Neil Blue

Neil Blue

• Neil Blue was born on 9 December 1793 in Richmond County, North Carolina.
• He married Eliza Powers, daughter of Matthew Powers and Olive (?), on 8 January 1818 in Robeson County, North Carolina.
• Neil Blue became a widower at the 1854 death of his wife Eliza Powers.
• Neil Blue died on 24 June 1877 at age 83 in Montgomery County, Alabama.
• The following appeared on 11 August 1877 in The Southern Christian Advocate: Neil Blue, Montgomery, Ala., father of Rev. O. R. Blue, Ala. Conference, born of Scottish parentage, Richmond Co., No. Carolina, Dec. 9, 1793; married Eliza dau of Matthew and Olive R. Powers, Robison Co., No. Carolina, Jan. 8, 1818; settled in Montgomery, Ala. March 15, 1819; died June 24, 1877. "He lived and moved in the happy medium between rashness & timidity."
• A biographical sketch appears in History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography (1921): Neil Blue, public official, was born December 9, 1793, in Ricomond County, N. C., and died June 23, 1877, in Montgomery; son of Dougald and Mary (McLaughlin) Blue, the former a native of Cumberland County, N. C., a farmer, who later lived at Goose Pond, Richmond County, N. C., and died in Montgomery; grandson of Malcolm and Sarah (Smith) Blue, both natives of Cantyre, Scotlant, who in 1748 came with a large colony from the highlands of Scotland, settled near Wilmington, N. C., later moved to the Longstreet settlement, near Fayetteville, N. C., bearing the name of "Blue Place" where he cleared land and became a farmer, and of Duncan and Margaret (Ray) McLaughlin, the former a native of Knapsdale, Argyleshire, Scotland, who emigrated to America in 17 landing in Wilmington, N. C., locating first in Cumberland County, later at Mount Pelier, Robeson County, N. C., the latter a native of the Island of Jura, Argyleshire, Scotland. The Blues are of Celtic origin, descendants of the hardy highlanders of Scotland who were Presbyterians, Covenanters, and followers of Charles Stuart, having participated in the battle of Culleden, April 16, 1746, and who emigrated to America shortly after in order to escape persecution. Neil Blue received his education at Shoe Heel and Spring Hill academies, working on his father's farm between times. In 1811 wes thrown from his horse receiving injurieswhich forced him to abandon his farming interests. He took up the profession of teaching in 1813, procuring a school in Anson County, N. C., later teaching in Rowan, More, Montgomery and Robeson Counties. In 1819 his elder brother, Daniel, returned to North Carolina from Pearl River, Mississippi Territory, in order to remove his younger brothers and sisters to their new home. Daniel persuaded his brother, Neil, to accompany them. They left their home in the middle of February, 1819. Here Neil separated from his brothers and sisters having decided to open a school in the town. He was the second teacher in the place and served at the same time as a jailor. Early in 1820, he located in Rocky Mount, Autauga County, and here he taught Col. Bolling Hall, Dr. S. P. Smith, and Albert J. Pickett, historian. In 1822, he taught the 16th section school, in township 16, range 18, southeast of the city of Montgomery, and on Catoma Creek. At the close of the yer he decided to give up the profession of teaching, which afforded him only a meagre support for his family, and with them removed to Montgomery. In March, 1823, he was elected constable serving in this office for three years, and in 1826 he accepted from John Falconer, the first postmaster of Montgomery, the position of clerk in the post-office, a place he held for the next eight years. He was elected discount clerk in the Branch bank of the State of Alabama, November 13, 1833, resigning at the expiration of seven and one-half months in order to under upon the duties of postmaster, July 1, 1834. He was town councillor to 1837; was elected a member of the first board of alderman [sic], in January, 1838, also served as city treasurer, and was re-elected during the next two years. On July 1, 1849, he was removed from the office of postmaster on account of his political affiliations, and a short while afterwards was beaten for sheriff. He was persuaded to remove to Texas, locating in Bastrop County, where he remained until the spring of 1854, returning to Montgomery at that time. His son, Matthew Pl Blue was at that time postmaster at Montgomery, and he accepted a clerkship under him. He also held this position under postmasters Thomas Welsh and E. M. Burton, served for a while in 1865 under W. J. Bibb, and was delivery clerk during 1871 under Joseph Dimmick. He resigned during the latter year as he found that his presence in the post office was likely to embarrass Captain Dimmick on accont of the difference in party affiliations. In all he had given thirty-seven years of faithful service to the Montgomery postoffice. he spent the last few years of his life with his children in Montgomery. He was a Methodist and a Democrat. Married: January 8, 1818, near St. Paul, Robeson County, N. C., to Eliza, daughter of Matthew and Olive (Reagan) Powers, of that place; granddaughter of Ralph and Milly Reagan of Robeson County, N. C., and of John Powers, a native of Ireland who emigrated to America, locating first on the Cape Fear River, above Wilmington, N. C., afterwards removing to Marion District, S. C., a farmer and a Whig. Children: 1. Harriet, m.---- Fort; 2. Rufus O. (q. v.); 3. Matthew P. (q. v.); 4. John; 5. Albert W.., m. Irene Chambers, of Robinson Springs; 6. Robert Donovan, d. young; 7. Allen, m. Timothy Jones; 8. Nellie, m. Milo Barrett; 9. Olivia, m. John N. Browder. Last residence: Montgomery.

• Last Edited: 6 May 2011