John Randolph Neal
From the October 5, 1884 edition of The Chattanooga Sunday Times
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889
Preceded byGeorge Gibbs Dibrell
Succeeded byHenry Clay Evans
Member of the Tennessee Senate
In office
1878–1880
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1874–1876
Personal details
BornNovember 26, 1836 (1836-11-26)
Anderson County
DiedMarch 26, 1889 (1889-03-27) (aged 52)
Rhea Springs, Tennessee
Citizenship United States
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary E. C. Brown Neal
ChildrenDr. John Randolph Neal Jr.; Commander George F. Neal; Amanda Neal Wheelock
Alma materHiwassee College, Emory and Henry College
ProfessionTeacher, attorney
Military service
AllegianceConfederate States of America Confederate States of America
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
Rank captain lieutenant colonel
Unit16th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

John Randolph Neal (November 26, 1836 – March 26, 1889) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district.

Biography

Neal was born near Clinton, Tennessee in Anderson County son of John O'Brien and Permelia Young Neal. He attended the common schools and Hiwasse College in Monroe County, Tennessee. He graduated from Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia in 1858. He taught school at Post Oak Springs and studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1859, and commenced practice in Athens, Tennessee. At the beginning of the war, he married Mary E. C. Brown, daughter of Franklin Brown. They had three children; Dr. John R. Neal, Jr., Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee, and Scopes Trial attorney;[1] Commander George F. Neal, U. S. N. and D. S. O. from King George V for distinguished service during World War I for sinking a German submarine, and Navy Cross from Congress for loyal service; and Amanda Neal Wheelock.[2]

Career

During the Civil War, Neal enlisted in the Confederate Army and was elected captain of a Cavalry troop, which afterward became a part of the 16th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant colonel of the battalion. He taught school for several years, settled at Rhea Springs, Tennessee, and continued the practice of law. He was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1874. He served in the Tennessee Senate in 1878 and 1879, and served as its presiding officer in 1879.[3]

Neal was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses. He served from March 4, 1885, to March 3, 1889,[4] but declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1888 on account of ill health.

Death

Neal died at Rhea Springs, Tennessee, in Rhea County on March 26, 1889 (age 52 years, 120 days).[5] He is interred at the W.F. Brown family cemetery in Post Oak Springs, Roane County, Tennessee.

References

  1. ↑ Alice Howell, Lucile Deaderick (ed.), Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee (East Tennessee Historical Society, 1976), pp. 582.
  2. ↑ "John R. Neal". Tennessee Genealogy Trails. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ "John R. Neal". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  4. ↑ "John R. Neal". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ "John R. Neal". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved April 22, 2013.


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