Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....O'Neal, William C. November 25 1866 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 27, 2004, 2:13 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   WILLIAM C. O'NEAL, merchant of Dothen, was born at Elba, Coffee county, Ala.,
November 25, 1866. He is a son of Capt. Jesse and Catherine (Gillis) O'Neal, the
former of whom was born in Georgia, where he grew to manhood. Having the
advantage of the schools of his native state, he soon became able to teach
school, and he was engaged in this occupation for a number of years. He then
engaged in mercantile pursuits, and settled in Henry county, a part of which is
now Coffee county, and soon made for himself a reputation as a good and sound
business man. He afterward became professor in the high school, and was elected
to the legislature, and later to the state senate. In the mean time, he had
purchased a farm, which he operated in connection with his mercantile business.
He also filled the office of tax collector for a number of years. He was made a
Mason at a very early day, and died in Missisippi when on a visit to his son.
The mother of W. C. O'Neal is also a native of Georgia, and at an early age came
to Alabama with her parents. They were of Scotch origin, and settled in Coffee
county. She was well educated, and was married in her eighteenth year. She has
had six children, four of whom survive, viz.: Marguerite, wife of David P.
Folsom, a business man of Andalusia, Ala.; Ophelia, wife of Richard Tillis,
merchant of Geneva; C. A., married Miss Ella Law, now resides at Andalusia,
Ala.; William C. The mother of these children died in 1870. Their father was
married twice; the first time to Miss Julia Wilson, by whom he had four
children, but two of whom now survive. William C. O'Neal began life on a
plantation, working during the busy seasons at the ordinary labors of a farm and
attending school during his spare time. In 1882 he entered the store of Tillis &
O'Neal as clerk, and continued in that capacity at Andalusia for two years. He
then engaged in the lumber business, and a year or two later opened up a
mercantile business of his own at Andalusia, in which he continued till 1887. He
then moved his stock to Geneva, where he remained till August, 1891, when he
moved his entire stock to Dothen. Here he has been in business ever since.
Although a young man, he has made a start in life, and has established a
reputation which will be found invaluable as the years roll round. He carries a
large stock of general merchandise, and does business under the firm name of
O'Neal & Co.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1114-1115
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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