Huerfano County CO Archives Biographies.....Neeley, Egbert L. 1875 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 8, 2009, 9:51 pm Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918) EGBERT L. NEELEY. Egbert L. Neeley, of Walsenburg, filling the position of sheriff of Huerfano county, was born in Waxahachie, Texas, on the 7th of September, 1875, a son of A. C. and Carrie (Wright) Neeley. The father was a farmer and stockman, devoting his life to agricultural interests. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Confederacy and served under General N. B. Forrest, joining the army when but seventeen years of age. Both he and his wife have passed away, the mother having died when her son Egbert was only two years of age, while the death of the father occurred in 1908. In their family were two sons and one daughter. Egbert L. Neeley, the youngest child, had but limited educational opportunities. In fact, he is practically a self-educated man and has gained much of his knowledge through reading and in the school of experience, where he has learned many valuable lessons. Through his youthful days he assisted his father in farming and stock raising and was thus employed until seventeen years of age. He rode the range in Texas between the ages of fifteen and thirty years, much of the time in the employ of others. He then accepted a position at a smeltery in old Mexico owned by the Guggenheim interests, serving in that capacity for four and half years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Walsenburg and opened a hardware store which he conducted successfully until elected to the office of sheriff in 1914. The election was contested and Mr. Neeley, with other county officers, was not seated until 1916. Since assuming the duties of the position his efforts have been concentrated upon the enforcement of the law, especially upon the prohibition law. He stands at all tunes for the interests of the public and is prompt, fearless and faithful in the discharge of his duties. His political allegiance has ever been given to the democratic party and he has been most active in supporting its interests and advancing its success. On the 5th of January, 1905, Mr. Neeley was married to Miss Ada Coots and to them have been born two children, Arthur and Dorothy. Mr. Neeley is a Protestant in religious faith. He has membership with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the Royal Arch degree, and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is now chairman of the draft board, a member of the Council of Defense and chairman of military affairs for Huerfano county. He is thus doing active and effective work to aid the government in this critical hour of national history. He is actuated by a most public-spirited devotion to the general good, his patriotism standing as a paramount feature in his career. He is widely known and well liked and the sterling traits of his character have endeared him to many friends. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF COLORADO ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1918 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/huerfano/bios/neeley283nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cofiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb