in 1932. Conley transferred to the Office of the Chief of Staff in April 1918, where he remained until sailing for France in September 1918.

Colonel Conley remained at the War Department through the remainder of the 1920s and early 1930s. On June 1, 1933, Conley was appointed as assistant to the adjutant general with a concurrent promotion to brigadier general. On November 1, 1935 Conley was promoted to major general and appointed as The Adjutant General of the Army. Major General Conley retired on April 30, 1938 due to reaching the mandatory retirement age.

Personal life Of Conley's children, Edgar T. Conley Jr. followed his father to West Point and was commissioned into the U.S. Army. Lieutenant Colonel Edgar T. Conley Jr. commanded a tank battalion from the D-Day landings to the end of the war in the European Theater of World War II.

In 1927, Conley inherited the family farm "Green Ridge" near Fairland, Maryland. Conley lived there when assigned to duty in the region, and spent his off-duty time in tending the farm. After his retirement, Conley retired to Green Ridge, and devoted his time to farming, family and volunteering at his local church. General Conley died at home on August 20, 1956.