Sinai and William Neal’s son James Preston Neal had told a story of he and his brother (my 3rd Great Grandfather William Thomas Neal) as boys having had the opportunity to meet Samuel Houston and welcomed him over to their parents home. When Samuel Houston inquired of his mother (Sinai) and her family names, “… she told him that she was raised on Gasper River, Warren County, Kentucky; that her father was Robbert Herrald; that her mother was an Edmiston; and that she was related to the Marshalls, Cannons, and Loves; and that her first husband was William Neal, a son of Uncle Tom and Mary Neal….” [Washington County Historical Society Flashback (Vol. 5, No. 6 - Dec 1955)] Samuel Houston, in turn, said that they must be related, as they had similar family names.

The clue from this story, put me onto Sinai’s connection with the Harreld family, where I was helped along with the history of Captain Robbert Harreld. The following is a rough compiling of my notes on the life of Robbert. I’m afraid they all run together and may not be sourced completely, so I present them as I have them. Hopefully I’ll be able to organize them better at a future date.

Robert had grown up in the Southwestern part of Virginia and was old enough to take part in the last years of the Revolutionary War. He received land in Kentucky and moved there as early as 1782; settled in that part of Lincoln County that afterwards became Logan and then, Warren County. (Source: Harrison) Robert served as a horse master in the building of the road through Cumberland Gap during the Revolution in 1780 and received a 300 acre land grant on the Green River in Lincoln (now Warren) Co, KY, on July 10, 1786. – 1810 Warren Co, KY Census with a family of 9 and 8 slaves Robert appears in the 1820 Warren County, KY Census (34-3) Died 1824 Warren Co, KY Robert had Indian troubles in Southwest VA. He came with Daniel Boone to Logan’s Station, and took his first land in 1782. 1827 Tax Lists, show his son only. March, 1782, his heirs appeared in court action. He was in the Revolution. He married Margaret Edmiston in 1780. She was first married to a Dr. (Captain) John Montgomery, who was slain by Indians. She was carried away captive by the Indians with other women from the camp. Her little black servant was left behind, but only after she had been scalped. She remained bald the rest of her life and she lived to be quite old. Margaret might have also had an infant child. Captain Robert Harreld, with others, under the command of General Ben Logan, rescued her. Robert and Margaret became parents of twelve children. Margaret’s father was Rev War Colonel, William Edmiston. See “My Forsythe Saga” by Phillip Wheeler, p 36. Lived in Washington Co, VA, then Lincoln Co, KY which became Logan Co, and then Warren Co, KY. His estate was settled 1851. Records in Bowling Green, Ky.

Robert Harreld Story: By Lewis P Summers– (By Kristin Hawkins – May 2, 2000, copied from her “Harreld, MyFamily.com” file)
“I presently live about three miles from where Robert Harreld grew up here in Washington County, VA, and pass the old farm several times each week.. Benjamin Logan lived about three miles from where I live and about six miles from Robert Harreld… In 1775, Blacks Fort was built at Wolf Hills (later Abingdon, VA) because the Indians were causing a lot of trouble in the area.. Many times people would have to go to the fort and stay several days for protection. Once, when they thought it safe to go back to their farms, people were leaving the fort and Rev Charles Cummings and his party were about halfway between the fort and his farm, the Indians attacked them and killed one of his servant men. The same morning, some girls came out of the fort and the Indians tried to capture them. One of the girls was a younger sister of William Casey, a friend of Robert Harreld. Robert was nearby when William Casey learned that his sister was in danger and by firing their rifles alternately, the two young men were able to hold the Indians at bay until the girls made it back into the fort. So, Robert Harreld had faced the Indians before he went to Ky.”
Note: This story is told in the History of Southwest Va. by Lewis P Summers of Abingdon, VA.

