General Rufus P. Neely, an early settler of Hardeman County, is the son of Charles and Louisa (Polk) Neely. The father was born in Virginia in 1787, and when young moved with his parents to Middle Tennessee. The mother was born in North Carolina in 1787, and was the daughter of Col. Ezekiel Polk, of Colonial distinction, and the originator of the Polk families in Tennessee. They were among the early settlers of Maury County. The parents of our subject reared a family of four children, all of whom are living. At the breaking out of the war of 1812, Charles Neely, as captain, led a company under Jackson, and while on this campaign; he saw a beautiful scope of country near Tuscumbia, Ala., where he moved after the war. He followed farming for a livelihood. In 1820, he passed away while yet in the prime of life. His young widow returned to Maury County, Tenn., and in 1822 came to Hardeman County before Bolivar was started, and when not more than half a dozen families lived in the county. Here she married Dr. C. C. Collier, by whom she had three children, all of whom are deceased. She died in 1869. Our subject was born November 26, 1808, in Maury County, near Spring Hill, and inherited Irish blood from both father and mother. He secured a good academic education, and in 1821, came to Hardeman County on a pony loaded with bacon, in company with Ezekiel Polk, before mentioned. Mr. Polk had purchased extensive tracts of land and came to locate them. In 1829, our subject married Elizabeth Lee, and the result of this union was ten children, five of whom are living — one son, a physician at Bolivar, and four daughters. Mr. Neely is a Democrat in politics, and has held the offices of register, county court clerk, and has served in every clerkship in the county. In the Legislature of 1839-40 he represented Henderson County. In the days of militia the General held the position of brigadier-general, and when the trouble arose between Texas and Mexico, he offered the services of his command, but his forces were authoritatively disbanded, in as much as it was contrary to the law of nations for the Government to allow her troops to participate. In 1839, the General led a company to assist in removing the Indians to their territory. He offered the services of his command in the Seminole war and also in the war with Mexico, but there being a surplus of troops his were left out by lot. In 1861, he enlisted as captain of Company B, Fourth Tennessee Infantry (Confederate Army), and in May of the same year was promoted to colonel of his regiment. During his service he was three times imprisoned, twice at Alton, Ill., and once at Camp Chase, Ohio. For many years he has been intimately connected with the railroad interests of the South. He it was; who built the Mississippi Central, of which he was president for several years and receiver by appointment of Gov. Porter; he was president of the Memphis & Knoxville Road, and is now one of the board of directors of the Mississippi & Tennessee Road. For sixty years he has been a resident of Hardeman County, and is one of its most highly respected citizens.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”