Neal, William A. (1844-1929)

NEAL, PARKER, SQUIRES, LEWIS, MINER

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 3/10/2011 at 22:01:47

Akron Register tribune
4-4-1929

OBITUARY—WILLIAM A. NEAL
A Brief Mention was made in these columns, last-week of the death of Wm. A. Neal one of the two remaining veterans of the Civil war in Akron, after an extended illness, due to the infirmities of advanced age.

William Andrew Neal was born in Richland county, Ohio, January 10, 1844, and died in Akron, Iowa, March 27, 1929, having attained the ripe age of 85 years, 2 months and 17 days. On December 5, 1861, Mr. Neal heeded the call of President Lincoln for volunteers for the cause of the Union, and, when less than 17 years of age, enlisted in Co. F, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. He served in the Army of the Potomac until after the battle of Gettysburg, when .he was transferred,with General Hooker's army corps to the Western, Army, with headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was under General W. T. Sherman in his famous march to the sea. His term of enlistment having expired, on January 1, 1865, he re-enlisted in the same regiment, and on January 2, 1865, he was made sergeant and served as such until he was honorably discharged July 24, 1865, at Washington, D. C., where he participated in the grand review at the close of the Civil war. During his service in the army Mr. Neal participated in thirty-one general engagements and skirmishes, and at Peach Tree Creek, near Atlanta, Georgia, in the spring of 1865, he was wounded.

Following his discharge from the army i ,1865, Mr. Neal came to Iowa, and at Linton, Iowa. August 27, 1868, he married Miss Emily Jane Miner. Twelve children came to bless this union, eight sons and four daughters. Preceding their father in death several years, ago were one daughter, Mrs. Grace Pike, and two sons Charles and LeRoy Neal.

With his wife, six sons and and three daughters are left to mourn his departure, as follows: Mrs. Minnie Parker, of Akron, Ia.; Emmet, of Bradley, S.D., Emery of Akron, Ia., Frank, of, .Akron, la.; Bentley, of Bradley, S. D.; Mrs. Delia Squires, of Wakonda, S.D.; Mrs. Lenora Lewis, of Cherokee, Ia. Lewis, of Kerkhoven, Minn., and J. Victor, of Akron, la. There are fifty grandchildren and fifteen great-grand-children surviving, also two brothers and a sister, Harry Neal and Mrs.
Mandt, in California, and Mead Neal, of Salmon, Idaho.

Mr. Neal and family came to Akron from Firth, Nebraska, thirty-nine years ago, and have since made their home here. Many years ago Mr. Neal united with the Christian church, and in the
year 1915, during the local pastorate of Rev. Robert Lee Stuart, he transferred his membership to the Akron Methodist church, as his wife was in the following of the Methodist church. During
all his residence here Mr. Neal was an active member of James Biddlecome post, Grand Army of the Republic, until the organization turned in its charter a few years ago because of the
dwindling membership of veterans.

A kind husband and father, a helpful neighbor and friend, a patriotic citizen and a loyal defender of his country in time of peril, he was highly esteemed in this community and will be missed and mourned in ^the daily walks of life.
"There is a land where the birds are ever singing,
Where the flow'rs in their beauty never fade.
Where the joy-bells of love are ever ringing
And no evil shall ever dare invade.

"We shall tell of the way that we have traveled,
When at last we shall enter heaven's door,
And the problems of ,life shall be unraveled
When we meet on that bright eternal shore.

“We shall gaze on His face in adoration,
Joy resplendent shall thrill our soul
As we crown Him the King of our salvation,
And eternity's glories come to view."

After a brief service at the home Friday afternoon, the funeral proper was held in the Akron M.E. church, conducted by the pastor, Wilson Gow. Appropriate hymns were sung by a quartet,
composed of Mrs. J. C. Kennedy, Miss Clara Stoutenburg, Ed Stinton, and Walter E. Mellen, with Mrs. W. J. Brunner presiding at the piano. The pallbearers were members of the American Legion, as follows: J. C. Kennedy, L. .L. Burrill, P. A. Foley, J. G. Mowers, Herman Andresen, and J. J. Arkin.

Interment was in Riverside cemetery, with full military honors accorded by Hoschler Post American Legion.

Civil War Record
 

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