Most of Robert and Margaret’s children eventually wound up in central Mississippi, at least for a time. Robert Harreld had grown up in the Southwestern part of Virginia and was old enough to take part in the last years of the Revolutionary War. He received land in Kentucky and moved there as early as 1782; settled in that part of Lincoln County that afterwards became Logan and then, Warren County. The Harreld family home was outside of what is now Bowling Green, Kentucky. All of their children were born in that location. Their son, (1) Edmiston, purchased land in the western-central part of Madison County as early as 1829. He never married and spent a good deal of time in Louisiana on business ventures. Edmiston was instrumental, with the Mosby Family, in enticing his brother, Dr (2) William Edmiston Harreld to move to Madison County and set up his practice. Dr Harreld completed his medical studiews in Lexington, Kentucky in the late 1820′s and settled for a time in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1835, Dr Harreld gathered together a group of men in Madison Co, M., and joined the ranks of the Confederate Army only to return to practice when the citizens petitioned his company. (3) James Harreld came to Madison County in the early 1830′s following his brother, Edmiston. He later returned to Illinois and died in Alto Pass, Illinois. He was married twice, was considerable well-to-do and an early member of the Legislature. (4) Margaret Montgomery (Harreld) Davis, after the death of husband, moved to the area of Nashville, Tennessee, where some of her children married. She then appeared in the census in Ralls County, Missouri, and in Hannibal, Missouri in the house of Hiram and Nancy Edmiston where she died. In the 1850′s she escorted two of her grandchildren from Missouri to Madison County to visit Dr Harreld. Mrs Davis returned, but Anna Edmiston and Virginia Graham stayed in Mississippi and married. (5) Dorcus L Harreld, came to Madison Co, Mississippi, after the death of Mr Parson and lived with Edmiston and Dr Harreld. (6) Margaret Edmiston Montgomery Harreld also lived the last years of her life in the home with Dorcus, close to her son, Dr Harreld. Her remains were left under a section of Fulton Street in Canton, MS, when the city extended the street through the north side of the old Canton Cemetery. Her monument, which was moved by the Parson’s Family to the new Canton Cemetery, is located flat on the ground to the left of the entrance gate that comes off of Academy Street. It reads as follows: Margaret Edmiston Consort of Robert Harreld was born in Virginia Feb 22, 1762 and departed this life in Miss March 2, 1848 aged 81 years She’s gone from our sight like a gladning ray of light the earth but hath past away all pure to its source in heaven.
Notes from James W Rhodes of Oklahoma, great grandson of John William Harreld (author of the following).
Page 1 — John Edmiston died in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He had four boys and one daughter. The daughter married a Mr Steele. The boys were William, Samuel, Andrew, and Robert. All lived in Washington County, Virginia. Andrew and Robert were killed in the battle of Kings Mountain. Maj or William Edmiston (sometimes spelled Edmonson) was born in 1734 in Cecil County, Maryland. Records of Washington County, Virginia. His will probated August 20, 1822. Will Book No 5 , Page 57. In 1782, came with Daniel Boone to Logan’s Station, Kentucky, and took his first land. He was twice married — First, to Margaret Montgomery by whom he had 8 children. Margaret Edmiston, who first married Jon Montgomery and then Robert Harreld, is the oldest child. Margaret Edmiston-Montgomery-Harreld was born Feb 16, 1762. Her first husband, John Montgomery, was killed by the Indians along with hers and his only child. She was scalped (above shows another way the story went) and then rescued by Capt Robert Harreld, whom she later married. Her brother-in-law, Capt Robert Montgomery was killed at River Raisin in 1813. She is believed to have married Capt Robert Harreld about 1780 in Virginia. Capt Robert Harreld died about 1825 as tax lists of 1827 shows his sons as taxpayers. His heirs are named in deeds settling the estate in 1851 as a record in Bowling Green, Ky, shows. He took up land in Kentucky as early as 1782 in Lincoln County which later became Logan County , and later Warren County. After Logan County was formed in 1792, he still owned land in Lincoln Co. Capt Robert Harreld lived in Southwest Virginia, now Washington County. See…Summers History of Southwest Virginia and State of Va. Library-Report of Revolutionary Soldiers-Year of 1912.

Other records of Capt Robert Harreld. Summers History of Southwest Va – 1746, Washington County – 1777 – Book 17. Also, Drapers ‘Kings Mountain”. All from Linda Carol Strahan’s family tree– Robert and Margaret Harrald of Warren Co, KY, on May 17, 1820, by agent and attorney John Harrald, sold their claim to the land transferred by Wm Edmiston, Senr. of Washington Co., VA, by deed April 28, 1809 (except one undivided third of property and undivided 13th part, Gen William Campbell Edmiston 12th part, Vance Greer (Hetty Esther’s son-in-law) 12th part, James Gillespie & wife Patsey Gillespie, and John Beatty and wife Sally Beatie. Witnesses were William E Kennedy and Thomas Buchanan (Lincoln Co Deeds 101-B-1, p 103). Also, she has listed an Infant Harreld, b January 30, 1799.

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

Sinai Harreld Neal Buchanan
Born – 6 Oct 1797, Butler Co., Kentucky
Died – 17 Feb 1883, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Arkansas
Buried – Prairie Grove Cemetery, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Arkansas

BUCHANAN, Sina Neal – Died in Prairie Grove on Saturday, Feb 17, 1883, Mrs. Sinai[sic] Buchanan, widow of the late Rev. Andrew Buchanan. Mrs. B. was the oldest settler in Prairie Grove Township. Obituary soon. [Fayetteville Democrat 2/22/1883]

Died in Prairie Grove at the residence of her son, Col. Neal, Mrs. Sina Buchanan. Aunt Sina, as she was lovingly called by us all, is gone “over there;” on the 17th inst. after a long and useful life she passed “over the river.” Aunt Sina was born in Butler County, Kentucky on the 6th of October A.D., 1797, was married to Mr. Wm. Neal, by whom she became the mother of two children – Col. Wm. T. Neal, who was killed during the late war and our friend, Col. Jas. P. Neal of this place. After the death of her first husband she was united by marriage to the Rev. Andrew Buchanan, whose name she has so long commemorated. She professed religion early in life and was received into the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at this place among the very first. She was a consistent christian, a true “mother in Israel.” While grievously lamenting her death we bow humbly to Almighty God saying, “Thy will be done.” W.R.R. Prairie Grove, Feb 26th, 1883. [Fayetteville Democrat 3/1/1883]

• “William Thomas Neel was a Captain in the 6th Arkansas Confederate Volunteers and was killed in 1865.”
• “His brother, Captain William T. Neel of the 6th Arkansas Volunteer Regiment, was killed during the Civil War.”
• “In 1869 [James Preson Neal] was married to the widow of his brother, Col. William T. Neal, who was killed by the Federals in a skirmish near Clarksville, Ark., in 1864.”
• “[James Preson Neal's] brother, Col. William T. Neal, who was killed by the Federals in a skirmish near Clarksville, Johnson County. Arkansas in 1864.”

