McNeill, David bio

History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 754-755, Kerton Township
David McNeill, deceased. Long before Illinois gave an indication of its present prosperity, when the smoke from Indian wigwams were still seen in the Illinois Valley, David McNeill made his way to Illinois. He arrived in Fulton county in 1827, and became widely known. He was born in New Hampshire, and went to New York with his parents when 11 years old, and in 1820 came to Indiana, and 7 years later to this county, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was twice married. Dec. 9, 1819, he married Miss Mary Cole, who bore him 9 children. She was a poetess, and died Dec. 10, 1840. Mr. McNeill married Mrs. Maria (Smith) Huff March 31, 1841. Five of his sons served in the late war; one gave up his life for the country and another was an inmate of Libby prison, but made his escape. Our subject and his brother, Parker, were the first settlers in South Fulton. Shortly after his arrival a congregation was formed, and the first Methodist ministrations were held at his house. He was an earnest Christian man, liberal in his views and with his purse. He was a large contributor to the new church in Astoria, and on the day of dedication the trustees honored the old pioneer and themselves by naming it the McNeill Centenary Chapel. He passed away Sept. 30, 1867, and lies at rest in Astoria township.