McNeill, John, 1827-1903

McNeill was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a politician in American Fork, Utah.

From the description of Autobiography, ca. 1890. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367727926

From the guide to the John McNeill autobiography, 1890, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

John McNeill was a Scotland native who traveled to Utah with the pioneers. He eventually served as the American Fork mayor, alderman, and justic of the peace.

John McNeill, American Fork, Utah, farmer and city official, was born 1 March 1827 in Arniston, Midlothian, Scotland, to George McNeill and Margaret Logan McNeill. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 23 June 1847 and married Janet Bowman on 23 August 1850. He and his family left for the United States in 1851 and arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1851. His wife, Janet, and young son, George, died of cholera near St. Louis, Missouri. Continuing his westward trek, John McNeill joined the pioneer party of John S. Higbee and arrived in Salt Lake City 14 August 1852.

While he worked in Salt Lake City he met Sophia Crooks. They were married 20 march 1853. In September 1853 they moved to American Fork, Utah. John McNeill and Sophia Crooks McNeill had eleven children; the couple later divorced. In 1868 John McNeill married Charlotte Spencer and the couple had ten children. In 1892 he married Eliza Goalen and they had two children. Eliza Goalen was born in Woolwich, Kent, England, 22 March 1861 and was buried in American Fork, Utah county, Utah, 21 November 1927.

John McNeill assisted in the construction of a community fort at American Fork and worked as a farmer. Active in local and civic affairs, he served as American Fork mayor (1882-1883), alderman, and justice of the peace. He died 19 March 1903.

From the guide to the John McNeill papers, 1859-1901, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)