Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-11-25
HARVEST OF THE GRIM REAPER.
WeIl-known Persons Answer the Last
Summons.
REV. A. A. p. MEL.

REV. A. A. P. NEEL-
Rev. Allen Abner Preston Neel. we'll
known minister of the Baltimore Confer
| ence of the M. E. Church South. and a
former resident OF Shepherdstown, died
at his home in frankfort, Greenorler
county. w. Va, last Saturday, aged 6S
wears, 6 months and 10 days. The news
of his death was received here with regret
by many friends who have long known
and esteemed him. Mr. Neel was born
in Monroe county, this State. AT the age
of fifteen years he became converted, and
though of Presbyterian parentage, ne
Joined the Methodist Church. When the
Civil War broke out he went into the
Confederate service as lieutenant in an
artillery company organized at his home,
and after serving for two years he enter
ed the ministry, becoming a member OF
the Baltimore Conference in 1868. From
this time until the close OF the war he
was chaplain in the army. After the war
he took up the regular work OF the minis
try. and soon became known as an earn
est and able preacher and a conscientious
worker.
Mr.. Neel was assigned to Shepherds
town circuit in 1872 and served the
churches here for four years. In 1887 ne
was returned to Shepherdstown, where
he was pastor for two years. He also
served Jefferson circuit, in the southern
end of this county. He gave up the &C
tive work of the ministry for time, con-
Quoting colporage work in the Baltimore
Conference. He was elected county SUI
perintendent OF schools for Jefferson coun-
ty, serving for four years, and filled the
position with marked ability and great
conscientiousness. He re-entered the
ministry about ten years ago, his last
charge being at frankfort, W. Va, where
with his son, Rev. Register Neel, he Ia
bored until failing health compelled him
to give up the work last August. His
death was the result of tuberculosis. He
knew that the end was approaching, but
he had no fears, and calmly awaited the
inevitable hour with the Christians faith
and pous resignation. He was conscious
to the last, and, surrounded by his sons
and daughters, he peac efully passed away
with a smile on his face.
The deceased was twice married, but
outlived both OF his wives. He was the
father OF fourteen children. OF whom eleven
are living, five of The first wife and six OF
the second. They are: Charles Neel, OF
Texas; J. Wilbur Neel, of Martinsburg;
Rev. A. A. p. Neel, Jr., of Burlington, W.
Va; Rev. Register Neel, of Frankford,
w. Va; Rev. Frank F. Neel, of Capon
Bridge, w. Va; Mrs. Edith Light, wife
of Rev. ]. H. Light, of Front Royal, Va.
Mrs. Beulah Johnson, wife of Mr.. S. J..
Johnson, of Leesburg, Va; Mrs. Alice
Taylor, Connecticut; Misses Eunice, Bina
and Laura Neel, at home.
The body was brought to Shepherds
town for burial, an impressive service be-
ing held in the Southern Methodist
Chnrch Tuesday afternoon. The service
was participated in by Rev. H. l. Steph-
ems, pastor Of the church; Rev. Dr.
Charles Ghiselin, pastor Of the PreSby-
terrain Church of Shepherdstown; Rev.
]. T. Williams, OF Charles Town; Rev.
w. A. Locke, of Martinsburg; and Rev
E. L. Kregloe, of this place. The three
first named ministers made beautiful re-
marks concerning the life and work and
character or this good man, giving teSti-
mony as to his faithfulness, his piety, his
conscientious service and the virtues that
he exemplified. The remains were in
tered in Elmwood Cemetery, four sons
and two of his sonS-in-law being his
pall-bearers.
Mt Nebo Lodge, of which Mr.. Neel
was a member, attended the funeral. and
conducted the ritual of the order at his
grave, burying him with Masonic honorS.