Rev. W. M. Neelley was born in Maury County, near Columbia, Tenn., October 3, 1842. His school-days were spent largely in McCains Academy. Entered Jackson college in 1860. He left there to go to the Confederate Army September, 1861. He served under General Morgan until after the battle of Shiloh. Then under General Bedford Forrest until the battle at Chicamauga. Then under General Joe Wheeler until after the battle of Nashville. He was paroled on Sand Mountain, and came home with his first captain, John D. Hamilton, arriving June, 1865. He joined his brothers in making a crop for his father. After the crop was made he taught school near Mt. Pleasant, where he met and married Miss Stone February 1, 1866.

Feeling seriously his call to the ministry, he joined Richland Presbytery in August, 1870. He filled appointments when called upon for Rev. B. C. Chapman. He was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry at Clifton, Tenn. He moved to Savannah, Tenn., in 1876. He was pastor there two years. In 1888 was appointed Presbyterial evangelist and went to Lawrenceburg where they had not had a pastor for ten years. There he held a meeting for five weeks, resulting in seventy-seven professions. He was called to take charge of that church and accepted.

He was at the meeting of the General Assembly at Nashville, Tenn., and was favorably impressed with the union spirit, as it was reported to be unanimous, but did not want to vote when the time came to say Union or Cumberland, lest he might vote wrong. Being compelled to vote, he knew Cumberlandism was all right, and did not know about the other, so he voted to stand by his church, whose foundation principles were based upon mid-night prayers, tears, toils and sacrifices of some of the noblest men that ever set foot on American soil.

In 1906 he happened to stop where Brothers White and McConnell were conducting a meeting near Rodgersville, Ala. He joined in with them at Martindale school-house. From there they went to Whites Chapel. In these meetings there were more than one hundred conversions. Later in the fall he held a meeting at Good Springs; it was another good meeting. There were forty members in the Good Spring Church. He accepted a call to serve these three churches. In the spring of 1910 he presented his letter from Columbia Presbytery to the McGready Presbytery, which at that time had only four preachers--Revs. McConnell, Cosby, Finch and Maddox. At this session only two of them were present, and they had to send to Lexington, about ten miles away for Brother Cosby to constitute a quorum. At the fall session he was appointed field missionary for the presbytery, and for three years combined this with his pastoral work, putting in full time in reconstructing the work of our sainted fathers, that had almost been brought to wreck by the enemies of our church.

The few years prior to Brother Neelley's coming to McGready Presbytery were years of inactivity on the part of practically all of our churches of this presbytery. But his coming marked the beginning of a new epoch in the spiritual life of our people there. As mentioned above his first preaching in McGready Presbytery was at Martindale schoolhouse. To this meeting the people came in such numbers that the house was not sufficient, and arrangements were made in a near-by grove--straw and other things were provided--similar to a camp meeting. People came in their buggies and wagons as far as ten miles away and were held spell-bound by Brother Neelley's earnest sermons. These were days analogous to the days of 1816-20 when Robert Donnell and his contemporaries heralded the same gospel message to the then sparsely settled country.

Brother Neelley's exemplary life before the people won for him their love. The day was never too hot nor too cold for him to go into the homes of those who needed help. He endeared himself very much to the young men and women throughout his field of labor. He loved the things young people love, flowers, music and the social life. He equally endeared himself to the old people as the young, impressing upon all, with whom he came in contact, the blessings of the higher and better life. His noble life as a gospel minister, his deep and sincere interest in the welfare of his beloved church, and his influence for good will end only with eternity.

A summary of his work in Alabama is as follows:

More than three hundred professions; organized two new congregation; four old ones revived. He earnestly endeavored to instruct the people more fully in the doctrines and polity of our church, exhorting them to "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." He has made a special point of distributing Cumberland literature; has sold 135 Family Libraries, and taken 175 subscriptions to our church paper; has attended each meeting of the General Assembly since the merger; has received less than one thousand dollars for his services as missionary and pastor, yet the Lord has kept him from want.

"When that illustrious day shall rise. And all Thine armies shine
In robes of vict'ry through the skies, the glory shall be Thine."

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages