Representative Lawrence Talbot Neal

Lawrence Talbot Neal (September 22, 1844 – November 2, 1905) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1873 to 1877. His congressional service took place during a significant period in American history, in the aftermath of the Civil War and during Reconstruction, when he participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his Ohio constituents in the House of Representatives.

Neal was born on September 22, 1844, in Parkersburg, Virginia (now Parkersburg, West Virginia). He pursued classical studies in his youth, receiving the type of broad academic foundation common to aspiring professionals of his era. In 1864, during the final year of the Civil War, he moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, a relocation that would shape the rest of his professional and political life.

After settling in Chillicothe, Neal studied law and prepared for admission to the bar. He was admitted to the bar in 1866 and commenced the practice of law in Chillicothe in 1867. That same year he entered public service at the local level, serving as city solicitor in 1867 and 1868. Although he declined to be a candidate for reelection as city solicitor, his early legal and municipal work established his reputation in Ross County and provided a platform for higher office.

Neal advanced to county-level office when he was elected prosecuting attorney of Ross County, Ohio, in 1870. He served in that role until October 1872, when he resigned in order to become a candidate for the United States Congress. His decision to leave the prosecuting attorney’s office to seek federal office reflected both his growing prominence within the Democratic Party and his ambition to participate in national affairs.

Elected as a Democrat, Neal served in the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses from March 4, 1873, to March 3, 1877. During these two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, he contributed to the legislative process as a member of the Democratic Party at a time when the nation was grappling with Reconstruction policy, economic issues, and the reintegration of the former Confederate states. Representing his Ohio district, he participated in debates and votes that shaped federal policy in the postwar era. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1876 to the Forty-fifth Congress, and he again sought a seat in the House in 1878, but was unsuccessful in his bid for election to the Forty-sixth Congress.

After leaving Congress, Neal resumed the practice of law in Chillicothe, maintaining his standing as a prominent attorney and party leader in Ohio. He continued to pursue public office and remained active in Democratic politics. In 1887 he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Ohio State Senate, reflecting his ongoing interest in legislative service at the state level. His influence within the party was further demonstrated by his selection as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1888 and 1892, where he participated in the nomination of national candidates and the formulation of party platforms.

Neal reached the pinnacle of his statewide political aspirations when he became the Democratic candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1893. In that election he was defeated by Republican William McKinley, who later became the twenty-fifth President of the United States. Although unsuccessful, Neal’s gubernatorial campaign underscored his prominence within Ohio’s Democratic Party and his stature as a leading figure in state politics.

Lawrence Talbot Neal spent his later years in Chillicothe, continuing his legal practice and remaining a respected member of the community. He died in Chillicothe on November 2, 1905. He was interred in Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio.