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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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E. L. Neville.

E. L. Neville, dealer in agricultural implements and postmaster of Orient, is thus closely, actively and helpfully associated with the business and public interests of the town and in both connections is found thoroughly reliable, trustworthy and loyal.  He is a well know citizen of Adair county, for he is one of her native sons, his birth having occurred in Union township on the 3d of May, 1872, his parents being Thomas W. and Ellen (McWhinney) Neville.  The father was born in Ireland, of English parentage, his father and mother being visitors in Ireland at the time of his birth.  The father came from England to the United States in early manhood, establishing his home in Ohio, where later he was married.  About 1868 he removed westward to Iowa, settling in Adair county, where he secured a tract of land and engaged in general agricultural pursuits for many years, bringing his place to a high state of cultivation.  The old home farm is still in possession of the family.

At the age of twenty-one years E. L. Neville began farming on his own account, having in the meantime acquired a good public-school education.  He had no capital when he started out in life independently but he possessed energy, determination and laudable ambition.  For five years he engaged in the cultivation of rented land but during that time carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase one hundred and eighty acres in Union township.  To that place he then removed and thereon lived for five years, at the end of which time he rented his farm and took up his abode in Orient, where he embarked in merchandising.  He was engaged in that line of business for four ad a half years and in 1908, when the firm of Coffee & Irwin established their branch implement house in Orient he was placed in charge and has since managed their business at this point, making the enterprise a profitable and growing one by his well directed activity.  On the 1st of May, 1914, Mr. Neville was appointed postmaster of  Orient and is now serving in that capacity, his son, Lloyd Harold, looking after the duties of the office.  The father is now a stockholder in the Coffee & Irwin Implement Company and a member of its board of directors and is also a stockholder in the Orient Savings Bank.

In 1892 Mr. Neville was united in marriage to Miss Sadie C. Havens, of Union township, and a daughter of Alexander Havens, a prominent farmer of that township.  To Mr. and Mrs. Neville have been born two sons and one daughter:  Lloyd Harold, Estella Marie and Russell Leroy.  The daughter is now pursuing a course in the college at Grinnell, Iowa.

The parents are members of the Christian church and are loyal to its teachings, their lives being guided accordingly.  They are interested in the work of the church and contribute generously to its support.  Mr. Neville is a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished.  He started out empty-handed but he early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins and industry became the beacon light of his life.  He is notably energetic, prompt and reliable and has a genius for devising the right thing at the right time, joined to everyday common sense.

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