C. M. Neal, one of Butler county's progressive merchants who is engaged in the hardware business at Benton, has been a Kansan since he was a year old. Mr. Neal was born in Warrensburg, Johnson county, Missouri, October 22, 1870, and is a son of J. W. and Christina C. (Brougher) Neal, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. The Neal family removed from Missouri to Kansas in 1871, and located in Sumner county, seven miles east of Caldwell where the father took up a Government claim. Soon after settling there he sold his claim and removed to the western part of Sedgwick county. After a short residence in that part of the county they removed to Wichita and from there to Douglass where they resided about twenty years when they came to Benton township. The father was a farmer and died in Benton township in 1910, and the mother now resides on the old homestead in that township. There were eight children in the Neal family, five girls and three boys.

C. M. Neal received a good common school education and followed farming until January 1, 1911, having lived in Benton township since 1888. In 1911 he purchased a hardware store and stock at Benton, and since that time has been engaged in that line of business there. He handles a full line of shelf hardware and also buggies, wagons, farming implements, harvesting machinery and fencing. By his square dealing and reliable business methods he has not only built up a large trade but has won many friends and as a merchant has won the confidence of the community.

Mr. Neal was united in marriage December 3, 1895, to Miss Etta Freeman, an estimable lady of Douglass, Kans. She was born in Bloomington township, Butler county, June 19, 1876. Her parents were early settlers in Butler county, her father dying when she was a child and her mother now resides at Augusta. Mrs. Neal died July 6, 1913, leaving one child, Neva Bell, who resides with her father at Benton.

Mr. Neal is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security and belongs to the Christian church.

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