Born in the Finklea/Allsbrook/Bayboro area of Horry County, South Carolina on Sunday, November 11, 1888, Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. was the oldest of five and only surviving son of Joseph E. Neely and Sharlotte Ada Sarvis Neely. (His draft card lists his birth year as 1887.) He had blue eyes, light brown hair, and was of medium height. He was named "Joseph" for his father and "Bowden" for his mother's brother, Bowden Sarvis, who died in a sawmill fire.
Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. and Nettie Donnie King Neely (Riley) probably met around 1910 while working at the Dillon County, South Carolina cotton mill. With their parents dead, in 1910 Bowden and his sisters Ada, Janie, and probably Ruth were boarders at the home of their first cousin Lizzie Rebone Sarvis Cannon and her husband Isaac Lewis Cannon in Manning, Dillon County. The 1910 census shows Donnie and her brother, Lawrence A. King, and his family living as boarders near the cotton mill in the home of Allen and Elizabeth Hamilton in Manning. Her brother Lonnie King and his family lived nearby. Records show Donnie living in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina in 1911. Bowden's sister Ada was also in Wilmington in 1911 (to get married to Thomas S. Young). Bowden and his sister Ruth were there in 1913 (shortly before Ruth married Harry C. Wink, moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and had her first child). Bowden worked for a soft drink company in Wilmington. Donnie and Bowden probably married in Wilmington sometime between 1911 and 1916. (I would love to solve the mystery of exactly when and where they were married.). Then they moved to Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia where, ultimately, in 1927 he opened his own business selling Indian motorcycles, with at least five employees.
In 1916 Bowden and Donnie were living in Savannah at 411 Berrien. In 1917 they moved to 524 West York Street in Savannah. At the time Bowden worked at Kavanaugh and Company in Savannah and later for a motorcycle supply company. Sometime between 1916 and 1920 he went from being called "Bowden" to being called "Joe.," while between 1916 and 1917 "Donnie" began calling herself "Nettie." So Bowden and Donnie became Joe and Nettie. He received his draft notice for World War I the day the war ended which was also his birthday. While living at 524 West York Street in Savannah, they had twin sons in 1920 who died in infancy. Later two surviving sons, Joseph Bowden Neely, Jr. (born at 524 West York Street) and James Robert Neely, Sr. (born at 309 East 35th Street), were born. In 1925 and 1926 the Neelys lived at 315 York Street in Savannah. By 1927 they lived at 309 35th Street in Savannah in a house they owned. The 1930 census shows his widow and children still living in that house valued at $7000 in 1930 (equal to more than $107,000 in 2019). They had three grandchildren, James Robert Neely, Jr., John Michael Neely, and Sharlotte Neely Donnelly; six great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Joe died at home at 309 East 35th Street in Savannah on November 6, 1928 at age 39 of secondary sarcoma of the liver. His cancer had earlier manifested itself in one of his eyes which was removed to try to stop the spread of the disease. He is buried in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah next to his beloved wife Nettie. His white casket has dirty handprints left by his then five-year-old son Joe. His ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American, probably Lumbee.
Thanks to his wife Nettie King Neely Riley and his son Joe Neely for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. and Nettie Donnie King Neely (Riley) probably met around 1910 while working at the Dillon County, South Carolina cotton mill. With their parents dead, in 1910 Bowden and his sisters Ada, Janie, and probably Ruth were boarders at the home of their first cousin Lizzie Rebone Sarvis Cannon and her husband Isaac Lewis Cannon in Manning, Dillon County. The 1910 census shows Donnie and her brother, Lawrence A. King, and his family living as boarders near the cotton mill in the home of Allen and Elizabeth Hamilton in Manning. Her brother Lonnie King and his family lived nearby. Records show Donnie living in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina in 1911. Bowden's sister Ada was also in Wilmington in 1911 (to get married to Thomas S. Young). Bowden and his sister Ruth were there in 1913 (shortly before Ruth married Harry C. Wink, moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and had her first child). Bowden worked for a soft drink company in Wilmington. Donnie and Bowden probably married in Wilmington sometime between 1911 and 1916. (I would love to solve the mystery of exactly when and where they were married.). Then they moved to Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia where, ultimately, in 1927 he opened his own business selling Indian motorcycles, with at least five employees.
