ROBERT W. McNEIL

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 665-666:

Robert W. McNeil

(Nevada).

   Robert W. McNeil, a pioneer, as it were, among a race of pioneers, for many years an extensive business man and a well known citizen of Vernon county, is a man whose name and fame is co-extensive with Southwest Missouri.  He came originally from the Empire State, having been born at Argyle, Washington county, N.Y., July 8, 1816, of Scotch ancestry.  His paternal great-grandfather, Archibald McNeil, emigrated from that country (Scotland) to America about the year 1745; Archibald had among other sons one named John, and the latter in turn became the father of David McNeil, who was born in New York.  Upon reaching manhood David was married to Miss Nancy Hamilton, who bore him a family of children, Robert being one of these.  The father was a life-long resident of his native State, and a person of excellent prominence as an agriculturist, an occupation to which he devoted himself with success during a long career.  Young Robert was brought up in New York until 18 years of age, obtaining a mercantile experience that was destined to prove of inestimable value in later years.  His schooling was such as could be secured in the common schools.  In 1834 he left New York to remove to Ohio, and there he was engaged in business for some nine years, or until his removal to Missouri in 1843, a location being chosen in this portion of the State.  For upwards of ten years he was engaged in farming and stock-raising in the vicinity of Harmony Mission, Bates county, his next business enterprise being the purchase of the mill and mercantile establishment at Balltown, owned by Cecil D. Ball, an influential and prosperous resident of that place.  This occurred in 1852, and from that time on for many years Mr. McNeil conducted his interests here, war troubles finally causing him to close out his store.  Mention is made elsewhere of the loss to which he was subjected through the unprincipled conduct of men on either side.  More recently he has resided in Nevada, retired from the active duties of business life.  In every enterprise which which Mr. McNeil has been connected his own individual interests have been made to subserve the interests of the county.  With each step of the progress of his people and his section he has been closely identified, and though it may be said that he has only done his duty in this, it must be remembered that it is much to do one's duty in this day.  Personally a refined, polished gentleman of the old school, he is a  welcome member of the social circle.  He has been twice married.  November 14, 1837, Miss Harriet L. Hosmer, of Newburg, O., became his wife; she died March 4, 1855, leaving 8 children:  John S., Mary W., now Mrs. Isaac Sickles; Nancy J., now Mrs. Wilkins; Robert M., Harriet, wife of Thomas Sickles, of Independence, Kas.; William D., Andrew F., Kate A., now Mrs. J. E. Harding.  All the sons of this marriage are now deceased.  On April 19, 1863, Mr. McNeil married Mrs. Eliza R. Ball, née  Stearns, both by birth and bringing up a Massachusetts lady.  She was first married in September, 1842, to Cecil D. Ball, above referred to, a man whose ability, sagacity and enterprise were unequaled.  Mr. Ball was born in Massachusetts in 1810, but was reared in Vermont, learning the trade of shoemaker.  He came West to Harmony Mission, Bates county, Mo., in 1837, but afterwards was in business in St. Louis for two years, moving thence to Balltown in 1839.  He imparted a new impulse to the business movements of that section of country, entering actively and extensively into various branches of commercial trade.  In another portion of this volume an extended account is given of the life of this representative citizen.  His death, which was sincerely mourned, occurred November 20, 1860.  Mr. and Mrs. McNeil have in their possession tracts of land to the number of about seven thousand five hundred acres.

[Transcribed by Marty Patton]

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