He settled in West Point, Iowa, in 1839 and later moved to Fort Madison to read law.
From May 1856, Neal was eligible to practice law before the United States District Court of Iowa, headquartered in Burlington.
While serving as a state senator, Neal contested the October 1861 House of Representatives election in Iowa, losing to James F.
By June 1873, Neal relocated to Newton, Kansas, and became the president of the Harvey County Savings Bank.
[1] His residence in Newton, the Jairus Neal House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Harvey County, Kansas.