My Genealogy Hound

DR. WILLIAM J. NEELY, one of the enterprising farmers of Thornton township, Buffalo county, was born in Virginia, May 21, 1841. His father, Bashrod Neely, was born in Monongalia county, May 21, 1820. He was in the mercantile business in McGaheysville, Va., for several years previous to 1887, when he emigrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., where he now resides. Dr. Neely’s grandfather was James Neely, a native also of Virginia. He died in 1879. Dr. Neely enlisted at the age of twenty, September 6, 1861, in the Sixth West Virginia infantry. His regiment was stationed at Grafton, W. Va., for about three years. While here young Neely acted as post clerk for the regiment. He was mustered out in June, 1865, as quartermaster sergeant. After that he was engaged in the mercantile business at Mannington, W. Va., for a short time. In 1866 he began the study of medicine and subsequently graduated from the American Medical College, St. Louis, Mo. He emigrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., in September, 1833, and settled on a homestead in Thornton township. His first purchase, upon his arrival at Kearney, was a yoke of stalwart oxen, which served as his team. Dr. Neely was among the very first settlers in Thornton township, and he and his faithful wife stood in a great many hardships, incident to those early days, and frequently suffered for the necessities of life. Their first night on the new homestead was spent in a hole in the ground, which was used subsequently as a cellar. They had no money and were obliged to adapt themselves to their surrounding circumstances. They had no well of water, and no money to aid them in constructing one; consequently, the doctor carried what water they were obliged to have for three long months from the house of a neighbor, one mile distant. He was used to walking in those days, and it was not an unusual thing for him to walk to Kearney, a distance of nine miles, and home again with his arms full of groceries. He built a sod house ten by twelve feet, which served them for several years. During the summer of 1874, the grasshoppers destroyed everything in the shape of crop, and Mr. Neely was obliged to move to Kearney, where he might be able to get work in order to supply his family with the necessaries of life. He returned to his homestead, however, the following spring, and he has continued to reside there since. Notwithstanding the innumerable hardships endured by Mr. and Mrs. Neely during their early experiences in this country, they have survived them all and are now among the most prosperous citizens in the county. The doctor practiced his profession during fourteen years after his arrival in the county. He was exceedingly generous during the dark days in grasshopper times. He administered to the needs of the sick and affiicted then and charged only half price for his services.

He now has three hundred and twenty acres in his splendid farm, which has yielded abundant crops every year since 1876. He has set out and cultivated with his own hands 40,000 trees, some of which now measure eighteen inches in diameter. He has always had great faith in the raising of fruit, and now points with pride to his fine orchard and well cultivated vineyards. He deserves especial credit for his marked success in this direction. He planted fruit trees and nurtured them when other men laughed at the idea of raising fruit on these Western plains. He has finally succeeded in demonstrating that with proper care the choicest kinds of fruits can be raised in this country.

Dr. Neely has served as justice of the peace, and held other offices in his township.

He was married August 17, 1867, to Rebecca S. Leston, at Mannington, W. Va. Mrs. Neely’s parents were both Virginians by birth. Both the Doctor and Mrs. Neely are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have no children.