Col. John R. Neal was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, Nov. 26, 1836. His father, John O'Brien, born near Fincastle, Va., Sept., 1793. His mother, Permelia Young, daughter of Wiley Young, born in Virginia, 1808. In early boyhood Col. Neal's family moved from Anderson County to a farm near Athens, Tennessee. He received his education in the public schools and graduated at Hiwassee College, the class orator. He graduated from Emory and Henry, Va., 1858, with the honors of his class, receiving the Robinson prize for oratory. On his return home he entered the law office of Cooke and Vandyke, in Athens, and began the study of law. He taught school at Post Oak Springs.
At the beginning of the War between the States he enlisted as a private and began the recruiting of a company. Directly after the beginning of the war he was married to Mary E. C. Brown, daughter of Franklin Brown. He was elected captain of the company and at the organization of the 16th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion he was elected Colonel. A short time before the surrender he was summoned to Richmond and made a member of the Court of Claims of the Confederacy. After the war he taught school, principal of the Rittenhouse Academy and of the Rhea Springs School, practiced law in Rhea and the adjoining counties, served in the State Legislature, and was Speaker of the Senate under the Marks administration. Elected to Congress in 1884, served two terms and died from effects of disease, contracted during the war, at his home in Rhea Springs, in 1889. His wife died Feb. 8, 1920.
The children of Col. John R. Neal and Mary E. C. Brown, were: Dr. John R. Neal, Jr., Professor of Law in the University of Tennessee; Commander George F. Neal, U. S. N. and D. S. O. from King George for distinguished service during the World War for sinking a German submarine, and Navy Cross from Congress for loyal service. (He married Mattie Steele Milton, daughter of Admiral Milton); and Amanda, now Mrs. William Edward Wheelock. Col. Neal's grandchildren are: William N. Wheelock, University of Chattanooga S. A. T. C., and John S. N. Wheelock.
Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 2 -- transcribed by, Amanda Jowers
