Howard-Wayne-Hamilton County IN Archives Biographies.....McNeal, J. Hugh 1834 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 5, 2006, 11:53 pm Author: Jackson Morrow J. HUGH McNEAL. Any compendium of Howard county's representative citizens would be incomplete without reference to the life and character of the successful agriculturist whose name appears at the head of this review and who is now living in honorable retirement, enjoying a respite in the golden evening of his days after a life of earnest endeavor and usefulness, who, because of his genial disposition, sterling worth and uprightness has gained and retained a host of friends throughout the county. J. Hugh McNeal was born in Centerville, Wayne county, Indiana, September 10, 1834, the son of James and Margaret (Reahm) McNeal. The subject's paternal grandparents came from Scotland and his maternal grandparents from Ireland. They came to Hamilton county, Indiana, in the pioneer days from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they had married. James McNeal, the grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolution. James McNeal, father of the subject, was born in Philadelphia and came to Hamilton county, Indiana, in 1835, when the subject was thirteen months old, and bought a half section of land from the government on the west side of White river, when but few white men lived in that vicinity, having as their neighbors Indians and wild beasts, surrounded by the dense woods. But being of the hardy type, Mr. McNeal transformed the woodland into a farm, where he and his wife spent their lives and from whence they passed on to their reward in the silent land. The subject helped to clear the land secured by his father and attended such schools as those primitive times afforded, remaining under the parental roof until he was twenty-five years old. Mr. McNeal was married in 1859 to Charlotte Brown, of Ogdensburg, New York, who passed away in 1863. There were no children born to this union. In 1864 the subject remarried, his second wife being Malinda Little, of Kentucky, who, after becoming the mother of two children, was called to her rest in 1892. The children are: Charlotte Oretta, born in Hamilton county, and received a good education in the schools at Cicero, Indiana, and at the State Normal, which she attended for one year. She was also in school at Danville for one year. She became a teacher, at present (1908) being one of the instructors in the fifth ward school in Kokomo, with which she has been connected since 1893. She resides with her father. Edward W., the second child, was born in August, 1871. He graduated from the commercial department of the Danville Normal school in 1893. He is now in South Dakota, where he has a claim. Mr. McNeal purchased a farm in Hamilton county, Indiana, in 1857, comprising one hundred acres, for which he paid fifteen hundred dollars, but remained here only a short time. He bought, sold and traded in lands quite extensively, gradually increasing his fortune by sound business methods, and finally located in Harrison township, Howard county, in 1881, where he resided on a well managed and well improved farm until 1896. He then moved to Center township. Having sold his farm in 1900 he moved to Kokomo. where he resides in a commodious and nicely furnished home at 904 Armstrong avenue. Fraternally Mr. McNeal is a Mason, holding his membership in Lodge No. 196, Cicero. Indiana. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 262, at Cicero, having twice passed the chairs in this order. He is the only charter member of this lodge now living. In politics he is a stanch Republican, having cast his first ballot for John C. Fremont for President. Although taking considerable interest in political affairs, always doing what he could to further the interests of his community, politically or any other way, the subject has never found time to take a very active part in local conventions or elections, and he has never aspired to public office. Miss Charlotte Oretta McNeal is a member of the General Cox Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; also a member of the Rebekah lodge and the Eastern Star, and a member of the Chautauqua Round Table, having graduated in the class of 1902. She is a member of the church and is regarded as a woman of many estimable attributes and commendable traits, being very popular in all circles in Kokomo. Mr. McNeal enjoys the unstinted respect and esteem of a large circle of friends as a result of his well regulated life, his uprightness and hospitality. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/mcneal157bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb