James Neil was born October 22, 1829, near Edinburgh, Scotland. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Patterson) Neil. The father of our subject died when the latter was about four years of age, in Montreal, Canada.
James received but a common school education in Canada and Onondaga County, New York, where his widowed mother moved in 1838 and settled near Syracuse, where an older son (Robert) who was a mason, could secure employment on public works. James remained there until 1816, when he moved to Winfield Township, Scott County, and remained with Alexander Brownlie and began improving a farm. In 1850 he staked out a claim of Government land on section twenty nine, Winfield Township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and erected a frame house. By hard work and economy he began to succeed in life and as he could afford it he would buy adjoining land, until he now owns five hundred and fifty-nine acres in the old homestead tract. He lived there until a few years ago, when he moved on another farm consisting of one hundred and twenty-eight and one-half acres on sections thirty-four and thirty-five. He is president of the Long Grove Pressed Brick Company. Mr. Neil has been a constant resident in Winfield Township for almost fifty years.
BIOGRAPHIES