In 1916 Bowden and Donnie were living in Savannah at 411 Berrien. In 1917 they moved to 524 West York Street in Savannah. At the time Bowden worked at Kavanaugh and Company in Savannah and later for a motorcycle supply company. Sometime between 1916 and 1920 he went from being called "Bowden" to being called "Joe.," while between 1916 and 1917 "Donnie" began calling herself "Nettie." So Bowden and Donnie became Joe and Nettie. He received his draft notice for World War I the day the war ended which was also his birthday. While living at 524 West York Street in Savannah, they had twin sons in 1920 who died in infancy. Later two surviving sons, Joseph Bowden Neely, Jr. (born at 524 West York Street) and James Robert Neely, Sr. (born at 309 East 35th Street), were born. In 1925 and 1926 the Neelys lived at 315 York Street in Savannah. By 1927 they lived at 309 35th Street in Savannah in a house they owned. The 1930 census shows his widow and children still living in that house valued at $7000 in 1930 (equal to more than $107,000 in 2019). They had three grandchildren, James Robert Neely, Jr., John Michael Neely, and Sharlotte Neely Donnelly; six great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Joe died at home at 309 East 35th Street in Savannah on November 6, 1928 at age 39 of secondary sarcoma of the liver. His cancer had earlier manifested itself in one of his eyes which was removed to try to stop the spread of the disease. He is buried in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah next to his beloved wife Nettie. His white casket has dirty handprints left by his then five-year-old son Joe. His ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American, probably Lumbee.
Thanks to his wife Nettie King Neely Riley and his son Joe Neely for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
Born in the Finklea/Allsbrook/Bayboro area of Horry County, South Carolina on Sunday, November 11, 1888, Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. was the oldest of five and only surviving son of Joseph E. Neely and Sharlotte Ada Sarvis Neely. (His draft card lists his birth year as 1887.) He had blue eyes, light brown hair, and was of medium height. He was named "Joseph" for his father and "Bowden" for his mother's brother, Bowden Sarvis, who died in a sawmill fire.
Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. and Nettie Donnie King Neely (Riley) probably met around 1910 while working at the Dillon County, South Carolina cotton mill. With their parents dead, in 1910 Bowden and his sisters Ada, Janie, and probably Ruth were boarders at the home of their first cousin Lizzie Rebone Sarvis Cannon and her husband Isaac Lewis Cannon in Manning, Dillon County. The 1910 census shows Donnie and her brother, Lawrence A. King, and his family living as boarders near the cotton mill in the home of Allen and Elizabeth Hamilton in Manning. Her brother Lonnie King and his family lived nearby. Records show Donnie living in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina in 1911. Bowden's sister Ada was also in Wilmington in 1911 (to get married to Thomas S. Young). Bowden and his sister Ruth were there in 1913 (shortly before Ruth married Harry C. Wink, moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and had her first child). Bowden worked for a soft drink company in Wilmington. Donnie and Bowden probably married in Wilmington sometime between 1911 and 1916. (I would love to solve the mystery of exactly when and where they were married.). Then they moved to Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia where, ultimately, in 1927 he opened his own business selling Indian motorcycles, with at least five employees.
