Gen John I. Neely of GIbson CO, IN 1790 - 1867
Gen John I. Neely of Gibson CO, IN
From The Princeton union Democrat Nov 16, 1867
Another Pioneer Gone – It is our painful task to record the death of GEN JOHN I. Neely, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of this county, which occurred on the 8th inst., while he was on a visit to his relatives in DuQuoin, IL.
GENERAL NEELY was born near Lexington, KY on the 27th of January, 1790, and removed to this (Gibson) county with his father in 1805.When the lines were established and this county laid out, he was one of the chain carriers.He was apprenticed to ELIHU STOUT, Editor of the Western Sun, at Vincennes, to learn the Printing business, in the year 1807, with whom he remained until the breaking out of the Indian war in 1811, when he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and Aide de camp to GENERAL Harrison. He participated in the Battle of Tippecanoe; was at the siege of Fort Meigs; at Proctor’s defeat, and the Battle of the Thames; after which he was commissioned Major in the Regular Army and placed in Command at Cleveland, OH, where he remained until 1815 – at which time he resigned his position in the Army and returned home to Princeton.
He received the appointment of Post Master, and opened the first mail bag ever received at this point.He retained the office of Post Master 18 years, and during the time he was also the Clerk and Recorder of Gibson County, which office he held for 21 years.He was commissioned Major General of the Militia and commanded the 1st Indiana Division for a number of years.He was one of the delegates to the National Convention, which nominated HENRY CLAY for the Presidency. He was the father of eight children, and furnished two sons to the army during the late rebellion.
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Note: IN 1818, John Neely purchased land from the Shawneetown Land office with Henry Ayers, in Southern IL.
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Re: Gen John I. Neely of GIbson CO, IN 1790 - 1867
David Wood 2/26/11