My Genealogy Hound

HUGH NEILL, a son of the Emerald Isle, who, by his wit and geniality has made many friends, and by his industry and economy has accumulated a fortune, is farming and growing grapes in Westfield village, this county. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Streau) Neill, and was born in County Down, Ireland, May 20, 1825. His parents never came to America. Grandfather Hugh Neill was a native of Scotland, making our subject of Scotch extraction. Samuel Neill was born in the same county in 1781. He followed farming and dealing in stock, and made quite a success. He married Sarah Streau, a Scotch girl, and had several children. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church, full of energy and ambition and died in 1848. His wife, also a member of the Presbyterian church, had died nine years previous, a good and noble lady.

Hugh Neill was reared on the farm and taught to work. He staid at home and helped his father until twenty years of age, when that love of adventure so prevalent in the breasts of his countrymen, and which was caused by the knowledge received from the geography studied in the national and private schools, caused him to think of trying his fortune in the new world. With his father’s blessing, a purse in his pocket and a stout heart, he sailed from home in the spring of 1845, and on July 4th of the same year located in the town where he is now living. The first ten years were passed in the lumber business, getting out ties, etc., and then he settled down to farming, and has since given his attention to that. Of his farm, containing one hundred and fifty acres, more than one hundred and twenty-five of them lay inside the limits of Westfield village. He has a fine vineyard of grapes upon the place, which is handsomely located and highly improved.

He was married and had eight children, of whom seven are living: Fred S. died March 24, 1889, aged twenty-six years; Addie A. lives near St. Paul, Minnesota, the wife of James A. Cosgrave; Emma E. married John R. Fay and resides in this village; John H. graduated from a Medical and Dental school; Charles A. is engaged in the harness-making business at Watertown, Dakota; Frank C. is in business, also in Dakota; Alice S. married Frank B. Lamb and lives in Westfield; and Grace C. is unmarried and resides with her parents. Mr. Neill is a republican and a member of the Presbyterian church, as is his entire family.

He is a good friend, a pleasant old gentleman and a kind neighbor.