Benton Co., AR - Biographies - W. T. Neal *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** W. T. Neal, who has long been a prosperous farmer of Benton County, Ark., was born in Knox County, Tenn., in 1839, and is a son of John A. and Harriet (Comb) Neal, who were also born in Tennessee, and were farmers by occupation. They became residents of Madison County, Ark., in 1853, but the father's death occurred in Washington County, in 1883. W. T. Neal received such education as the schools of his day afforded, and in 1860 concluded to seek his fortunes in the far West, and went to California, where he remained for over nine years. His business enterprises in that State met with good success, and he succeeded in accumulating considerable money. In 1869 he returned to Benton County, Ark., and purchased his present home, which comprises about ninety-seven acres of land with eighty-five acres well improved and under good cultivation. In 1885 he was married to a Mrs. Massey, by whom he is the father of one child, Georgia Pearl. Mr. Neal has shown his fraternal spirit by becoming a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in his political [p.873] views supports the principles of the Democratic party. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. South.