My Genealogy Hound

John L. Oneal was born December 26, 1834, in Bedford County, Tenn., and is a son of Wiley and Phebe (LaRue) Oneal. His paternal grandfather was born in Virginia, of Irish parents, and was a soldier in the Revolution. The maternal grandparents were natives of Virginia, who immigrated to Tennessee in an early day. Wiley J. Oneal, the father, was born and reared upon a farm in Bedford County, Tenn., and during the late war served in the Confederate army. After being discharged in the Indian Territory he went to Texas, where he immigrated in 1860, and there died in 1884, aged seventy-four. Mrs. Oneal was born in Marshall County, Tenn., and died in Sebastian County, Ark., in 1872. She was the mother of eleven children. The following seven are living: John L., Jasper N., Andrew J., Tennessee C., R. J., Mary E. and Wiley I. B. Those deceased are William T., James M., Clara E. and an infant. John L. lived, until October 15, 1854, in his native country, where he received a common-school education; then he immigrated to Newton County, Mo. A year later he settled in Franklin County, Ark., where Charleston now stands, and there farmed until September, 1861. He then went to Texas, and enlisted in Company D, Thirteenth Texas Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war on station duty on the Brazos River. He then farmed in Van Zandt County until 1868, since which time he has been a resident of Sebastian County, Ark. In 1866 there were but few white settlers, and there were few schools and churches. He now owns 160 acres of land, eighty being cultivated, and is exclusively engaged in agriculture. January 30, 1856, he married Nancy M. Johnson, of Newton County, Mo., who was born in Davidson County, Tenn. This marriage has been blessed with seven children: William W. B., Pinkney A., Clara T., Robert L., James T., Phebe E. and Minnie L. Mr. Oneal has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church over thirty-eight years, and his wife is a member of the same church. He is a strong Democrat, and has served two terms as school director, although not desirous of public office.