I83: John William NEELY (17 Dec 1851

John William NEELY

17 Dec 1851 - Dec 1944

OCCUPATION: Farmer, Livery Stable Owner, Justice of the Peace, Overseer, Groundskeeper
BIRTH: 17 Dec 1851, Coffeeville, Mississippi
DEATH: Dec 1944, Siloam Springs, Benton Co., AR
BURIAL: Oak Hill Cemetary, Siloam Springs, AR

Family 1 : Mollie A. Riddle
MARRIAGE: 28 Oct 1877, Woodruff Co., AR

Family 2 : Cassie C. Maples
MARRIAGE: 23 Jan 1884, Woodruff Co., AR

Leslie W. Neely, b. July 1886, AR

MARRIAGE: 29 Dec 1902, Woodruff Co., AR

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Notes:

Known as Bill Neely by most family members. Was said to have built a raft when he was 6 years old and crossed the Mississippi River with it.

Had lived in Cotton Plant before coming to McCrory. A Neeley family is listed as being members of the First United Methodist Church at the corner of Church and Central Streets in Cotton Plant, sometime between the years 1901 to 1910. c. f. "Cotton Plant First United Methodist Church" by Mary Coe in Rivers and Roads and Points in Between, Vol. XVI (Augusta: Woodruff County Historical Society, 1989), pp. 112-116.

Ad found in Cotton Plant Arkansian, Vol. 1, No. 34, May 30, 1891 (only 4 pages of this whole newspaper are extant on microfilm at the Arkansas History Commission Archives):

Cotton Plant Arkansian

Listed in the Arkansas State Gazetteer and Business Directory, Volume II, 1888-9, as owner of a Livery and Sale Stable as well as constable for Cotton Plant. There is a mention of a J. M. Neely in an article, "Justice of the Peace Records, Cotton Plant Township" by Mrs. Dale McGregor in Rivers and Roads and Points in Between, Vol. VII, No. 3 (Augusta: Woodruff County Historical Society, Summer, 1979), p. 8:
	A musty, leather bound record book was recently found in the home of the late Mrs. Charlie Parker. It contained records of the Justice of the Peace courts in Cotton Plant Township from 1888 to 1905. The first entry in the was made on November 28, 1888, and signed by D. H. Wilson, JP. The last noted was dated April 20, 1905, and signed by J. M. Neely, JP. The records, handwritten, are for the most part legible, although some of the writing has faded and has become very difficult to read...
Unfortunately, the article does not describe any specific case which this J. M. Neely might have been involved in or anything about the whereabouts of this record book presently. No mention is made of a Neely livery stable in a listing of Cotton Plant businesses for 1905 reconstructed by Mrs. Dale McGregor in "Steeping on Cotton Plant History," Rivers and Roads and Points in Between, Vol. V, No. 2 (Spring, 1977), p. 9.
Bill Neely's daughter, Alta, often referred to him as the "Justice of the Peace." People would wake the family up at their home at all hours of the night and mornings to be married by him, with the rest of the family filling in as witnesses and well wishers. Both Jan Moody and Gene Neely (his grandchildren), believed that he was Justice of the Peace in McCrory as well, but were not aware of him being a constable anywhere.

In 1900 Census (ED. 106, Sheet 7 Line 34), Cotton Plant Twp, dwelling 116 (all others listed on page are Black families), James W. Neely, a. 47 (b. Nov 1852, Mississippi, both parents born in MS), a farmer who could read and write, and he rented the land upon which he was farming. Enumerated with wife, Cassie C., a. 49 (Apr 1861, Mississippi, father born in Mississippi, mother in Georgia). Children: Una L., a. 24 (June 1875, daughter born in Tennessee), Leslie W., a. 13 (July 1886, son born in Arkansas). Date of birth of Una L. indicates that Bill had married some one before his previous wife (Cassie would have been his third wife). Bill Neely's family could not be found listed in the 1880 Census for the Cotton Plant area. The subject of Bill Neely's previous families was something of a taboo subject. However, his grandson, Gene Neely, had heard of a "step-uncle" mentioned upon occasion.
In 1910 Soundex (ED. 137, Sheet 350), Woodruff Co., James W. Neely, head of household, a. 57, bp. MS. Enumerated with wife, Daisy, a. 32, bp. AR. Children: Winston (a son, age 4), and Sarah (a daughter, age 2). A non-related person is also listed living with them. Both children born in AR.
In 1920 Census (ED. 249), McCrory Township, Fifth Street, dwelling 96, John W. Neely, head of household, a. 66, bp. MS (both parents bp. MS), overseer on a general farm. Enumerated with wife, Daisy, a. 42, bp. AR (both parents' bp. NC). Children: Winston J. (age 13), Sarah W (age 12), and Alta E. (age 9). All children born in AR. Lived near Sarah Holland.

From Gene Neely:
	Bill Neely enjoyed a good smoke and particularly liked a cigar upon occasion. However, when he proposed to Daisy, she told him that the only way she would marry him, was that he had to quit smoking, so he did. However one time, his son, James Winston, caught his father smoking in the barn. Ashamed, he then told his son to don't pay attention to it, "that a cigar was just a thing that had fire on one end and had some fool sucking on the other end."

(Copied from Clara Hutchison)

Also worked a number of years as the grounds keeper at John Brown College in Siloam Springs according to his granddaughter, Jan Moody.

This page created on 04/23/00 01:33:20 . Updated 05/10/02 16:21.