Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - John Franklin Neal

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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John Franklin Neal was born August 1, 1855, in Crawford County, Ark., 
and is a son of Palmer and Elmina (Neal) Neal, natives of North 
Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The mother was born in 
Tennessee, and while on a visit to North Carolina was married to Mr. 
Neal, who was her cousin. They afterward spent about two years in 
Tennessee, and then immigrated to Crawford County, Ark., about three 
miles east of Cedarville. They had nine children, four of whom are 
living: Mary E., widow of John L. London; Miriam M., wife of William 
H. Maxey; John F. and Palmer H. Those deceased are James, Demarius, 
Julia A. (wife of William Larue), Cornelius W. and Virginia A. Mr. 
Neal farmed in this county from 1843 until 1875, and about 1877 went 
into the mercantile business, which he continued until his death in 
1885, aged sixty-three. The mother survived him but a few days, and 
was sixty-two years old at her death. Mr. Neal was very poor when he 
came to this county, but succeeded in amassing property, and defended 
his possessions during the war by enlisting in the Confederate army, 
serving until the clese of [p.1180] the war. He was one of the early 
settlers here, and with his wife endured many hardships during the 
pioneer days. He became the owner of large tracts of land, and was an 
extensive stock raiser. Our subject remained at home working upon the 
farm until of age. and received but a common-school education. He then 
went into the mercantile business with his father, and although he now 
owns considerable land and farms extensively he is still interested in 
mercantile life, owning a large stock of general goods, besides being 
a partner in the drug firm of Neal & Purcell. In October, 1878, he 
married Miss Naomi T. Crowell, daughter of Charles and Lavina Crowell, 
and a native of Benton County, Ark. This union has been blessed with 
four children: Princess Deborah and Rosa Belle, living, and William W. 
and Bertha G., deceased. Mrs. Neal is a Methodist, and Mr. Neal 
belongs to the Presbyterian Church, being superintendent of a Sunday-
school. He is a very strong Democrat, and always votes a straight 
Democratic ticket. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 

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