Biography of Thomas M Neal - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 94 Thomas M Neal, senior member of the firm of Neal, Nitchell & Henry, a popular and substantial firm of general merchants at Morrilton, was born in Pope County, this State, in 1848. He was the youngest of four children born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Stewart) Neal, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. His father came to Arkansas in 1842, and followed the occupation of carpenter; he met with an accident in 1854 which crippled him for after life, and he died-about 1882. Mother died in the fall of 1876. Thomas M. Neal was wholly reared in Pope County, where he attended the common school, and at the age of 18 years began farming for himself on his father's old homestead. In 1869 he bought a farm, and in 1873 he began merchandising at Dover, Pope County, in partnership with Holledger & Pitts, general merchants. In April, 1874, the firm was mutually dissolved, and our subject formed a firm with his brother, J. W. Neal, under the firm name of Neal & Bro. This business continued until December 25, 1878, when J. W. Neal died and the style of the firm was changed to T. M. Neal & Co. This business is still in profitable existence at Dover. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Neal bought property in Morrilton and in January, 1888 formed the present partnership and business, and in the summer of 1889 erected the firm's brick building, in which they are now established; it has a front of twenty-five and a depth of 127 feet, two-story, with a very handsome ornamented front, situated on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Moose Street. The firm occupies both stories, and carries a stock of $15,000 worth of goods, doing an annual business of about $50,000. Their stock includes full lines of dry goods, clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes, hardware, groceries, and all general plantation supplies. The store is internally finished and furnished in good taste and style, while the goods have been most judiciously selected to meet the requirements of all. Mr. Neal was married in 1875 to Miss Mary J. Gunn, a native of Pope County. To this union have been born four children: Thomas C., Willie G. Sarah Elizabeth and George Samuel. The family hold church membership, and Mr. Neal is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Neal's real estate possessions consist of a good farm in Pope County and a pleasant and tasty residence in Morrilton. He takes a great interest in the future of the beautiful city of his adoption, and is found prominently associated with all improvements. He has been a great friend to the new college, and is Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of that institution.