The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-02-01
H. ". M'NEILL DEAD.
Succumbs to Paralysis In San
Jose, California.

Col. j. #. Mcneil received tele-
gram from San Jose, CAL, about $50
O'Clock Sunday evening stating that
I'll. w. Mcneil had died in that city
Saturday night and that the remains
would arrive in this city about Thurs
day. Mr.. Mcneil has been very i'll
for number of months and his death
was not surprise to the immediate
relatives. The physicians had stated
that there was small hope for recov-
cry and the relatives had been so adj
vised. Mr.. Mcneil has been sufferer
from rheumatism for several years
and has at times been almost helpless.
The rheumatic trouble has lately been
followed by paralysis and this proved
fatal. The funeral will be held in
this city and full announcement will
be made later.
In the death of Mr.. Mcneil the
country loses a man of exceptional
capability and business ability. His
financial career and successes have
made him of national repute and his
death will be generally regretted. He
was comparatively a young man, be-
ing fifty-two years, seven months and
nine DAYS old, and the work that he
had planned for himself to do has been
left to the hands of others for COM
pletion. The gentleman had for some
time realized that his life was thre at
ened and had expressed desire to
be spared to finish the work that was
before him.
I'll. w. McNeill was born in Peoria,
June IS, 1S47, of Rev Francis Asbury
MCNEIL and Mary E Cronise Mcneil.
He was reared in Allegheny county
and the utmost care was given to his
early education. He reached the jun
Tor year in the University of Virginia
and completed his college career in
the University of Michigan, and was
admitted to the bar in Springfield,
Illinois, in 1868, but the following year
he came to Iowa and formed part
nership with Enoch w. Eastman in
Eldora, Hardin county. The follow
ing year he entered the service of the
Iowa Central Ry., and by his settle
ment of the affairs of the construction
of the road his name was given con-
siderable prominence and he became
engaged in other railway enterprises
in 1870. In 1873 with his brother, w.
A. McNeill, he incorporated the Iowa
Central Coal company land with head
quarters at Muchakinock they began
the opening of the Iowa coal fields,
the continuation of which has been a
potent factor of the development and
growth of Oskaloosa. This coal COM
pany afterwards became the Consoli-
dation Coal Company, which is still
in existence. In May, 1891, Mr.. Nc
NeiIl became assistant general man.
ager to s. s. Merrill, of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul Ry., and while
with this company organized its coal
supply operations. He resigned the
Milwaukee company position to ac-
cept the presidency of the Dubuque
Internal Improvement Company, or
ganized to build the A. & N. N. w.
r. r.
He formulated the financial plans
which built the Masonic opera house
in this city, and was president of the
Oskaloosa Power and Land Company
and the Oskaloosa Edison Electric
Light Company, and has been vice
president of the Western Union Fuel
Company, vice president of the
American Coal Company, manager
Of the Iowa Iron Works of Dubuque,
vice president and manager of Du-
buque Steam Heating Company and
the same of the Raumsen Western
Gable Railway Company of Chicago,
was a director of the Farmers &
Traders bank of this city and was in
terested in the Western Supply Com
pany. For the past number of years
he has been interested in operations
in the north and west and has been
successful in all the enterprises un-
dertaken. At the time of his death
ne was connected with the following
enterprises: The American Supply
Company, American Coal Company,
Oskaloosa Light, Heat end Power
Company, Oskaloosa Livery and
Transfer Company of this city. I'm
der the corporation of McNeill Bros,
limited, he is interested in Canada
and the Western states in coal mines,
in anthracite, Canmore and Seattle,
and there are also mercantile and
realty interests in connection with
these.
Iowa has had few If any larger
operators than has been MIR. Mcneil,
and to him Mahaska is indebted
largely for the development of her
resources He has been a fearless
aud yenturesome promoter but his
speculations have always been back
ed by thought and system. His start
-