Biography of Caswell B Neal, Sebastian Co, AR

**********************************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgenwebarchives.org
**********************************************************

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hon. Caswell B. Neal, attorney at law and real estate agent, of Greenwood, is a
native of Andersen County,  Tenn., where he was born in 1829, being the son of
John O. and Permelia (Young) Neal, and grandson of  Daniel Neal, who was a
native of Ireland. John O. Neal was born in Russell County, Va., in 1793, and
was a  young man when he went to Whitley County, Ky., where Daniel Neal died.
About 1820 John O. Neal went to Tennessee, and soon after married Miss Permelia
Young, who was born in the State of Virginia, Spottsylvania  County, in 1808.
She is still living, but her husband died in Tennessee in 1878. They were the
parents of eight  children, only three now living: Caswell B., John R., who is
a member of Congress from Chattanooga District,  in Tennessee, and is now
serving his second term, and Henry C., who is an itinerant minister in Holston
Conference in Tennessee, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Hon. Caswell
B. Neal was educated at  Strawberry Plains, in Jefferson County, Tenn., and at
the age of twenty-one he entered the teacher's profession,  receiving $10 per
month for compensation, and paying $2 per month for board. This was in Anderson
County,  Tenn. In 1848 he went to Scott County, Ill., and taught here four
terms. In 1852 he returned to his native State,  and became employed in the
chancery court's office in Madisonville, Monroe Co., Tenn. He was there two
years, and during that time became a disciple of Blackstone, his preceptor
being Hon. George Brown, who now  lives in Knoxville, Tenn. In 1856 he was
admitted to the bar at Madisonville, and afterward left his native State,  and
in January, 1860, he became a citizen of Greenwood, Sebastian Co., Ark., where
he resumed his practice.  He was a Whig in politics before the war, but since
then he has affiliated with the Democratic party. In 1862 he  was elected State
representative, and in 1864 he was re-elected from Sebastian County, serving on
the judiciary  committee. In 1870 he was again elected as representative, and
it was this Legislature that passed the articles of  impeachment against Gov.
Powell Clayton and John McClure, chief justice of the State. Hon. C. B. Neal
was  chosen to present the charges before the Senate and prosecute the same.
This service he performed to the satisfaction of his party. He was also
complimented by the Democratic vote for speaker of the House. He has  devoted
his time to his profession, his practice extending from Arkansas to Red River,
and is one of the leading  legal lights in Sebastian County. He has been
wonderfully successful financially, and is the largest land-holder  in Western
Arkansas. He owns 1,500 acres, and at one time was the owner of 3,000 acres. He
also owns fine  property in Greenwood, about one-third of the village. In 1858
he married Miss Susan Inge, who was a native of  Alabama, born in 1835, and who
became the mother of four children: John M., dealer in stock; Caswell B.,
salesman in Greenwood; William H., attorney with his father, and Thomas W. Mrs.
Neal died in 1876, and in 1878 Mr. Neal married Mrs. M. A. Robertson nee
Brazier. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist  Church; he is a
Knight Templar, and has been a Master Mason for thirty-five years.