In 1916 Bowden and Donnie were living in Savannah at 411 Berrien. In 1917 they moved to 524 West York Street in Savannah. At the time Bowden worked at Kavanaugh and Company in Savannah and later for a motorcycle supply company. Sometime between 1916 and 1920 he went from being called "Bowden" to being called "Joe.," while between 1916 and 1917 "Donnie" began calling herself "Nettie." So Bowden and Donnie became Joe and Nettie. He received his draft notice for World War I the day the war ended which was also his birthday. While living at 524 West York Street in Savannah, they had twin sons in 1920 who died in infancy. Later two surviving sons, Joseph Bowden Neely, Jr. (born at 524 West York Street) and James Robert Neely, Sr. (born at 309 East 35th Street), were born. In 1925 and 1926 the Neelys lived at 315 York Street in Savannah. By 1927 they lived at 309 35th Street in Savannah in a house they owned. The 1930 census shows his widow and children still living in that house valued at $7000 in 1930 (equal to more than $107,000 in 2019). They had three grandchildren, James Robert Neely, Jr., John Michael Neely, and Sharlotte Neely Donnelly; six great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Joe died at home at 309 East 35th Street in Savannah on November 6, 1928 at age 39 of secondary sarcoma of the liver. His cancer had earlier manifested itself in one of his eyes which was removed to try to stop the spread of the disease. He is buried in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah next to his beloved wife Nettie. His white casket has dirty handprints left by his then five-year-old son Joe. His ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American, probably Lumbee.
Thanks to his wife Nettie King Neely Riley and his son Joe Neely for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. and Nettie Donnie King Neely (Riley) probably met around 1910 while working at the Dillon County, South Carolina cotton mill. With their parents dead, in 1910 Bowden and his sisters Ada, Janie, and probably Ruth were boarders at the home of their first cousin Lizzie Rebone Sarvis Cannon and her husband Isaac Lewis Cannon in Manning, Dillon County. The 1910 census shows Donnie and her brother, Lawrence A. King, and his family living as boarders near the cotton mill in the home of Allen and Elizabeth Hamilton in Manning. Her brother Lonnie King and his family lived nearby. Records show Donnie living in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina in 1911. Bowden's sister Ada was also in Wilmington in 1911 (to get married to Thomas S. Young). Bowden and his sister Ruth were there in 1913 (shortly before Ruth married Harry C. Wink, moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and had her first child). Bowden worked for a soft drink company in Wilmington. Donnie and Bowden probably married in Wilmington sometime between 1911 and 1916. (I would love to solve the mystery of exactly when and where they were married.). Then they moved to Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia where, ultimately, in 1927 he opened his own business selling Indian motorcycles, with at least five employees.
In 1916 Bowden and Donnie were living in Savannah at 411 Berrien. In 1917 they moved to 524 West York Street in Savannah. At the time Bowden worked at Kavanaugh and Company in Savannah and later for a motorcycle supply company. Sometime between 1916 and 1920 he went from being called "Bowden" to being called "Joe.," while between 1916 and 1917 "Donnie" began calling herself "Nettie." So Bowden and Donnie became Joe and Nettie. He received his draft notice for World War I the day the war ended which was also his birthday. While living at 524 West York Street in Savannah, they had twin sons in 1920 who died in infancy. Later two surviving sons, Joseph Bowden Neely, Jr. (born at 524 West York Street) and James Robert Neely, Sr. (born at 309 East 35th Street), were born. In 1925 and 1926 the Neelys lived at 315 York Street in Savannah. By 1927 they lived at 309 35th Street in Savannah in a house they owned. The 1930 census shows his widow and children still living in that house valued at $7000 in 1930 (equal to more than $107,000 in 2019). They had three grandchildren, James Robert Neely, Jr., John Michael Neely, and Sharlotte Neely Donnelly; six great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Joe died at home at 309 East 35th Street in Savannah on November 6, 1928 at age 39 of secondary sarcoma of the liver. His cancer had earlier manifested itself in one of his eyes which was removed to try to stop the spread of the disease. He is buried in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah next to his beloved wife Nettie. His white casket has dirty handprints left by his then five-year-old son Joe. His ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American, probably Lumbee.
Thanks to his wife Nettie King Neely Riley and his son Joe Neely for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
