My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Independence County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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.

* * * *

Judge Henry Neill, retired tanner of Greenbriar Township, owes his nativity to Mason County, Ky., where his birth occurred in 1808, and he is a prominent citizen of this county, respected and esteemed for his sterling integrity, sober, sound judgment, broad intelligence and liberal, progressive ideas. He is a man whose career has been above reproach. His parents, Robert and Magdalena (Black) Neill, were natives of Wilmington, Del., and the father’s birth occurred in 1767, the same year in which Gen. Jackson was born. The mother was born some years later, in the latter part of the eighteenth century. They removed to Mason County, Ky., at an early day, and later crossed the Ohio River and settled in the Buckeye State. There the father died at the age of eighty-three, and the mother at the age of eighty-one years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. The paternal grandfather of Judge Neill, Robert Neill, was a native of the Emerald Isle. Judge Neill, the sixth of nine children, five sons and four daughters, born to his parents, received a limited common school education, and began for himself at the age of seventeen by learning the tanner’s trade. Before reaching his twenty-first year he went to Northeast Missouri, and found a position in a tan-yard, remaining there about three years. In 1832 he came to Independence County, where he followed his trade in a tan-yard until 1834, and then established one of his own on his present farm. This he continued until his age would not permit of further work. In 1836 he married Miss Dorcas Stark, daughter of Job and Elizabeth Stark, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Stark went to Missouri when single, were married there, and there remained until 1832, when they came to Independence County, and there passed their last days, the mother dying in 1844 and the father in 1845. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. Mr. Stark followed the occupation of a farmer all his life, and served faithfully and well in the War of 1812. Judge and Mrs. Neill reared six children: Job S., who was killed at the battle of Oak Hill, on the 10th of August, 1861, while serving in the Confederate army; Robert, Elizabeth, wife of Dr. L. A. Dickson; Florence, wife of Captain George Rutherford; Delia, widow of M. D. Hulsey, who was murdered in 1869; Henry L., who died with consumption, aged twenty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Neill celebrated their golden wedding in 1886, and were the recipients of many tokens of affection and esteem by their numerous relatives and friends. In 1846 the Judge was elected to the legislature and served one term. He was register of the United States land office at Batesville one year, was county supervisor a few years, and, after the war, was county judge. He was a man whom all relied upon, for his decisions were not made without careful and painstaking study of the evidence adduced. He also discharged such duties as are incumbent upon the office of justice of the peace for several years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Neill Lodge being named for him; was a charter member and Master for a number of years. He is an honorary member of Mt. Zion Lodge, Batesville, and was Master over four years. He also belongs to the Chapter at Batesville. He is Democratic in his political preferences, and cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, in 1836, and has voted for every Democratic candidate since. Mrs. Neill has been a member of the Methodist Church for forty years.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 158 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Independence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Independence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Independence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Independence County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Independence County, Arkansas here: Independence County, Arkansas Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.