Capt. Neel Dead.
Passing Away of One of Cartersville’s Oldest and Best Citizens.

Capt. J. L. Neel, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Cartersville, died at his home, in this city, Tuesday morning at four o’clock.  He had been feeble from age and general debility for several months, and his death had been an expected event for several weeks.

Capt. Neel was born in Alabama, near where the city of Birmingham is located, September 22, 1826.  He came to Cass county when quite a young man.  He married Miss Swain, of Gordon county and went into the mercantile business at Adairsville, which he followed until the civil war broke out, when he raised a company of young men about Adairsville.  The company was connected with the western army.  He was at the surrender at Vicksburg and was in the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta in 1864.  The company did hard fighting at Resaca, New Hope, Kennesaw and Atlanta and also at Franklin, Tenn., when Hood made the great divergent movement after he had been put in command of the western army.  He was wounded at Atlanta and again in North Carolina.  He held the love and respect of his comrades in war, and was a never failing friend to every true confederate soldier.

After the war Capt. Neel returned to his home in Adairsville, where he reared his family.  His wife died in September, 1901.

Besides representing Bartow, or Cass county, as it then was, in 1856 and 1857, Capt. Neel again represented the county, Bartow, in 1876 and 1877.

His religious belief was that of the Cumberland Presbyterian church but generally affiliated with the Presbyterians. He lived an exemplary Christian life and his influence was felt for good constantly.  He was a man of very strong convictions and always possessed the courage of his convictions, but was at the same time a most agreeable and entertaining companion in social intercourse.

He is survived by three children.  Judge James M. Neel and Miss Nora Neel, of this city, and Mr. Joseph N. Neel, of Macon.

The funeral took place yesterday from the Presbyterian church, the services being conducted by Rev. W. A. Cleveland, assisted by Rev. Sam C. Dean.  The interment was at Oak Hill.  As a conspicuous mark of respect the largest turn out of confederates ever seen in the county was the assemblage of P. M. B. Young camp in a body to attend the funeral.
The veterans adopted the following resolution offered Judge A. M. Foute:

Resolved, That we, his comrades of the armies of the confederacy, sincerely mourn the departure of our friend and comrade, Capt. Joseph L. Neel.