THOMAS P. NEVILLE

NEVILLE, POUNDS, ELLIOTT, BECKNELL, ARMSTRONG

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 8/19/2004 at 20:59:33

Thomas P. Neville owns a well improved and valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 34, Lincoln township, which he has operated continuously during the past forty-five years. His birth occurred in Henry county, Illinois, on the 1st of May, 1842, his parents being Patrick and Jane (Pounds) Neville, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania. Patrick Neville came to the United States when but a boy and in 1833 took up his abode in Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. The demise of his wife occurred in Henry county, that state, in 1897. To them were born four children, three of whom survive.
Thomas P. Neville acquired his education in the common schools and spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. In May, 1870, he came to Adair county, Iowa, and purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Lincoln township, the operations of which has claimed his time and energies continuously since. He erected excellent buildings and also planted an orchard, which adds much to the attractiveness of the place. In the work of general farming he has utilized the most practical and progressive methods of agriculture and his efforts have been rewarded by bounteous harvests annually. The prosperity which he now enjoys has come as the direct result of his industry and able management and he is widely recognized as a self-made and honorable, representative citizen.
In 1883 Mr. Neville was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Elliott, a native of Indiana and a daughter of L. C. and Mary Jane (Becknell) Elliott, who were also born in that state. In 1855 they came to Adair county, Iowa, and here the father passed away in 1897. The mother, who has now attained the age of eighty-six years, makes her home in Stuart, this state. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Neville have been born six children, as follows: Jennie, who is deceased; Mrs. Sarah C. Armstrong, of Des Moines, Iowa; Thomas, Jr., who has also passed away; Elliott C.; Chase; and Richard.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Neville has supported the men and measures of the republican party and he has held the offices of county supervisor and trustee, while for a number of years he served on the school board, ever making a most commendable record as a public official. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at Stuart, and his wife is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life’s journey and his career has ever been such as to command the esteem and regard of all with whom he has come in contact in business or social relations.
Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.