William Thomas Neal, Col.
Birth – 23 Feb 1822, Kentucky
Death – 1 Apr 1864, Clarksville, Johnson, Arkansas
Burial – Prairie Grove Cem., Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

James Preston Neal, Col.
Birth – 24 Mar 1820, Butler, Kentucky
Death – 16 Jan 1896, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

Father – William Neal (~1797-1821)
Mother – Sinai Harreld (1797-1883)

James Preston Neal I - Photo taken about 1880

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

Find more information about his history in my previous post: James Preston Neal (1820-1896) – Published Biographies, and read Thomas Neel’s Will here: Thomas “Uncle Tom” Neel (1760-1843) – Will

Thomas “Uncle Tom” Neel
Birth – Oct 1760, Northern Ireland
Death – 8 Dec 1843, Butler Co., Kentucky
Burial – Richlieu Cem., Butler, Kentucky

Father – ?
Mother – ?

Married:

Mary Hamilton
Marriage – ?
Birth – 22 Dec 1762, Northern Ireland
Death – 14 Feb 1846, Butler Co., Kentucky
Burial – Richlieu Cem., Butler, Kentucky

Father – ?
Mother – ?

Their Children:

1 F – Susannah Neal
Birth – 16 Mar 1786, Ireland
Death – 24 Oct 1854, Ohio, Kentucky
Spouse – Dennis Mehon
Marriage – 11 Mar 1805, Campbell, Virginia

2 F – Ann Neal
Birth – 14 Dec 1789, Ireland
Death – 22 Oct 1866
Spouse – Alexander Moody
Marriage – 8 Aug 1810, Butler, Kentucky

3 F – Mary Neal
Birth – abt 1793
Death – ?
Spouse – Samuel Alexander Hutchinson
Marriage – ?

4 F – Rachel Neal
Birth – abt 1795
Death – ?
Spouse – John Augustus Porter
Marriage – 26 Jul 1819, Butler, Kentucky

5 M – William Neal
Birth abt 1797, Kentucky
Death – 12 Nov 1821, Butler Co., Kentucky
Spouse – Sinai Harreld
Marriage – 27 Jan 1817, Bowling Green, Kentucky

6 M – James Neel
Birth – abt 1797, Kentucky
Death – 22 May 1849, Ralls, Missouri
Spouse – Malinda Davis
Marriage – 26 Apr 1819, Butler, Kentucky

7 M – John Neal
Birth – 16 May 1799, Butler, Kentucky
Death – 8 Apr 1839, Butler, Kentucky
Spouse – Rebecca Porter
Marriage – 14 Feb 1822, Warren, Kentucky

8 F – Mariah Neal
Birth – 23 Jun 1801, Butler, Kentucky
Death – ?
Spouse – Calvin Alexander Garrison
Marriage – 26 Nov 1825, Butler, Kentucky

9 F – Sarah W. “Sally” Neal
Birth – abt 1805
Death – ?
Spouse (1) – John Hill
Marriage – 28 Jul 1824, Butler, Kentucky
Spouse (2) – James H. Nourse
Marriage – 2 Feb 1841, Butler, Kentucky

10 F – Jane Neal
Birth – 18 Nov 1807
Death – 26 Apr 1830
Spouse – James Marion Sloss
Marriage – 2 Nov 1827, Butler, Kentucky

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

This is the record of his family, as complete as it was the date of this post:

William Thomas Neal, Col.
Birth – 23 Feb 1822, Kentucky
Death – 1 Apr 1864, Clarksville, Johnson, Arkansas
Burial – Prairie Grove Cem., Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

Father – William Neal (~1797-1821)
Mother – Sinai Harreld (1797-1883)

Married:

Lucille Jane Tinnin
Marriage – 19 Nov 1846, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas
Birth – 12 Aug 1828, Clinton, Mississippi
Death – 9 Aug 1893, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Arkansas
Burial – Prairie Grove Cem., Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

Father – Hugh Tinnin (1800-1869)
Mother – Betsy Rutherford (-<1836)
Other spouses James Preston Neal, Col.

Their Children:

1 M – James Neal
Birth 1848, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

2 F Mary Neal
Birth – 1849, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

3 M – Andrew Buchanan Neal
Birth – abt 1851, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – Callie (Sawyers or Crawford?)
Marriage – ?

