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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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R. D. Neal, a leading citizen of Mineral Springs, Howard County, Ark., was born in Monroe County, Miss., July 17, 1840, and educated in Howard County, at private schools. He gave his attention to agriculture, marrying Miss Judith V. Morgan, of Arkansas, January 13, 1862. She was a daughter of Samuel B. and Nancy Morgan. They have no children, but have raised and educated several orphans. Mr. Neal is a member of the Centre Point Masonic Lodge No. 87, has been justice of the peace for ten or twelve years, and is now and has been county and probate judge for four years. He takes an active interest in all public matters and worthy enterprises. This year he bought an interest in the business of E. R. Martin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Neal belong to the Missionary Baptist Church. His father, Noel O., was a farmer by occupation, and a native of Georgia. He was born in 1802, and married Miss Heskey McElroy, of Mississippi. They had ten children: Giles M., Noel G., Francis S., Caroline, Sabrina, Joseph L., Sarah E., Rufus D., James L. and Heskey A., and others who died in infancy. The family located in what is now known as Howard County, Ark., in the fall of 1840.

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This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Howard County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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