JAMES E. NEELEY, a prominent farmer and dealer in livestock, Littleton township, was born at Fort Larned, Kansas, March 3, 1864, a son of John and Lucinda (Snyder) Neeley. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Kansas, where he engaged in farming. James E. is the only child of the first marriage; the mother died April 8, 1864, at Larned, Kansas. Mr. Neeley married a second time, and had one child by this union. After the death of his mother our subject was taken to the home of Major Wheeler, where he was reared with all the affectionate care that could be bestowed upon him. The farm he now occupies was inherited from the Major, and he is engaged in general agriculture.

Mr. Neeley made a specialty of breeding and raising fine, thoroughbred horses, and fine stock of excellent pedigree; Roan Dick is an animal of good record, and a colt that he is now raising promises to be one of the fastest horses in the State. He has managed all branches of farming with keen intelligence, and has met with merited success.

In 1886, November 25, he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel A. Greer. Mr. and Mrs. Neeley are the parents of one child: John F., born March 13, 1891. Politically, our subject adheres zealously to the principles of the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine. He is a young man of superior business qualifications, and his judgment carries due weight throughout the agricultural district of this section of Illinois.