4 M – William Thomas “Tom” Neal
Birth – 22 Sep 1852, Arkansas
Death – 22 Aug 1933, Arkansas
Spouse – M. Annie Rogers
Marriage – 3 Oct 1882, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas

5 M – Hugh Tinnin Neal
Birth – 1856, Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas
Death – 6 Dec 1882, Arkansas River
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

6 M – Joseph or Joel Perry Neal
Birth – 1860, Arkansas
Death – ?
Spouse – ?
Marriage – ?

7 F – Anna Eliza Neal
Birth – 28 Jun 1863, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., Arkansas
Death – 17 Jun 1935, Inola, Rogers Co., Oklahoma
Spouse – Steven Guthrie Nees
Marriage – 8 Jul 1881, Washington, Arkansas

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

This will combined with the history of him and his decendents included in my post entitled James Preston Neal (1820-1896) – Published Biographies, give us a good idea of the size of his family and their married names.

Thomas “Uncle Tom” Neel
Birth – Oct 1760, Northern Ireland
Death – 8 Dec 1843, Butler Co., Kentucky
Burial – Richlieu Cem., Butler, Kentucky

Will of Thomas NEEL

I Thomas NEEL of Butler County and State of Kentucky doeth this day make and ["publish" crossed out] ordain this my last will and Testament revoking all others / my will and desire is that all my just debts be paid / after that I wish my wife to have a plentiful living and a decent burial out of this Estate if she should live after my [death] / I think from every appearance at present that she will not be capable of keeping house by herself / therefore I would wish her to go & live with one of her daughters / and she says she wood chuse to live with Mariah GARRISON.

Now I will mention who I think proper to have what little property I own at this time / all my children have goot some think when they went away from me some more and some less according to my circumstance at these times / and now I will divide what little I own according to what I think they severally deserve or stand in need of / I do not expect to please all parties / I will therefore please myself /

and first of all I leave to Ann MOODY one negro woman / a slave named Marthew [?] & two of her children say Sam and Catherin and also what children she may have hereafter / this over and above what she has goot before / what I leave to Ann MOODY I allow to be at her disposal at her Death /

I leave to my son James NEEL my negro man David over and above what he has already goot /

I leave to Mariah GARRISON my boy Danel over and above what she has goot before this date /

I leave Sarah W. NURCE a negro garrel named Franky / also a boy named Myls over and above what she has goot before this date.

I leave the place whereon I now live & also 50 acres of land a little lower down the creek to my two grandsons Thomas and James NEEL with all the improvements thereon /

I leave to Susannah MEHON one cow and calf over and above what she hass goot before /

I leave to Mary HUTCHISON to her living hears one dollar over and above what they have already goot /

I leave to Jean SLOSS to her living hairs one dollar over and above what they have ["already" scratched out] goot before this date /

I leave Rachel PORTER Dc’d [?] to her living hears one dollar over and above what they have allready goot /

I leave to William HAMELTON Senr all my body cloathing.

I leave to John NEEL Dc’d [?] to his living hears one dollar over and above what they have already goot /

and to William NEEL Dec [?] to his living hears I leave my interest in a two hundred acre tract of land that I purchist from the sakers [?] /

I will now mention some property that I wish to be equally divided amongst my four living daughters say ______ that is in my cupboard / also a quantity of whitened shirting & shirting that is in a large chest / also what spun stuff may be in the house also what wool cotton or flax or table cover or Dask covers or towels or bowboxes / my wife’s own clothing & books / only my large Bible I leave to my son James NEEL / there is some borrowed books they will be known by the owners name / also ___ Bress kettle one hackel 2 looking glasses some candlesticks one or two flett irons / these last mentioned articles I leave to my four daughters above named.

I leave to Reback PORTER one hackle /

I leave to Fanne HAMELTON my wife’s saddle & bridle at my wife’s death /

I leave Thomas NEEL James NEEL’s son my watch /

I leave Thomas ["NEEL" scratched out] HILL my grandson my best saddle & bridle

I leave Thomas GARRISON my grandson my shot gun the fire ____ and tongs & fire shovel

Lett stay in the house now all the balance of my property and every speces [?] of property that I own upon Earth at my Death I wish to be sold at a public sale and at least twelve months credit be given / then taking noats with good security and add to thes noats what noats or money of any description you may find in my Dask at that time be it more or less / there is at this time about fifteen hundred dollars in sd Dask cheifly in noats /

then when that is done I wish James NEEL & Calvin A. GARRISON to give Preston NEEL & William NEEL my two grandsons one hundred dollars each one of theme /

also to James POARTER and Levise his sister my two grandchildren one hundred dollars each one of them which leave to these four my grand children /

then all the balance or all the rest that is not left to individuals I wish to be Equally Divided into five shares and divide one share equally divided amongst John NEELs four daughters say Mary ANDERSON / Rachel ESQUE / Julyan SNODGRASS & Margaret NEEL /

then all the rest I leave to be Equally Divided amongst Anne MOODY / James NEEL / Meriah GARRISON & Sarah W. NOURCE / what I leave to Sarah W. NOURSE I allow to be at her disposal at her Death.

