Judge J. E. McCall, an agriculturist of Herring Township, was born in Alabama, March 11, 1826, and is a son of John and Sarah (McCall) McCall, who were born in Richmond County, N.C., in 1800 and March 4, 1804, respectively, but were wedded in Alabama. The father, on his arrival in Alabama, was elected county commissioner of Lowndes County, and was justice of the peace of Lowndesboro Township for many years, and died in this State in 1849; his widow, still surviving and living in Alabama, is eighty-six years old, and of the Presbyterian faith, having been connected with that church for over seventy years. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, in Dallas County, MO., December 29, 1860, to Miss Fannie Wood, born in Johnson County, this State, January 4, 1839, daughter of Isaac and Anna (Denton) Wood, and they became the parents of four children: Sarah (born August, 1886, and deceased), Paul (born December 16, 1867), John C. (born October 1, 1872) and William P. (born in 1874). In 1861 he enlisted in the Missouri State Guards, serving six months, when he entered the Confederate Army, and joined Company G, Eleventh Missouri Regiment of Infantry, and took part in the following battles: Elk Horn, Prairie Grove, Helena, Pleasant Hill, Jenkins Ferry, and was paroled at Shreveport, June, 1865. When peace was once more restored to the land he came to Arkansas and engaged in farming, which has been his occupation ever since, and owns 285 acres of land, cultivating sixty. In 1884, as an appreciation of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens, he was elected county judge, served two terms, and thus earned his present title of Judge. He has been a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal denomination for twenty-two years, and himself, wife and sons are members of a church of the same faith, and he socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

Goodspeed Biography and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas, Yell County, pg. 164.

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 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.

Andrew Alexander Crawford would have been the husband of my 3rd Great Grandmother’s older sister Rachel.

Andrew Alexander Crawford was born November 11, 1812 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. He was the son of John Crawford and his first wife, Margaret Buchanan. See decendants of Alexander and Mary McPheeters Crawford by Forbes and Sammis and Decendants of the Buchanan Families of Washington County by Allan S. Humphries. Both his grandfathers were Revolutionary War patriots. His paternal grandfather William Crawford served as Private and patriot manufacturing and supplying arms to the Continental Army, Augusta County, Virginia. His maternal grandfather, Andrew Buchanan, also from Augusta County, Virginia served in the Continental Army and attained the rank of Captain.

Andrew first married Minerva Buchanan. It’s thought she was the daughter of Moses Buchanan. They had one child, Robert who later became a lawyer in Spearfish, South Dakota. Minerva was murdered by a negro slave named Caroline. Robert was just a small child. See an account of this murder and trial written by Mrs. Maurice Cruse in Flashback, Vol VII, #4 Jul 1957.

Andrew then married Rachel Tinnin, the daughter of Hugh and Betsy (Rutherford) Tinnin. In April of 1849, Andrew, in the company of 85 men from Washington and surrounding counties left for the gold fields of California. Lewis Evans was captain of this group of “Fourty Niners”. Andrew suffered from scurvy on the trip. Some men were never heard from, but Andrew made the trip home safely. He managed to bring each child a gold nuggett. In the year of 1859, he was serving as Justice of the Peace in Washington County, performing marriages, etc. Then in the first part of the Civil War, he was serving as County Judge. He then enlisted in the Confederate Army and fought in the battle of Pea Ridge and other western battles. He died at Rienzi, near Corinth, Mississippi from heat exposure during the Battle of Shiloh, May 23, 1862.

In the memoirs of Col., J.P. Neal, who was married to Lucy Tinnin, Rachel’s sister, Col. Neal mentions a house raising in the Prairie Grove valley in 1839. The house was on the east side of Cane Hill and belonged to Andy Crawford. He also mentions that the morning after the battle of Prairie Grove he was climbing a hill and met 200 Federal prisoners under guard on Andy Crawford’s farm. It was later the Mike Nail place. We don’t know how Rachel managed after the war, but she had lost her husband and oldest son, Hugh when it was over. She may have been homeless after it’s destruction. It was with the aid of the Catholic Sisters that she was given a milk cow to help provide for her children. Later in the 1870 Federal Census, she was living with her children in the home of William D. Crawford, Andrew’s brother and his family.

The only child of Andrew and Minerva was Robert, born about 1838. Rachel Tinnin was born in Mississippi January 15, 1826 and died 1903 or 1904 according to her widow’s pension records. The children of Andrew and Rachel were: Hugh, born about 1845 and died unmarried in the Civil War. Margaret, born about 1847 and married John “Lum” Henson. Susan “Sug” born about 1853 and married first: Isham House and second: H. Covey. Martha Halbert (Mattie) Crawford, born Feburary 11, 1854 – died January 16, 1899 in Floyd County, Texas, married John Washington Smith November 11, 1877 in Washington County, Arkansas (See J.W. Smith Family). Andrew Neal Crawford, born March 13, 1856 – died in Florida, married Laura Baird, children: Mrs. C.M. Garrett, Mrs. P.W. Wybrecht, Mrs. S.K. Booth and Alvin A. Crawford from his obituary. Lucy Crawford, born August 30, 1856 – died December 10, 1938, married Alexander Cruse, January 13, 1878 see To Kimberly, with Love by Lillian Cruse Woods and Buell Beverly Woods. Emily (Emma) Crawford, married first: George McKinzie on September 9, 1880, second: Huff, this family moved to Belton, in Bell County, Texas. Alice Crawford married Frank Parkhurst on January 25, 1880, she died leaving at least one daughter.

Source: Ruth Lee, History of Washington County Arkansas, Shiloh Museum, Springdale, Arkansas, 1989 – Family History Library – US/CAN 976.714 D3n

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.

• “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

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 –