The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-02-09
WILLIAM NEAL.
An 0ld And Respected Citizen, After a Linqer.
Ing Illness, Passes Peacefully Away.

One Dy one the Old residents who
were identified with the earlier history
OF Bloomsbury, are passing away, and
a new generation is filling their places
in the business activities of the COM
munity.
On Monday night at 1880 o'clock,
William Neal departed this life, pam
lessly and peacefully. He was uncon-
scious for twenty four hours before his
death. For the past year it has been
apparent to his friends that he was
rapidly failing, and for the past few
weeks his condition has been such that
his death at any time would not have
been surprise. He was tenderly
cared for, and watched over by his
children. DR.. James B. Neal and his
wife came home from China in order
to be with hir1 IN his declining days,
and his other children were with him
much of the time. The funeral takes
place today at 1880 o'clock. Rev. DR..
ID. ]. Waller will conduct the services.
William Neal was born in what is
now Muncy, Pa, on September 8,
1879, and his age was therefore sc
years, a months and 90 days. He was
a son of John and Mary Neal. His
mother who was sister of rhe late
William McKelvy, died when he was
an infant, and his father died a few
years later, and he became a member
of the family of his uncle, William Nc.
Kelvy, and resided with him until $40.
He clerked in the store, and in IS4o
was taken into partnership,the firm be-
ing William McKelvy & Co.
In 1858 William McKelvy, William
Neal and jacob Mellick erected an
iron furnace, and it was conducted by
them until 1877 a,when Mr.. Neal bought
Mr.. Mellick's interest, and in 1873 he
bought Mr.. McKelvy's interest and
the same year took his sons Clinton
W. and Robert c. in partnership, un-
der the firm name of William Neal and
Sons, and the iron business was carri-
ed on by them until 1898. Their pro-
duct was nearly 5000 tons of pig iron
year.
Mr.. Neal was married to Catherine
Christman in 1889, and to them were
born four children, namely Clinton w.
OF Bloomsburg, Mrs. Z. w. Elwell of
Towanda, Robert c. Of Harrisburg,
and Mary who died at the age of four
years. Mrs. Neal died in January
1850, and in June 1884 he was mar
ried to Mary L. Boyd of Danville, who
bore him the following children, James
B. medical missionary in China,
Anna M. widow of Morris Shipley, of
Cincinnati, and Montgomery who died
in infancy. Mrs. Mary L. Neal died,
May FL, 1896.
But few men were more prominent
ly connected with the progress and
growth of the town than William Neal.
He was identified for many years with
one of the leading industries, in fact
the leading industry of Bloomsburg,
namely, the manufacture of pig iron.
Twenty years ago, and for many years
before that, the furnaces at Irondale
and that of McKelvy, Neal & Co.,
were the only large industries here,
each giving employment to several
hundred men. The hills and farms
all around here were rich with iron
ore, and the mining, hauling, and
manufacture into iron afforded a
good livelihood to many families.
He was identified with educational
matters. being one of the trustees of
the Bloomsburg Literary institute,
and later on, of the Normal School.
He was elected President of the Board
of Trustees in 1891, and filled the
position very acceptably until 1898,
when be resigned because of failing
health. In his young manhood he was
a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal
Church, but afterward united with the
Presbyterian Church, in which he
took deep interest, holding the posi-
ton of trustee for more than twenty
five years. He was also an elder.
Mr. Neal was man of strong char
acter and determined will, and yet he
was devoted husband, and an indul-
gent and loving father, good neighbor
and citizen, charitable to the poor,
and ever ready to help in all things
that were intended for the general
progress and welfare of the town
Although he has led a retired lite for
some years past, and was not much
known to the younger generation, he
will be remembered by very many as
one who for a period of fifty years
was one of Bloomsburg's most promi.
nent and useful citizens.
Mrs. Anna M. Shipley came in
from Cincinnati several weeks ago to
be with her father IN his illness, and
about two weeks ago she was sum-