Lastly I appoint my son James NEEL & my son in law Calvin A. GARRISON the Executors of this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this 26th day of October 1843.

/s/ Thomas NEEL {seal}

Test:
Nath’l PORTER
John H. FUNNER [?]
Wm McCOWN

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Butler County Court set ~ January Term 1844

I Vincent S. HAY clerk pro tem of the County Court for the county aforesaid do certify that the foregoing Instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and Testament of Thomas NEEL was in open court duly proved by the oaths of Nathaniel PORTER and William McCOWN two subscribing witnesses thereto to be the act and deed of said NEEL and was ordered to record whereupon said writing together with the foregoing certificate have been duly admitted to record in my office. Given under my hand and seal this 9th day of January 1844.

Attest
Vincent S. HAY clk

**misspellings in the original record

Steven Guthrie Nees
Birth – 8 Aug 1863, Mattoon, Coles Co., IL
Death – 30 Jan 1940, Inola, Rogers Co., OK

Anna Eliza Neal
Marriage – 8 Jul 1881, Washington, Arkansas
Birth – 28 Jun 1863, Prairie Grove, Washington Co., AR
Death – 17 Jun 1935, Inola, Rogers Co., OK

For more information on their family, review the Family Group Record I have posted for the Steven Guthrie Nees family.

Steven Guthrie and Anna Eliza Neal Nees and children

Pictured from Left-Right:
Julia “Julie” (Nees) Nicholson? (1908-1982), Steven Guthrie Nees (1863-1940), Anna Eliza (Neal) Nees (1863-1935), Mary Ann (Nees) Grigg? (1896-1985), Charles Edward “Charlie” Nees (1887-1932), Richard “Dick” Nees (1901-1948), Hugh Tinnan Nees (1891-1962).

Steven Guthrie and Anna Eliza Neal Nees

If you know anything more about this picture, or these family members, feel free to post in the comments below, or email me from the About Us page.

I’m always trying to collect tid-bits of history, those morsels of stories that give meaning to the names and dates that public records make available. James Preston Neal was a historian and a well-known figure in his day. Not only was much written about him, but much history was written by his hand.

In an effort to connect with more of his decedents, I’m posting some histories written of him below. I am unsure of copy-write – other than the sources I list along with the histories – and share with the intent to learn more about this great individual. Feel free to leave a comment following the histories.

JAMES P. NEAL, THE FOUNDER OF PRAIRIE GROVE

(Editor’s note: Among the documents loaned to our Society by the late James P. Neal Jr., are two manuscripts giving the history of the Neal (Neel) family. These manuscripts – No. 1 in ink and No. 2 in pencil – were evidently written by members of the family. We are publishing them exactly as written, although we are unable to identify the author. – WJL)

No. 1

Thomas and Mary Neel were born in Northern Ireland in 1760 and 1762. They were married there and one or more of their children were born there. They came to America about 1780 and probably landed somewhere on the Virginia coast.

Many of their relatives and neighbors had preceded them to America and had settled in Chester and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania, eastern Maryland, and Virginia. The first of these had come over about 1730. John Neel came about 1730 and settled in Lancaster County, PA. One or more brothers came with John. These were probably the uncles of Thomas Neel, in whom we are interested.

Thomas Neel, having purchased a Virginia land warrant, found a site to his satisfaction, surveyed the land, and obtained title under his soldier’s land warrant. This land was on the Gasper River in Logan County, Kentucky, now Butler County. Here Thomas and Mary Neel found a haven of rest. Their Huguenot ancestors had been driven from France by religious persecution to Northern Ireland and thence to America. Far away from kings and religious intolerance, to a virgin land never before trampled by white men, they erected their log cabin and began clearing their land. Their hardships from travel, sickness and Indians were amply repaid by this final haven of rest and home.

Thomas and Mary Neel reared a family of three boys and seven girls. The boys were: William, James, and John; the girls were Ann (Neel) Moody, Mariah (Neel) Garrison, Sarah W. (Neel) Nounce, Susanna (Neel) Mehand, Mary (Neel) Hutchison, Jean (Neel) Slops, and Rachel (Neel) Porter.

Thomas Neel died in Butler County, Kentucky on December 8, 1843. Mary Neel, his widow, died in Butler County, February 1, 1846. They are buried side-by-side in the Richelieu cemetery, near their homestead. When I visited their graves in July 1937, the marble slabs were black and crumbling. That of Thomas had fallen down and part of the inscription crumbled away. The inscriptions were as follows:

“In memory of Thomas Neel who was born in Ireland —– 10th, 1760 and died —– 8th, 1843, aged 83 years. He lived a consistent life and died the death of a Christian.”
“In memory of Mary Neel, consort of T. Neel, who was born in Ireland Dec. 22nd, 1762 and died Feb. 14th, 1846, aged 83y. 1m. and 22d. She lived a consistent life and died the death of a Christian.”

William Neel, son of Thomas and Mary Neel, married Sinai Harrold at Bowling Green, Kentucky, January 27, 1817. From this union two sons were born; William Thomas Neel and James Preston Neal.

