FIELDING M. NEAL - Mr. Neal is in direct line of ancestry from Daniel Neal, born in Bedford county, Virginia, in 1770; then he married Polly Booth, a native of same county. They had ten children in Virginia. In fall of 1808, they moved to Franklin county, Tennessee, where John A. Neal was born, July 31, 1809; then moved to Bourbon county, Kentucky, where five children were born; then moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, and located in Chatham township, November 10, 1828. Daniel Neal died August 26, 1838; Mrs. Polly Neal died in 1854. Stephen B. Neal, father of Fielding M. Neal, was born in Virginia, December 25, 1807; came to Chatham township with his father, November 10, 1828; married Julia A. Wyckoff. Fielding M. was born in Chatham township, October 29, 1832; married Leah M. Greenwood, January 25, 1855, she was born in Chatham township, September 18, 1836, was a daughter of John Greenwood, who was born in West Virginia, January 3, 1810, and came with his father to Sangamon county, in 1824. (See James W. Greenwood.) Mr. Neal's brothers were among the first to respond to the call for troops for our civil war. Samuel M. enlisted in 1862, in Company B, Eleventh Missouri Infantry, for three years, served faithfully till close of war, was honorably discharged; married and lives in Missouri. William A. enlisted in Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, for three years, in 1861; served his time; re-enlisted as a veteran in 1864; saw the last rebel lay down his arms, and was honorably discharged. He now lives near Chatham. Henry C. enlisted in company B, Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, for three years, August 9, 1861; was captured at the battle of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864; was thrown into the Andersonville prison pen, where he died one month later, adding another victim to the never to be written horrors of that southern prison. Mr. F. M. Neal lived on the farm with his father until his marriage (1855); then worked the farm one year on shares; he then moved to Loami township, where he lived two years; in 1858, he bought and moved upon the eastern part of present farm. In 1873, he purchased an adjoining farm on which he now lives, giving him a farm of two hundred and forty acres. His opportunities for education were confined to the rude log school house, with slab seats, but nevertheless, with such appliances and his own energy, he acquired sufficient education to conduct his interests in such a manner that the balance sheet shows largely in his favor. His children are: William A., born March 26, 1856; Julia A., born January 24, 1858, died 1860; John F., born June 10, 1860; Eliza Ann, born March 23, 1862, married Geo. Works, February 11, 1881; Ruthy Jane, born in October 24, 1864; Henry E., born May 2, 1867; Cora Louvania, born July 10, 1870.