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McNeil, John, a prominent Elder in American Fork, Utah county, Utah, was born March 1, 1827, near Edinburgh, Scotland. He was baptized June 23, 1847, in Scotland; ordained a Teacher Dec. 26, 1847, by Elder Wm. A. McMaster; ordained a Priest in October 1848, by Wm. A. McMaster; ordained an Elder July 8, 1849, by Wm. A. McMaster; ordained a Seventy in April, 1853, in Salt Lake City, and ordained a High Priest June 21, 1891, by Wm. H. Kelsey. While in Scotland he labored as a local missionary about two years and also presided over a branch. He married Janet Bowman Aug. 23, 1850, and emigrated to America in 1851, crossing the ocean on the ship "Olympus." He landed at New Orleans, and in going up the Mississippi river his wife and child died of cholera near St. Louis, Mo. Many other Saints were also very sick with the same malady, and Brother McNeill was kept busy administering among the afflicted. He worked in the coal mines during the fall and winter of 1852 near St. Louis, in order to get money to pay his debts. He started over the plains April 6, 1852, in John S. Higbee's hundred, and acted as captain of the first ten. The company arrived in Salt Lake City Aug. 14, 1852. Elder McNeill remained in Salt Lake City for a short time, doing different kinds of work; he helped to dig the foundation for the Temple and other public work. In September, 1853, he moved to American Fork, Utah county, where he assisted in building the fort as a means of protection against the Indians. Later, he followed farming. He has served civilly as mayor, alderman and justice of the peace. Brother McNeill has had many and varied experiences since he joined the Church, but never for one moment has he ever doubted the divinity of "Mormonism." Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 vols. Salt Lake City 1:504 |
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