My Genealogy Hound

Col. James A. McNeely, mayor of Alma, was born in Rowan County, N. C., in 1820, and is a son of Alexander and Ann McNeely, natives of North Carolina, where they passed their entire lives. They were of Scotch descent. The father was a merchant by occupation, and served as paymaster during the War of 1812. Our subject lost his father when an infant. In 1845 he married Margaret Morrison, who died in 1855, leaving five children, only one of them now living. In 1857 he came to Arkansas, and the following year married Jane McCoy, by whom he has had two children, one of whom is living. In 1868 Col. McNeely removed to Stoddard County, Mo.; in 1876 went to Carthage, Mo., and in 1877 came to Arkansas, settling in Alma, where for some hears he engaged in the drug business. During the years 1861 and 1862, and a part of 1863, he served in the Confederate army as major of the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and after the battle of Shiloh was made colonel of the regiment. He resigned the office on account of ill health. In politics the Colonel is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Polk in 1844. Prior to the war he served several years as postmaster of Greensboro, Ark., having a drug store at that place, and after the war he served as postmaster at Lakeville, Mo., where he kept a general store. In 1860 he took the first census of Craighead County, Ark., and for some time during the war was deputy clerk of that county. Since 1879, with the exception of two years, he has filled the office of mayor of Alma, his long term of office being sufficient proof of the satisfactory manner in which he has fulfilled the duties of the position.