Background
EVERSON, William Graham was born on July 1, 1879 in Wooster, Ohio, United States. Son of Jacob Monroe and Annie Louise (Riddle) Everson.
Majorgeneral United States Army
EVERSON, William Graham was born on July 1, 1879 in Wooster, Ohio, United States. Son of Jacob Monroe and Annie Louise (Riddle) Everson.
Franklin College, Indiana., Bachelor of Arts. Newton Theological Institute., Massachusetts, Bachelor of Divinity. Special Courses: Baylor and Harvard University.
Command. General Staff School. Leavenworth; Army War College, Washington.
He was raised in Indiana, and joined the Army for the Spanish–American War, enlisting in Company East, 158th Indiana Infantry, and rising through the ranks to First Sergeant. Everson received his ordination as a Baptist minister in 1901, and was the pastor of churches in Boston, Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati and Muncie. He also became a well known public speaker as a lecturer on the Chautauqua Circuit.
He was promoted to Captain in the 3rd Indiana Infantry in 1909, Major in 1914 and Lieutenant Colonel in 1918.
Everson was promoted to Colonel and commander of the 332nd Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 83rd Infantry Division. The 332nd served in Italy, and were the only American troops to serve east of the Adriatic Sea, carrying out operations in Austria, Dalmatia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Everson continued his military service after the war. In 1922 he was promoted to Brigadier General as commander of the 76th Infantry Brigade.
Everson subsequently served as Adjutant General of Indiana.
He graduated from the United States Army War College in 1923 and the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1928. In 1929 Everson was promoted to Major General and appointed as Chief of the Militia Bureau. He served in this position until 1931, when he resigned in order to return to the ministry, accepting a position with the First Baptist Church in Denver.
In 1931 Everson received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Franklin College.
From 1939 to 1943 he served as President of Linfield College. Everson continued to serve in the military until reaching mandatory retirement age in 1945.
In retirement Everson resided in Portland, Oregon, where he died on September 13, 1954. He is buried at Riverview Abbey in Portland.
William Graham Everson at Find A Grave.
Member: Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Phi Gamma Mu; Knight Templar, Scottish Rite Mason. International Lyceum and Chautauaua Association.
American Legion; United Spanish War Veterans. Military Order of World War. Military Order of Foreign Wars.
Spouse Mary Coon, August 31, 1904, Franklin, Indiana.