Thomas S. Neely

THOMAS S. NEELY was born September 13, 1811, in Adams county, Pa., of which county his grandfather, Thomas Neely, and his father, Moses Neely, were also natives. His father married Jane Smith in that county, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a farm within eleven miles from Gettysburg. In 1831, he moved with his family to Miami county, Ohio, and, about the year 1840, to Randolph county, Ind., settling near the town of Windsor. His family consisted of four sons and five daughters, of whom Thomas S. is the only survivor.

In early life Thomas S. Neely was engaged in the labor of farm work at home, attending the district school in the winter until seventeen years of age, when he was apprenticed to a blacksmith at Petersburg, Pa., to learn the trade. He remained with him for nearly three years, and having acquired a good knowledge of the trade, he began to work on his own account, and in 1831 removed with his parents to Miami county, Ohio. He worked at this trade in Troy, Urbana, and other Ohio towns, and, in 1833, returned to his former home in Pennsylvania, and was wedded to Miss Matilda Wierman. He lived in Miami county six years, and, in February, 1839, came to Muncie, with whose interests he has long been identified.

            He at first engaged in the grocery trade, but the town was small and the merchants plenty, and he was soon convinced that there was a better opening for the mechanic than the merchant, and decided therefore to devote himself to his trade. He accordingly opened a blacksmith shop, and followed his trade for over twenty years. From 1842 to 1848 he served as a member of the board of county commissioners of Delaware county, and as school director subsequent to that time. In June, 1878, he was elected as a member of the board of education. His first purchase of real estate was the lot now occupied by the Abbott house, where he had his residence, and, at a later date, he erected the brick block on Main street, in which the photographic rooms of L.S. Smith are now located. In this building Mr. Neely established a daguerreotype gallery, and made the first pictures in Muncie, and was the leading photographer of this city until about twenty years ago, when he transferred the gallery to his son, Lon M.    

            While carrying on the trade of blacksmithing in Muncie, he was compelled to send to Cincinnati for iron, hauling it home by teams, and often had to leave his work here and make a personal visit tot hat city, when important purchases were to be made. This slow and expensive method of transportation set him to thinking, and with characteristic promptness, his thoughts developed into action. In the spring of 1847 he determined to move to secure the location of a railroad to Muncie, by some practical route; and acting upon this determination, circulated a subscription paper to secure funds with which to pay for posters to advertise a railroad mass meeting, to be held at Muncie. A hard canvass resulted in his securing only a part of the funds necessary, and, contributing the balance form his won purse, he had the bills struck and posted up, designating June 26, 1847, as the day of meeting. This meeting was almost barren of results, and was adjourned to August 20, when men of talent and public spirit from abroad were invited, resolutions were passed recommending Delaware county to vote a tax of $12,000, at the ensuing fall election, to aid the enterprise. Mr. Neely, although unaccustomed to public speaking, yet led in the public discussion of this question throughout the county, and had the pleasure of seeing it settled by an affirmative vote.

            The happy choice of a companion in early life proved the solace of other years; and they were each spared to bless the other, and see their children grown to honorable and useful maturity. Eliza is the wife of A.J. Wachtell, of Muncie; M. Jennie resides with the father; Thaddeus A., prominent manufacturer of Muncie, married Miss Harriet Huston, of Paris, Ill; Leonidas M., married Miss Welthy Berkey, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and resides in Muncie. Mrs. Neely died September 19, 1886, since when Mr. Neely has lived with his daughter, Miss M. Jennie.

Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Delaware and Randolph Counties, Indiana by A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894.