The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-07-06
NOTES ON JACKSON COUNTY
BY d. MAcKLEY.

DR.. Gabriel McNeel was one Of the
most noted pioneers Of jackson county.
am indebted for the following account
OF his early life, to his daughter, Mrs.
Naomi Harrison, step-mother of Hon.T.J.
Harrison, of Jefferson township. Mrs.
Harrison resides on a portion of her
fathers old homestead farm, mile north
west from Oak Hill.
Gabriel McNeel was born November 3,
1776, in the State Of Virginia, on the
South Branch of the Potomac river. His
father was Of Scotch descent, and his
mother Welsh. They removed in his
early youth to Bath county, (now Poca-
hontas,) where his mother was left a
widow, and he her chief support. From
his infancy he had such a thirst for
knowledge that nothing visible or invisi-
BILE could stop his progress in his studies,
though poverty often impeded it. He
worked hard all day, and brought in his
|. .light-wood in the evening, by the light Of
which he pursued his studies at night
His teachers were any persons he chanc-
ed to meet who knew more than he did
At the age of sixteen he made his
mother a clock, having at that time
never seen the inside Of one This little
machine worked so well that it stimu-
lated him to pursue his mechanical la
bors. BY building his mother a comfort
able stone house, and furnishing her
with other conveniences, he obtained the
privilege of saving his future earnings
for himself, before he reached his ma
jority.
After he had availed himself Of means,
he visited the place of his birth, after
which he went to sea for six months,
where he learned many new and curious
things. There was nothing which made
so deep and lasting an impression on his
mind as the slave trade and the cruelty
with which he saw the slaves treated in
the extreme South. He saw some of the
French at New Orleans take their slaves
and strip them naked-tie them with
their faces to the ground, stretching their
arms and legs, and tying them to four
stakes driven in the ground for that pur-
pose, and in that condition fog them
until he sickened at the sight. He at
tempted to plead for the poor sufferers,
but he only received fiendish looks and
few words in French, which language he
did not understand at that time.
After he had returned from sea, he
married an orphan girl who was hired to
the same man for whom he was at work.
After paying the minister for marrying
him, he had not shilling left in the
world. Soon after he was married he
commenced preaching. About this time
he was appointed to appraise some slave
property that was to be sold in the neigh
borhood but before the time arrived he
saw in dream by night an angel flying
through the air, and as it came near him
it called to him and inquired what esti-
mate he would set upon a soul that had
cost the blood of Redeemer. lie went
to the appraisement, not to perform that
office, but to tell his feelings, and declare
MS lnttnhlOH never llOIc W nave any
thing to do with this abominable prac-
tice.
He commenced the study of chemistry
and surgery in the days of his youth, but
never, till sympathy for the sick and
dying, and the earnest persuasion of
friends forced him to it, did he think Of
the practice Of medicine. This, like all
the rest Of his studies, he acquired with
little help except his books.
He removed to Ohio in the year 1870
Here the narrative furnished by Mrs.
Harrison closes. Some years ago l pub
lished some personal recollections of DR..
Men eel, and the following must be some
what of q repetition.
When | can first remember DR.. Nc
Neel was our neighbor. He was a man
some FIVE feet eight inches high. heavy
set, and would perhaps weigh lG0 pounds
He had sandy hair and beard, and blue
eyes, deep set in his head, and very
heavy eyebrows. His voice was low and
soft, and he was good company. As
preacher he was not popular, as he was
argumentative. while the pioneers want
ed fuss and noise, in preference to sense.
If DR.. McNeel were living now, he would
rank with the foremost ministers.
He settled in Jefferson township about