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Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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McNEILL, AMOS, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Denmark; of Scotch origin, from Whiting, Vt.; in 1813, when in his 2d year, his father removed to the Western Reserve, now Medina Co., Ohio; his father refused to give a silver watch for 160 acres of land where Akron now stands, and settled six miles distant; when Amos was 12 years of age, his mother died, and, about the same time, his father lost his sight and became dependent upon his children for support; they were scattered to different parts of the country; Amos was bound to a farmer named Gadyale, who afterward joined the Mormons at Salt Lake City; Amos learned the stone-cutter’s trade, which he has since followed. July 6, 1837, he married Miss Linda McNeill (his cousin), daughter of John McNeill, who died in Lee Co. Jan. 20, 1852; her mother died in Mahaska Co. three years later. In September following their marriage, they moved to Warsaw, Ill., where he followed milling, and worked at his trade two and a half years; thence to Lee Co., this township, and settled on the farm now occupied by O. T. Hayes; three years after, he moved to the section where he now owns 146 acres, valued at $45 per acre. They have five children — Elias, born in September, 1840 — enlisted with the Engineers of the West in 1861, and served through the war; Alvin, born in December, 1842, also a soldier in the late war; enlisted in the 7th I. V. I. in 1861, was discharged and re-enlisted in the 30th I. V. I., in 1862, in which he was detailed as forager, and, after many narrow escapes, mustered out at the close of the war; he is now a resident of Colorado; Alice E,, born in December, 1844, the wife of W. J. Musser, a carpenter of Denmark, from Pittsburgh, Penn., married Dec. 15, 1878; Jonathan E., born in December, 1850; Reuben C., in December, 1853. Republican; Mr. and Mrs. McN., with two of their children, are members of the Baptist Church, she of fifty years standing. He has never sought office.

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This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies

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