Benton Co., AR - Biographies - B. A. Neil

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        Date: 20 Jun 1998
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SOURCE:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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B. A. Neil, farmer, of Batie Township, and son of John D. and Sallie (Roach) Neil, was born in
Bradley County, Tenn., June 20, 1840. The father was born in Marion County. Tenn., December 12,
1810, and there remained until his twenty-third year, when he removed to Bradley County. The
country was at that time wild and unsettled. and the few settlers were obliged to band together
and erect fortifications to defend themselves from the Indians. The mother was born on the
Hiawassa Purchase, in what is now Whitfield County, Ga., and after reaching womanhood moved to
Bradley County; was there married to Mr. Neil, and bore him eleven children, nine now living:
Benjamin A., Mrs. Elizabeth Knesster. William. Mrs. Sarah Alford, John D., Josephine, Mrs. Martha
J. Bair. Mrs. Emily F. Ware and Jennie. James K. and Mary E. are the children deceased. William
D. O'Neil emigrated from Ireland to the United States when a boy, and served in both the War of
1812 and the Mexican War. In the former he participated in the battle of Horseshoe Bend, and in
the latter in the battle of Buena Vista. After coming to this country he changed his name to
"Neil." Sarah (Davis) Neil, the grandmother, was born in Virginia, was thoroughly educated, and
was an aunt of Jefferson Davis, the Confederate President. Eliza (Thatch) Roach, the maternal
grandmother, was born in Morgan County, Tenn., and was afterward married to David Roach, who was
a native of Virginia. B. A. Neil received a common-school education, and when sixteen years of
age began work on the E. V. T. & G. Railroad, doing the work of fireman. Afterward he was given
an engine, and acted as engineer for four years, at which time he enlisted in Company A, First
Tennessee Battalion of Artillery, under Maj. Hugh McClune. His first service, however, was with
the Louisiana Zouaves, and he and four others were the only ones who escaped death. At the first
battle of Manassas and during the later engagements he was under Gen. Stonewall Jackson.
Longstreet's division, the most important battles being Rappahannock, Richmond, Gettysburg, Seven
Pines, Chickamauga, Resaca, Ga., the Wilderness and numerous smaller engagements. In 1865 Mr.
Neil married Miss Mary M. Breakbill, daughter of Peter and Lea Breakbill. Nine children were the
result of this union: Mrs. Mary E. Smith. Mrs. Martha J. Wammack, Benjamin F., William D., Sarah
G., George M., John S., Ida B. and Menta Lee. The mother of these children died July 9, 1888.
After moving to Missouri Mr. Neil located on Rock Prairie. Lawrence County, and there remained
two years. He then went to Texas, but returned to Lawrence County after two years. Here he
remained until 1876, when he moved to Sarcoxie, and from there to Arkansas in 1883, settling in
Benton County. One year later he again went to Texas, but only remained there ten months, when he
returned to Benton County, Ark., and here has since remained. He has ninety acres of good land,
all under cultivation. Politically he is a Democrat, never having voted any other ticket.