Biographical Sketch of M. R. Neil, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg. >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** M. R. Neil was born in 1851 in Center county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Nancy (Riddle) Neil. John Neil and all his children were born in the same house on the homestead in Center county, Pennsylvania. John Neil was a well to do and industrious farmer, a prominent man of public affairs in Pennsylvania in his day, and at one time tax collector in Center county. In those days the collector went to every home when collecting taxes and thus the work of that office was far from light and easy. Reverend Lynn pronounced the ceremony which united in marri- age John Neil and Nancy Riddle, the marriage taking place in Center county, and the same minister later baptized each of their children, who were as follow: M. R., of this review; James, who died at Windsor, Missouri; William, Pomeroy, Washington; Ira, Leeton, Missouri; and Belle, Pomeroy, Washington. The mother was also a native of center county, Pennsylvania. The family moved to Illinois in 1854 and March 28, 1868, they moved from Illinois to Missouri, where they settled in Benton county on a farm of 380 acres of land. Mr. Neil engaged in farming and stock raising on this place and from 1868 until his death in 1881 never missed but one year raising splendid crops. He died in November, 1881, on the home place in Benton county. John Neil was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of high degree and of the Odd Fellows. He was an honest, honorable, capable citizen, a man worthy of the greatest respect and esteem. In 1876, M. R. Neil and Mary Miller, of Indiana, were united in marriage in this state. To them were born four children, two of whom are living: Mrs. Ella McCull- ough, Hazel Hill, Missouri; and Nannie, a teacher who taught in Benton county one year, teaching fifteen years in all, and is now traveling. Blanche died at the age of eight years. The mother died in 1886. On November 13, 1899, Mr. Neil and Ida Poundstone were married. Ida (Poundstone) Neil was born in 1861 in Clinton county, Indiana. She is the daughter of E. J. and Sarah (Bridges) Poundstone, the former, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, and the latter, in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Poundstone were married in 1848 and to them were born the following children: Laura, born in 1849 and died in 1888; C. M., born in 1852; F. C., born in 1854; M. K., born in 1856; O. B., born in 1859; Ida, the wife of M. R. Neil, the subject of this review; J. N., born in 1863; N. M., born in 1871. In 1866, the Poundstones came to Missouri from Indiana and they first located in Cooper county, where they re- mained five years and then settled in Pettis county. To M. R. and Ida Neil have been born the following children: Lawrence, born in 1891 on the farm near Hazel Hill and is now at home; Irene, born in 1895 and is now the wife of Herbert Baile, of Johnson county, Missouri; and Roy, born in 1897, and is now in the employ of the Standard Oil Company of Kansas City, Missouri. After his marriage at Sedalia in 1890, Mr. Neil located on a farm one and a fourth miles west of Hazel Hill and on that place remained seven years and then moved to his present country home six miles southeast of Warrensburg. He is now the owner of nearly 200 acres of valuable land, one of Johnson county's choicest stock farms. Twenty acres of the farm werein wheat last year, of 1917, 10 acres in oats, 55 acres in corn, and the remainder in pasture land and grass. Mr. Neil devotes much time to raising cattle, annually having a large herd. The Neil residence is located on the summit of a hill from which one may obtain a fine bird's eye view of the surrounding country. Both Mr. and Mrs. Neil are well known and highly estimable people and they are held in the highest respect by all who know them. Mr. Neil is a member of the Odd Fellows and he and Mrs. Neil are earnest and consist- ent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The Neil farm is on what is known as Bristle Ridge, which averages one-half mile wide and which rises first at Montserrat and runs into Henry county. According to government statistics, this is the most fertile ridge land in the state. Mrs. Neil has in her possession a very precious relic of colon- ial days. This is a part of a bible, which her great-great-grandfather Richard Poundstone, carried in his knapsack, when a Hessian soldier. He came to Pennsylvania in 1784. This Bible was originally bound in heavy grade leather and was fastened with wide iron clasps. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell ====================================================================