An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representatives

NEILL, Robert, a Representative from Arkansas; born near Desha, Independence County, Ark., on November 12, 1838; attended the common schools; took a course in land surveying under a tutor in Ohio in 1859; elected county surveyor of his native county in August 1860; entered the Confederate Army in May 1861 and served as a private in Company K, First Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, Gen. Benjamin McCulloch’s Brigade, Army of the West; promoted to first lieutenant in 1862 and to captain in 1863; clerk of the circuit court of Independence County 1866-1868; read law; was admitted to the bar in 1868 and commenced practice in Batesville in 1872; lieutenant colonel of Arkansas State Guards 1874-1877; brigadier general of State militia 1877-1882; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1888 and vice president of the convention for Arkansas; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1893-March 3, 1897); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1896; resumed the practice of law; served one year as chairman of the Arkansas Railroad Commission, having been appointed in 1899 by Governor Jones; died in Batesville, Independence County, Ark., February 16, 1907; interment in Oak Lawn Cemetery.