“Stopped for a little while at the home of Alf Neely…. Mr. Neely has some 20 or more bales of this season’s cotton scattered about his place, awaiting the time he will store it,…” (The following is taken from A. M. Grist’s weekly column, “Just A-Rolling Along the Way,” published in the Yorkville Enquirer, Dec. 6,1931. John K. Scoggins acted as Grist’s guide.)
City Directories and History: Alpha Lee Neely, or Alf Neely, (1870-1939), the Black Jack poet, and his wife, Louella Wright, built this home on Highway 324 as part of their “Black Jack Valley” farm on Highway 324 in the early 1920’s. The front is a Georgian cottage with a rear ell addition and dining room. A cream separator is attached to the floor in a rear room. The house displays a very prominent hipped roof dormer. [Historical Properties of York County, SC – 1995]
A.L. Neely (1870-1939), was a farmer – poet and wrote an account of growing up in the Ogden community, Ogden Jingles, as well as dozens of additional poems he published in the mid 1910’s. The book offers significant insights into the life of a boy growing up in rural York County at the end of the 19th century and the area he called Black Jack Valley. He also left a remarkable account on the history and his informative discussions on religion and Antioch Methodist Church. His story tells about his father’s death when he was just a child. The census of 1880 shows that A.L. Neely was the son of “Felletron” Neely (age 84) and Aggie Neely (age 44) who at the time were living within a very close proximity to Antioch Methodist Church (across Highway 324 just east of the church) and what in 2012 is the intersection of Highway 324 and Rambo Road. The 1860 census shows that Felletron Neely, his father, was living at Smith’s Turnout prior to the Civil War, was a bachelor at age 63, working as a farmer with a considerable amount of monetary value. It appears as did most southerners, he lost his wealth and most likely his health as a result of the war.
Wife: Louella Wright Neely (1874 – 1966)
Children: Benjamin Rudolph Neely (1894 – 1961), Cora Ann Neely Garrison (1896 – 1980), Amy Neely Adkins (1897 – 1993), Margaret Neely Thomas (1899 – 1994)
In 2011, the old Neely – Bishop home along with many in Ogden Community were damaged or destroyed by a tornado that swept across the rural community destroying homes, property and several lives, the Neely home was just outside of the main track of the storm.
Victoria Webb Sims stated on Facebook, 1.23.14, “I lived in this house in the 70s.”
Also see a map of the area from Walker’s 1910 map under the More Information > link.
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