Bios: David R. P. Neely, 1836-1918: Neelytown, Huntingdon Co, PA 

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 This is from a family book,
" The Minnich Ancestry with Biographical sketches of the Peter Daniel
Minnich Family and Descendants 1794-1925", Unpublished 
 By Jacob H. Minick, M.E., Ph.M. and Judd L. Minick, B.S., E.E.

          David R. P. Neely was born near Neelytown, Huntingdon Co., PA.,
August 18, 1836. His father James Neely, b.Oct. 2, 1794. The latter was
a farmer, and lived some five or six miles southeast of Shade Gap.   In
1815 or 1816 he married Elizabeth Morton who was related to the ancestors
of the Levi P. Morton family.
           Captain Neely was of Scotch-Irish descent.  He was educated in
the public schools of Huntingdon Co. and at Milnwood Academy.  His people
were among the arrivals in this country in the early part of the 18th
century: and his parents lived in or near Shade Gap about the time of his
marriage.
            D. R. P. Neely was first a farmer.  He worked occasionally for
his father-in-law, John Minick.  David R. P. Neely owned considerable
amount of timber land and also some farm land.  He laid out the town of
Neelytown back of Shade Gap on a piece of land that he owned.  He lived
for a time too in Orbisonia where he owned some property.
            When the Civil war broke out, young Neely helped to organise
a company of troops in Shade Gap.  It was Co. I of the 149th regiment,
Penn Volunteers, (Bucktails).  He enlisted as a private, and was in time
advanced through the usual channels to 2nd Lieutenant.  At Gettysburg his
regiment was delegated to drive the Confederates out of Devils Den.  They
did so; but got into the den themselves and could not get out.  All of
the officers except himself were killed.  In accordance with the custom
and right of volunteer companies, a "drumhead election" was held when the
firing slowed down, and he was elected captain.  After the election the
firing was resumed again.
             Captain Neely was married soon after the war, and a short
time later he was elected Sheriff of Huntingdon Co.  While he was sheriff
a revolting murder was committed near Crafton by two Germans named Bonner
and Von Bodenburg who worked in the Altoona Shops.  The latter was of
German Nobility.  Capt.Neely went to Altoona without firearms, got his
men and took them to Huntingdon where they were later tried and
convicted.  He hanged both of them.  When he captured them, one of the
criminals tried to swallow two 10 dollar gold pieces which he had stolen
when the murder was committed.  Sheriff Neely grabbed him quickly and
choked him until he spit them out of his mouth.  Later, after his term of
Sheriff had expired, Dr. Shade of Shade Gap was shot in an altercation
with a customer in his drug store.  The Murderer escaped, and Capt. Neely
took after him on horseback.  He caught him single handed, and without
weapons, disarmed him and took him to jail in Huntingdon.  The marks made
by the bullets are yet be seen in the house where the shooting took
place.  The house is now owned by John Swan.
          In 1898, Capt. Neely moved to Washington where he secured an
appointment in the Government printing office.  He worked there until
about 1907 or 1908, when he retired both on account of old age and an
injury to one of his hips received while alighting from a street car.
His health failed in 1915, and in Nov. 27, 1918, he died in Washington.
His remains were interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., across the
river from Washington.
        Mrs. Neely and her husband were members of the M. E. Church; and
both were highly esteemed.  Frank Thompson, one time President of the
Penn. R. R. Co., was a relative of theirs, presumably on Capt. Neely's
side.  Edgar H. Tennis, one time Grand Master of the Masonic fraternity
in Pennsylvania, and Admiral Sims of the U.S. Navy, were friends of the
family.
        Mrs. Neely was a large woman.  She weighed at one time about 250
pounds, and at the time of her death about 200 pounds.  She died at the
home of her sister, Mrs. W. S. Lysinger, Bedford, PA, on Nov. 22, 1916,
and was buried in Arlington Cemetery.  Captain and Mrs. Neely were buried
"just below the Lee Mansion."
        Captain Neely was a man of rather fiery temper and without fear.
He was shot by a Confederate sharp shooter with a load of bird shot, some
of which he carried in his back and side until his death.  He was not a
large man, tho he was rugged and toughly built.  He was well educated and
a good writer.  He was held in high esteem.