William Neal died in Butler County, Kentucky, November 27, 1821. His widow, Sinai Neel (born Harrold), married the Rev. Andrew Buchanan at Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1828, and with her two sons, William Thomas Neel and James Preston Neel, moved to Washington County, Arkansas, in 1829. Here husband, Rev. Andrew Buchanan, pre-empted the land on which the town of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, is now located.

James Preston Neal married Adaline Bean, daughter of Mark Bean of Cane Hill, Arkansas. They moved to Austin, Texas, where he practiced law. Four children were born to them at Austin; Eleanora, Mark B., Samuel B., and Beauregard. Adaline Bean Neal died at Austin in 186–. Their daughter Eleanora married Richard H. Hyde of Lovelady, Texas; Samuel B. Neal married Maggie Mock at Prairie Grove, Arkansas; mark and Beaure died without issue.

William Thomas Neel, brother of James Preston Neal, married Lucy J. Tinnin at Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Their children were Andrew Buchanan, William Thomas, Hugh Tinnin, Joel Perry, and Annie. William Thomas Neel was a Captain in the 6th Arkansas Confederate Volunteers and was killed in 1865.

James Preston Neal married his brother’s widow, Lucy J., at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, January 1869. They had three children; James Preston II, Sinai B., and Jay Dudley.

James Preston Neal II married M. Etta Wrightsman at Pawnee, Oklahoma, December 10, 1895. Four children were born to them: Barbara, Eugen Preston, Jessie, and James Preston III. Barbara Neal died August 1923. Eugene Preston Neal married Martha Brown at Tulsa, Oklahoma, February 193–. They have two children: Jame Stanley and Eugene Wrightsman. Jessie Neal married Alexander Humple at Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 1937. James Preston Neal III married Desha Thompson at Cincinnati, Ohio, October 1932. They have one child: James Preston Neal IV.

No. 2

Col. (James P.) Neal was 9 years old when he came to Washington County. He studied law in the office of Judge David Walker at Fayetteville and after being admitted to the bar became the law partner of Judge Walker. In 1847 he volunteered in the Mexican War and was elected First Lieutenant in Captain Enyart’s company of Arkansas Mounted Volunteers and served throughout the war. He was mustered out of service with his company at Comargo, Mexico. He returned to Fayetteville and resumed the practice of law. He married Adaline Bean, the daughter of Mark Bean of Cane Hill, and with his wife moved to Austin, Texas, where he practiced law at the outbreak of the Civil War. His wife Adaline died at Austin in 1861. After the war he moved to Huntsville, Texas, and practiced law. There he married, but his wife and children from this marriage were lost in the yellow fever epidemic, which swept the South after the war.

His brother, Captain William T. Neel of the 6th Arkansas Volunteer Regiment, was killed during the Civil War. In 1868, Colonel Neal returned to Washington County, Arkansas, and married his brother’s widow Lucy J. Neel, nee Tinnin, and engaged in farming and merchandising. He platted the town of Prairie Grove and erected the first store building, win which he conducted a general merchandising business. He secured a flower mill by donating four acres of land for its location. He donated the land for the Methodist Church. His stepfather, Andrew Buchanan, organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church here and donated the land on which the church and cemetery are now located.

Col. James P. Neal had an unusual knowledge of the early history of the county. He wrote many articles for the county and state papers, depicting incidents and history of those early times.

… The state was under “carpet bag rule” for several years after the war until free elections were re-established. The southern part of the Prairie Grove valley was attached to the Hogeye voting precinct. As that town has saloons, election day was always a nightmare to the men of the Valley. In 1871 Colonel Neal, John Mock, Dr. Rogers, Col, M.F. Lake and other leading men of the Valley succeeded in getting the Prairie Grove voting precinct established.

William Rogers built a blacksmith shop across the road and a few hundred feet southeast of the school house. This shop housed the first post office and voting place. In 1872 Colonel Neal conceived the idea of founding the town of Prairie Grove. He erected a stone building on what afterwards became the northwest corner of Buchanan and Mock streets and opened a general merchandise store. A little later he secured the location of a flour and grist mill, by donating four acres of land for its site and other inducements such as the use of water from the spring. This four acres was at the southwest corner of Buchanan and Mock streets. The company that built the mill was composed of McFetridge, Baggett and Rogers. After the mill was in operation, Baggett and Rogers sold their interest to McFetridge.

In 1875 the plat of the town was made and placed on record. The first lot sold was to Neal Kidd. This lot is on the northeast corner of Buchanan and Mock streets. Neal Kidd erected a stone building on this lot and opened a general supply store for farm needs. He had harness, saddles, farm implements and such. This was the second business house built.

The third was built by McFetridge and his son-in-law, John Ewing, on the southeast corner of Buchanan and Mock streets. Ewing opened with a stock of general merchandise. The building of the mill established Prairie Grove as the business center of the valley. H.C. and G.W. Crowell purchased the store and stock of goods from Colonel Neal. Other businesses that opened within the next few years were: B.A. Carl & Son’s store; D.F. McMillan’s general store; A.B. Rich & Son, general store; Robert Crowell, drugs; Dixon & Cummings, harness and saddles; Nees & Son, general store; Dorman & Welch, tombstones; Wm. Gillis; and Dr. W.B. Blanton. G.H. Crowell opened a hotel and livery stable. Dr. C.G. Garrison began the manufacture and sale of his own patent medicines and erected a building for this purpose at the north end of Mock street on Garrison avenue.

