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The Seattle Daily Times
Wednesday Evening, January 1, 1913
Page 3, Column 4

Note: News article spells name incorrectly as Neeley. Correct spelling is Neely.

White River Valley Pioneer Passes Away

David A. Neeley, One of Oldest Settlers in King County, Dies of Pneumonia at Home in Kent

Came To Northwest In October, 1854

Aged Widow Also Seriously Ill – Funeral Will Be Held Friday Afternoon From Odd Fellows’ Hall Kent, Washington. Wednesday, January 1. David A. Neeley, 89 years old, one of the oldest pioneers of King County, died at his home here yesterday afternoon of pneumonia contracted while attending the funeral of Thomas Christopher, another old pioneer, at Christopher, on December 15. Neeley was a native of West Virginia. He left Neosha, Missouri, May 1, 1854 and traveling by ox team arrived in the White River Valley in October of the same year. He had resided here continuously ever since. Soon after he and his wife arrived here they filed on donation claims. Of the original homestead 110 acres was still the property of Neeley at the time of his death. His widow also possesses eighty-eight acres.

During the early days Neeley had a very intimate acquaintance with many of the settlers of Seattle, was a personal friend of A.A. Denny, David Denney and C.D. Boren, who landed at Alki Point in 1851.

As one of the early pioneers Neeley had his share of Indian fighting and was a member of the volunteers in 1855 and 1856. In the latter part of 1856 a new company of militia was organized with Judge Landers, afterwards prominent in the growth of Seattle, as Captain, A.A. Denny, First Lieutenant and Neeley as Second Lieutenant. C.D. Boren was a Corporal in the same company.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Neeley. Five are still living; the youngest Thomas Neeley of Seattle is 45 years old. The other surviving children are Aaron Neeley, Auburn; David Neeley, Henry Neeley and Mrs. Mary Shay, Kent. There are also fourteen grandchildren surviving, all of whom were born in Washington. Of sixteen great-grandchildren, most of whom are native Washingtonians, the oldest is 13 years of age.

Mrs. Neeley, who is 87 years old, is very ill of pneumonia. The couple had been married sixty-four years.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 1 o’clock from the Odd Fellows’ Hall here. Interment will follow in the Odd Fellows’ Cemetery.

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Generously contributed by: Sheila Simpson