Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....McNeil, Charles 1814 - 
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Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

CHARLES McNEIL. Atlas Township, Genesee County, is favored with the residence of
many progressive and intelligent men whose enterprise and integrity have not
only given themselves a fair meed of prosperity but whose character has added
notably to the reputation of the township. Such an one we here name. He is a
native of Chittenden County, Vt., and. was born December 13, 1814. His parents,
Charles and Jerusha (Lyman) McNeil were natives of Vermont and his grandfather
Lyman took part in the War of 1812.

  In his native State our subject lived until reaching his majority and during
his youth attended the district school and took thorough training upon the farm.
In 1835 he emigrated to the Wolverine State, which was then a Territory, and
came to what was then Lapeer County, which is now included in Genesee County. He
traveled by steamer from Charlotte, Vt., through Lake Champlain then by canal as
far as Albany, where he took the railroad for Utica which was then the terminus
of the road and then resumed the canal travel to Buffalo and came over the Lake
to Detroit, from which place he traveled by stage to Grand Blanc Township being
eighteen days on the way.

  During the first winter of Mr. McNeil's residence here he assisted his brother
in clearing and chopping and with this brother who is now the Hon. J. L. McNeil,
he kept bachelor's hall for some time. His first purchase was where is now the
site of Davison Station, but as he desired to be near his brother he exchanged
his property for his present farm in Atlas Township. In 1840 he built a log
cabin about 16x22 feet, and therein resided for several years. His first
marriage took place June 4, 1844, and he was then united with Rebecca, daughter
of Augustus Davison, by whom he had two children, Abigail and Jerusha, both of
whom have now passed away, and their mother died, October 30, 1848.

  The lady who is now Mrs. McNeil bore the maiden name of Caroline Wilson and
became the wife of our subject, September 9, 1856. She was born in Washington
County, Vt., December 11, 1820, and is a daughter of Samuel and Keziah (Green)
Wilson, both natives of Massachusetts and a sister of John A. Wilson, whose
sketch appears in this work. At the age of thirteen she removed with her parents
to Livingston County, N. Y., and in 1838 after the decease of her mother she
came with her father to Michigan, where they became pioneers in Atlas Township.
She taught school for three years in New York and seventeen years in Genesee
County, this State. She is a genuine pioneer teacher and deserves great credit
for the courage and endurance she showed in those early days. She is the mother
of two children—Jerusha K. who is following as a teacher in the steps of her
mother and Cornelia W. who is at home.

  When Mr. McNeil first came here he made his home in the dense forests and did
much hard work in clearing the land and cultivating it. In the fall of 1848 he
returned to his native State and for three years had charge of a steamer on Lake
Champlain. In the spring of 1852 he took the gold fever and went to California,
but instead of mining he was employed for three years as a clerk for a trading
company, after which he returned to Michigan and has since made it his home. The
Baptist Church is the religious body of Mrs. McNeil choice and her husband is a
member of the Presbyterian Church. In his political views he is in accord with
the Democratic party.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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