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 25th
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 10th 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/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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