Source: Flashback published by Washington County Historical Society, Fayetteville Arkansas
Vol. IX, No. 3, July 1959. Page 7-9

Col. James P. Neal

Col. James P. Neal, one of the old residents of Washington County, Ark., who is now retired from active business life, was born in Butler County, Ky., March 24, 1820, and is a son of William Neal, and a grandson of Thomas Neal. The latter was a Virginian, whose ancestors were Irish, and one of the early settlers of Kentucky, in which State William Neal was born, reared and married. His wife ‘s maiden name was Sinai Harreld, whose parents were also Virginians, of English ancestry. After Mr. Neal’s death, which occurred when James P. was a child, she married again, and in 1829 moved to Arkansas with her husband, Rev. Andrew Buchanan, a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, locating on the land on which the Colonel now resides. Here Col. Neal was reared on the farm, and in 1847 volunteered in the Mexican War, marching through Texas into Mexico. He arose to the rank of first lieutenant, and served in this capacity until the close of the war, being mustered out at Comargo in 1848. Previous to his entering the army he had read law, been admitted to the bar, and had practiced his profession in Fayetteville, and after returning home he resumed his profession, which he continued until 1851, when he was elected mayor of Fayetteville, and held the office until 1854. In 1849 he was married to Miss Adaline Bean, daughter of Capt. Mark Bean, and cousin of the late Col. Tom Bean, the Bonham, Tex., millionaire. In 1854 he moved to Austin, Tex., owing to his wife’s failing health , where she died in 1863. During the war Mr. Neal was actively engaged in furnishing the Confederate army with supplies. He was a presidential elector, and voted for Jeff Davis for his second term. In 1868 he returned to Prairie Grove, Ark., then made historic by the battle of December 7, 1862, between the Federal and Confederate forces, commanded respectively by Gens. Blunt and Hindman. In 1869 he was married to the widow of his brother, Col. William T. Neal, who was killed by the Federals in a skirmish near Clarksville, Ark., in 1864. In 1871 he established the town of Prairie Grove, built the first store and engaged in merchandising, being also appointed postmaster of the town. He held this position until 1887, when he was obliged to resign on account of failing health, and is now living at his beautiful suburban residence, free from the cares of business life, surrounded by the lovely groves and grand old trees made memorable by the incidents of the battle, where that famous old spring comes bubbling forth with its crystal water, where both Federals and Confederates slaked their thirst and bathed their bleeding wounds. Col. Neal has held many positions of trust, and has done muc h to build up the town. His donations of real estate to public and charitable buildings have been munificent. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His first union resulted in the birth of six children, only two of whom (Nora and Sam Bell) grew to mature years. To his present union three children have been born: James Preston, Sinai Belle and Jay Dudley. Mr. Neal has written and published many interesting sketches of the early times in Arkansas.

Source: WASHINGTON COUNTY_page 995 (Accessed from an online link that is no longer active)

James Preston Neal

James Preston Neal (1820-aft 1889) husband of Adaline Bean (daughter of Mark Bean and Nancy Sparks) was a veteran of the Mexican War. He volunteered in 1857 and marched through Texas into Mexico. He arose to the rank of first lieutenant, and served in this capacity until the close of the war, being mustered out at Comargo in 1848. In 1851 he was elected Mayor of Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas and held that office until 1854. During the Civil War he was actively engaged in furnishing the Confederate army with supplies. His brother, Col. William T. Neal, who was killed by the Federals in a skirmish near Clarksville, Johnson County. Arkansas in 1864. In 1871 he established the town of Prairie Grove in Washington County, built the first store and engaged in merchandising, being also appointed postmaster of the town. He held this position until 1887, when he was obliged to resign on account of failing health. He authored and published many interesting sketches of the early times in Arkansas.

Source: History: Col James P Neal: Washington Co., Arkansas Biography By Kristin Hawkins – May 3, 2000 Source: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Co unties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889 –

Hugh Tinnin
James Tinnin of Scotland, born 1758, died 1844, married Hannah. James is listed in D. A. R. Patriot Idex as pensioned and PVT. of North Carolina. He had one son, possibly others of Orange County, North Carolina, Hugh Tinnin, married Isabella Thompson, who was a sister of Laurence Thompson of Scotland. Hugh and Isabella has the following children: 1. Azaria, 2. Hugh, 3. Laurence, 4. Thomas, 5. John 1770-1835; married to Elizabeth Moore, 6. Lemuel, 7. Mary Jane married Richard Harrison, 8. Sarah married Andrew Allen.

