NEAL, Mary E. (1857-1930)

NEAL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2020 at 22:40:56

Mary Evelyn Neal
(January 26, 1857 – August 31, 1930)

Ida County Pioneer Record, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thurs., Sept. 11, 1930, p.10
Had Lived 40 Years Near Battle Creek
Mary Evelyn Neal, a resident of the vicinity of Battle Creek for nearly 40 years, passed away at her home Sunday, August 31, at the age of 73 years, 7 months and 5 days. Mary Evelyn Mullinex was born in New York state January 26, 1857, the second youngest of a family of four boys and three girls. Her brother, Mark, of Correctionville, and sister, Louise, of Smithwick, South Dakota, are the only ones surviving her. On November 1st, 1877, she was married to Augustus F. Neal, at Cedar Rapids. The following year they homesteaded near Springfield, S. D., which was their home until they returned to Iowa in the spring of 1893, locating on a farm nine miles south of Battle Creek. To this union nine children were born: Mrs. Edith E. Botcher of Danbury; Mrs. Ida Torrey, Sioux City; George Neal, Oto; Charles Neal, Luton; Mrs. Claudie Spotts, Ida Grove; Mrs. Grace Reincke of Danbury; Mrs. Gertie Wolf, Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Cecil Buenz of Whitenberg, Texas. One son, Franklin, died at the age of six years. In 1911 Mr. and Mrs. Neal retired from farming and moved to Battle Creek, where Mr. Neal passed away in 1918. Since then Mrs. Neal continued to maintain the home living alone most of the time, with the exception of several winters spent in California with her daughter. During the summer she suffered many heart attacks, accompanied by severe pain, and with her spirit broken by her inability to be active, she failed noticeably in the last few weeks. Beside her children she leaves to mourn her passing forty grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. After a prayer at the home, funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church with Rev. Claude Fausnaugh officiating. Six grandsons acted as pall bearers; Wilbert Torry, George Botcher, Elmer Botcher, Charles Neal, Ralph Spotts and Ed Neal. The mortal remains were then taken to Mt. Hope Cemetery. Among those who attended the funeral services from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Mullinex, Mack Mullinex and Mrs. Bert Batty of Moville; Sherman Mullinex, Mrs. Fred Clark and Mrs. E. T. Heath of Correctionville; Dave Torrey and family of Sioux City; Mrs. A. O. Buenz and children of Whittenberg, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Spotts of Ida Grove; Chris Botcher and family of Danbury; George Neal and family of Luton; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Reincke of Danbury.