Joseph Neal

According to the book Scott County, TN & Its Families, published by the Scott County Historical Society, Joseph Neal was a soldier from Scott County who was killed during the Civil War. The book states that his widow, Emeline Ross Neal (1818-1902) married Thomas Ballentine Creekmore.

There is no record of Joseph Neal living in Scott County. He is not listed in either the 1850 or 1860 censuses.

Emeline Ross was the daughter of John Cane Ross (1792-1855) and Elizabeth Chitwood (1796-1884). She was apparently born in 1828 rather than 1818. Her marriage to Thomas B. Creekmore (1823-1911) took place on Dec. 5, 1876. He had first been married to Mary Trammell (1830-1871), then Nancy Dupuy (1849-1876). She died on April 11, 1902 and is buried at New Light Cemetery in Winfield.

According to census records, Emeline (or Emley/Emily) married Joseph Neal sometime between 1850 and 1860. When the 1850 census was taken, she was Emily Ross, living in Owsley County, Ky., near Pikeville. When the 1860 census was taken, she and Joseph Neal lived in Whitley County, Ky. with their children, John (age 8), Rachel and Sarah (age 1).

The 1860 census is the only record that lists her name as Emeline. Some records list her and Joseph’s surname as O’Neal.

When the 1870 census was taken, Emily lived north at Marsh Creek, Ky. (north of Whitley City) with her children: John (18), Rachel (13), Sarah (11), W.C. (9) and Joseph (6). Her husband no longer appears in the 1870 census, which lends credence to the idea that he was killed during the Civil War. That death would’ve occurred sometime after late 1862. His youngest son, Joseph Neal, was born on June 8, 1863.

When Rachel, their daughter, died, her death certificate listed her father as Joel Neal, rather than Joseph Neal.

There is a record of a Pvt. Joseph Neal killed in Gallatin, Tenn. on Sept. 6, 1865. However, he was enlisted in Co. C, 110 USC T (110th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment.)

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See Also: Scott Countians killed in war