Manuel Nealy was born on April 17, 1873 in Horry County, South Carolina, the fourth born of six children of Civil War veteran Datmon Nealy and Catherine Floyd Nealy. His World War I draft registration card in 1918 showed Manuel living in Mayo, LaFayette County, Florida working as a laborer in the pine logging industry. The 1930 census has him living in Dunedin, Pinellas County, Florida with his niece Ella Mary Williams Stephens and her family. His 1958 death certificate shows him as a retired sawmill worker. Manuel was married to Lily Strickland Nealy, but they divorced. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage and tuberculosis at age 85 on August 21, 1958 in Richland County, South Carolina and is buried in the same lot as some of his Norris relatives at Riverside Cemetery in Dillon County, South Carolina. His obituary can be found in the August 24, 1958 edition of The State, Page 9-D and The Florence Morning News, Page 10-B. His obituaries mention that he was survived by several nieces.

Neely/Nealy is an Irish name. The Neely family crest has the motto in Gaelic, "Lamh Dearg Eirin," or "Red Hand of Ireland." Legend has it that in sailing to Ireland from Spain, it was decided that the first to touch Irish soil would be king. So the Neely (Neeley, Nealy, Nealey, etc.) who would be king cut off his left hand and threw the bloody hand onto shore in order to be first and king. In Gaelic "Neely" means "Courage."

Thanks to Neely family researchers, especially Keith Norris, and to "Just Plain Nosy" for much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. If a closer relative than I would like to manage this site, please let me know. I hope someone will add a photo of Manuel to this site.