Smith Neal

The grandfather of the subject of this biography, Smith Neal, after whom he was named, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1764. As a lad he enlisted in the colonial army and served one day in the Revolutionary war. In 1796 he settled in Butler county, being one of its earliest pioneers. When the war of 1812 broke out his patriotic spirit had better opportunity to exhibit itself than during the first war with the British, and he served as a soldier for a considerable time. The rifle which he carried is now owned and treasured as a valuable heirloom by his grandson and namesake. The pioneer and soldier continued to reside in Butler county until 1833, when he removed to Armstrong, where he lived until his death in 1863. His wife was Sarah Cochran, by whom he had one child, Robert, who was born in Butler county, July 5, 1798. This son married Sarah Lowe, a native of this state, who was born in 1797. Robert and Sarah (Lowe) Neal came to Armstrong county in 1834, and lived here the remainder of their days, the husband dying in December, 1862, and the wife in the same month in the year 1857. They were parents of five children, four of whom are still living, viz.: William H., Rosetta P., Alexander and Smith.

Smith Neal, whose ancestry has been given in the foregoing few lines, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1822. Upon the 25^th of May, 1844, having removed to Armstrong county with his parents ten years before, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Sloan, daughter of Samuel and Nancy Sloan, early settlers of Plum Creek township. She was born in 1823 and died March 17, 1861. She was the mother of five children, three of whom are still living- Nancy Jean, Amanda and Sarah C.

Upon the 10^th of April, 1862, Mr. Neal married, as his second wife, Caroline Jewert, a native of Plum Creek, born November 22, 1834. Six children were the offspring of this union, and all are living. Their names are: Loella R. (widow of John P. Beyer, a resident of Indiana, Pennsylvania), L.Adda, Alden, Robert E. , Mattie V. and Alice L.

Mr. Neal has followed agriculture all of his life, and now owns a farm of 220 acres, 150 of which is finely improved. He has held various offices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen. Both Mr. Neal and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church of Dayton.

Source: Chapter 13, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed May 1999 by Pamela Clark for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Pamela Clark for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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