James John O'Neal

John J. O'Neal

John O'Neal was born in Cocke County, Tennessee September

8, 1821. He was married in Decatur, Meigs County, Tennessee

July 30, 1844 to Mary Ann Moore who was born March 3,

1823 in Cocke County. She was the daughter of Daniel Moore

and Catherine.

The O'Neals had the following children: Tennessee Jane,

America Ann, Harrison Napoleon, Francis Cass, Mary Serena,

Emily, James A. Buchanan and Louiza.

The O'Neals moved to Washington County, Arkansas sometime

between April 10, 1849 and April 12, 1851 since the first

three children were born in Meigs County, Tennessee. Harrison

Napoleon O'Neal was born in Meigs County April 10, 1849 and

the next child was born in Washington County, Arkansas April,

1851. The other children were born in Arkansas.

John O'Neal was a farmer. He had land patent for 40 acres

and 3 hundredths of an acre signed by President Buchanan the

first day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight

hundred and fifty nine.

A granddaughter who is now 100 years of age said the O'Neal

family moved around during the Civil War so that John O'Neal

would not have to fight in the war. That is possible since a child

died in March of 1864 in Johnson County and another child died

in Madison County July 31, 1864.

One of the terrible tragedies in the family was the death on

May 9, 1880 by accident of C. C. Cawood, ~on of W. H. and

Emily Cawood. He was 3 months and 21 days old. He was

thrown from his mother's lap when the horse ran away. It was

told that the mother said she would never wear kid gloves again.

She thought she could have held onto the baby if she hadn't had

the gloves on.

Many descendants of John and Mary Ann O'Neal still live in

Washington and Benton County. Among them are Ada Kennan

Reis, Robert Eidson, Neva Eidson Buchanan, Agnes (Peggy)

O'Neal Mason, Gertrude High Sherman, Hazel High Cooper,

Montez High Nail, Harold High, Wilma Webb Samuel, Thelma

Webb Harris, Vera Lou Goree Fowler and Mabel Goree Bell.

There are many others of the next generation and the next.

By: Mabel Goree Bell