John Tinnin married Elizabeth Moore in Nashville, Tennessee. Her mother was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had the following children: 1. Rachel, born 1798, 2. Hugh, born 1800/died December 13, 1869 in Burleson County, Texas, 3. Graville moved to Austin, Texas, 4. Asa was living in Hinds County, Mississippi in 1830 census, 5. John moved to Lampasas, Texas, 6. Brown, born 1805, married Susan Fletcher, stayed in Mississippi, 7. Martha, married John E. Shephard in 1843, 8. Jane married John Carr and moved to Austin, Texas.

Hugh Tinnin, born in 1800, died in Burleson County, Texas. Hugh first married Betsy Rutherford. Their children were: 1. Rachal, born January 15, 1826, died in 1903 or 1904, she married Andrew Alexander Crawford of Washington County, Arkansas (see A. A. Crawford_. 2. Elizabeth, born August 17, 1827, 3. Lucy Jane, born August 12, 1828 in Clinton, Mississippi. Lucy married first to Col. William T. Neal, second to Col J.P. Neal. Her tombstone inscription says she came to Arkansas in 1836. Both William and James Preston Neal were prominent figures in Washington County, Arkansas having come to that county with their mother and stepfather Reverend and Mrs. Andrew Buchanan in 1829. James P. Neal was a noted lawyer. 4. Granville, born 1829.

Betsy (Rutherford) Tinnin died and Hugh married her sister, Fanny Rutherford. Fanny died in 1846. Their children were 1. John, born July 7, 1836, 2. Harriet, born July 22, 1839 in Arkansas. She married Richard Barron August 16, 1869 in Washington County, Arkasas. See “Joseph Barron And His Decendants” by Jack L. Barron. 3. William born August 13, 1840, 4. Emaline, born 1842, 5. Hugh, born December 12, 1843, died February 21, 1846.

Hugh Tinnin married third to Helen Mary Kirkpatrick. Helen was born in 1825 in Kentucky. She died June 24, 1893, buried in Oak Wood Cemetery in Austin, Texas. Their children were 1. Albert, b. May 8, 1849, d. 1875 2. Mary Melvina, born August 15, 1850, died May 25, 1851, 3. Cleopatra (Miss Clippy), born May 24, 1852, married Henry Roberts, 4. Pinckney, born March 12 , 1854, died August 30, 1916, married Effie Littlepage, 5. Susanella, born August 25, 1855, 6. Matison, born February 1, 1857, died February 14, 1931, 7. Eddie, born August 25, 1860, died May 29, 1861.

Matison Tinnin who was born February 1, 1857 married Elizabeth Angeline Willoughby, January 13, 1884. Their children were: 1. Helen Mary, born October 23, 1885, died March 24, 1979, 2. Elmira, born October 28, 1887, died September 2, 1877 married William Lawrence Ilfrey, born December 29, 1897, died May 8, 1977, both are buried in Baytown, Texas. Their children are William Tinnin Ilfrey and Allen Ilfrey BA BS University of Texas. 3. Hugh, born March 30, 1889, died april 12, 1962, married first to Ruth Dawson, their children were: Elizabeth, Mary Jane and Dawson. He married a second time to Mattie Mae Carter, born December 7, 1896, their children were Helen Lou and Dorthy Jean, Ph. D., married Troy L. Joyner.

Hugh Tinnin moved with his family from Mississippi to Washington County, Arkansas in about 1836. His first wife was Betsy Rutherford and when she died he married her sister, Fanny Rutherford. Betsy probably died while the family still lived in Mississippi. Fanny died in Washington County where he found his third wife, Helen Mary Kirkpatrick, whose family had moved from Kentucky to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Letters addressed to him were addressed to Mr. Hugh Tinnin, Esquire, Boonsboro, Arkansas. Federal Census shows his residence in Mountain Township.

John Carr, Tinnin’s brother-in-law, persuaded Tinnin to try his lot in Texas. The Tinnins took a route that would avoide the swollen streams and evade Indian attacks as much as possible. In order to finance the trip they stopped off along the way to buy supplies for soldiers quartered at various camps. The family and many of the slaves they brought with them fell ill with malaria fever. This delayed their progress and it took the greater part of 2 years to make the trip.

The Tinnins arrived in Texas in 1850. Hugh bought about 500 acres of fine bottom land south of the Colorado River – land that is completely within the boundaries of Austin. He had about two miles of river frontage. The old crossing where cattle were driven up the Chishold Trail was on Tinnin land. It was called the Tinnin Ford.

Hugh and Helen Mary made a trip to Burleson County to look after some property they had there. Hugh fell ill, died, and had to be buried there. Helen returned to Austin. Later, a son by his first wife, came to Texas to claim his portion of the estate. A general division was made to all the surviving children: thus a very large plantation was broken into many parts. See “Women In Early Texas” Edited by Evelyn M. Carrington, PhD.

This information was developed from boxes of old letters and papers belonging to Hugh Tinnin’s family of Austin, Texas. The greatest contributor was Miss Helen Tinnin (Matison’s daughter), Dorothy Jean Joyner and Allan Ilfrey. Mattie Mae Tinnin, age 90, of Austin made it possible for me to collect it all.
- By: Ruth Lee