HON. JOHN NEELY
Is a son of John Neely, whose family was of Scotch-Irish extraction,
settled in Southeastern Pennsylvania at an early date. His mother's
maiden name was Bayly, the family, originally from England, early
seated in Virginia. He was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, on
September 30, 1841. He studied with his father and elder brother, in
Virginia and at St. Joseph, Missouri, until sixteen years of age, then
obtained appointment as naval cadet at Annapolis, but failed to pass
physical examination because of defective eyesight. He then taught
school for a time, reading law meanwhile. He commenced practice in
Accomack county, Virginia, at Accomack C. H., where he remained until
1885, in which year he removed to Norfolk, his present place of residence.
He was several years commonwealth's attorney for Accomack
county, and represented that county two terms in the House of Delegates.
He married at Accomack C. H., December 13, 1866, Mary V. Rayfield,
of Accomack county. They have two daughters, Ethel and Elizabeth.
Mrs. Neely is of a family settled in Virginia many years ago.
