My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL McNEAL. farmer; P. O. Alcony; born in Pennsylvania Oct. 10, 1816; is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Brougher) McNeal, who were also natives of Pennsylvania; the grandfather McNeal was a Scotchman, and the grandfather Brougher, or his ancestry, came from Germany. Daniel, the father, lived and died in Pennsylvania, but his wife, Sarah, came to Ohio and died in this county. They were parents of four children, of whom two are now living, viz., John and Daniel. Daniel, our subject, was only 11 years of age when his father died, but the mother, to her credit, managed to keep her family together till they grew to maturity, and came to Miami Co. Mr. McNeal removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1839. and located on the farm where he now resides; he first purchased 123 acres of land, most of which was still a dense forest; he commenced with a capital of $1,000, and from year to year he cleared up and improved his land, from time to time purchasing more land adjoining him, as means and opportunity would permit, till now he is owner of nearly 800 acres of land, the greater portion of it in cultivation. This large amount of property has been accumulated by his own labor, industry and good management, being a good example to the future generations of what may be accomplished by industry and economy. In 1838, Mr. McNeal was united in marriage with Barbara Brechbill, daughter of Frederick and Ann Maria Brechbill, who were natives of Pennsylvania. By this union they had eleven children, of whom six are now living, viz., Maria, now Mrs. Thompson; Frederick B.; Louisa, now Mrs. Stafford; George, James and Marcellus. He lost his wife by death in 1864; in 1873, was united in marriage with Mrs. Ann V. Kessler, daughter of Peter and Rebecca Vore, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Ohio. By this union they have had two children, of whom one only is now living, viz., Henry Ernest. Mr. McNeal has not only been a man of energy and industry, and accumulated a competency of this world’s goods, but he has been a man of ability, commanding the confidence of the people of his community and township, as indicated by the offices he has held, having been Township Trustee for many years, and Justice of the Peace for nine years; he is, at the present time, Township Treasurer and Land Appraiser; in fact, there is scarcely a township office but what he has held, and no year of his life but what he has held one or more offices. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, in which they have been active members for twenty-seven years.