Pope County ArArchives History .....The Neal Family 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 15, 2009, 10:30 am

THE NEAL FAMILY.
    From early pioneer times the Neal family have resided in Arkansas and its
representatives have borne an important and helpful part in the upbuilding and
development of the state. The family was established in Pope county by Samuel
and Elizabeth Neal and it was on their farm in the old Piney community that
their youngest child, Thomas McFadden Neal, was born on the 6th of May, 1848. He
was reared and educated in that locality and was a man of initiative spirit and
marked executive ability whose business affairs were most capably conducted. In
1896 he established the Bank of Russellville, of which he was made president,
and continued to act in that capacity until his demise. He also owned valuable
real estate in Russellville, Morrillton and Dover, Arkansas, and likewise bad
made judicious investments in property in Oklahoma, accumulating a substantial
competence through his intelligently directed efforts and unwearied industry. He
was a veteran of the Civil war, enlisting in the Confederate army when but a
boy, and fraternally he was identified with the Masonic order, in which he
attained high rank. He was a devout Christian, joining the Methodist Episcopal
church, South, when twenty years of age, and for forty years he was a member of
its board of stewards. A man of powerful physique, his was a personality that
would attract attention in any crowd. On the 18th of February. 1875, Mr. Neal
was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Gunn, who is a native of Dover, Pope
county, and has reached the age of sixty-eight years. They became the parents of
four children: Thomas Carroll. W. G., Sarah and George S. Mr. Neal died at
Russellville on the 7th of November, 1921, and a touching and beautiful tribute
to his life and character was read at the funeral by his pastor, who had known
him for many years, the following being a brief extract therefrom: "We bury
today one of our oldest and most prominent citizens. He was one of the
outstanding men of our community life, a gentleman of the old school, a man of
integrity and conviction."

    The eldest son, Thomas Carroll Neal, left home when a young man, going to
West Virginia, and for thirteen years he was identified with oil and banking in
that state. He then went to Chicago and for the past twelve years has made his
home in that city, occupying a foremost position in its financial circles as
vice president of the Central Trust Company of Illinois. He is a member of the
Presbyterian church and is identified with the Masonic fraternity, having held
several offices in his lodge.

    W. G. Neal, the second son, was born March 26, 187S, and was graduated from
the Russellville high school with the class of 1896. Soon afterward he entered
his father's store at Dover, assisting in its operation for two years, and
following the establishment of the Bank of Russellville by Mr. Neal, Sr., he
became identified with the institution, first acting as collection boy. His
connection with the bank dates from December 27, 1897, and through merit and
ability he has gradually worked his way upward from one position to another of
greater importance and responsibility until he is now filling the office of
president, succeeding his father. Under the able instruction of his father he
acquired a comprehensive understanding of the principles of modern finance and
much of the prestige which the institution now enjoys is attributable to his
conscientious and efficient work. His standing in business circles is of the
highest and he ranks with the leading financiers of this part of the state. On
the 29th of January, 1901, Mr. Neal married Miss Lucy Youngblood, a native of
Russellville and a daughter of T. F. Youngblood, who was here engaged in the
commission business for a number of years, but is now a resident of San Antonio,
Texas. To this union has been born a daughter, Gladys Carroll. She specialized
in expression at the Henderson & Brown College of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in the
State University, and in the Harnor Institute at Kansas City and is now teaching
in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Mr. Neal is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
South, and is identified with the Masonic fraternity. He devotes his entire time
to the management of the bank and his work sustains the enterprising spirit that
has long been synonymous with the family name in Russellville.

    Sarah, the third member of the family, married Brown Rogers, a leading
attorney of Russellville, who is now capably filling the office of mayor,
retiring from the practice of law to engage in the mercantile business.
George S. Neal, the youngest son, was born at Dover in December, 1888, and
acquired his education in the local schools and also at Lebanon, Tennessee. When
but seventeen years of age he entered the Bank of Russellville, with which he
has since been connected, and is now filling the position of cashier. He is
faithful to the interests in his charge and is recognized as a progressive and
capable young business man. He is also affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal
church, South, and is likewise a member of the Masonic fraternity.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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