Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-09-25
McKendrie McNeal

On Monday was laid in its earth
| " sepulchre at Sugar Grove Gene
| terry, Whitefield township, all that
was mortal of McKendrie McNeal. He
was one of our prominent business
men for many years. Nearly all his
life was spent here, and he had a
wide acquaintance, conducting
blacksmith shop and carriage manu-
factory for many years following the
Civil war.
He was native of Ohio, born Nov.
III, 1910, and at the time of his
death was nearly IA years of age. He
learned the trade of blacksmithing of
his father, and became an expert me-
chanic in iron work, and branched
out into the making of carriages, and
SO expert did he become that he
could design and construct a buggy
from the hub complete, also doing the
trimming with his own hands, even
including the painting. At one time
he did a large and successful bust
ness.
When the Civil war came on he
was a patriot, enlisting in the seth
Reg. Ill. Vols. at Peoria, Aug. %,
1862, and was mustered out June rs,
1865. He was a valiant soldier and
retired with the honors of three
years service in the Civil war.
In the spring of 1866 he branched
out in business in Henry, 48 years
ago, and sold quantities of carriages
year Miss Anna Maria Tremain, sis
ter of r. M Tremain, of Whitefield,
became his wife and six children
were born to this union, three dying
in infancy, the Misses May, Fannie
and Irene, reaching womanhood, but
all died of tuberculosis. Fannie be-
came the wife Of the late T. F. Clo-
yer, the attorney, their married life
lasting but year, when after the
birth of a child, mother and child
were entombed in the same casket.
All of his family had preceded him
to the other life.
Two years ago he concluded to go
and live with a sister at Ladysmith,
Wis, where his death occurred on
Friday, Sept. II, after an illness OF
eight months. AS he requested for
interment in his own family lot at
Sugar Grove cemetery, in Illinois,
the casket arrived accompanied by
the sister, Mrs. Cassie Harpster, and
a friend, Mrs. H. A. Patno, on Sun
day, and a funeral service was ac-
corded the fallen comrade at the M.
E. church on Monday afternoon, Rev.
j. E. Mercer, the pastor, officiating.
The casket was covered with "Old
Glory" under which he fought so
valiantly, and some ten soldiers
formed an escort of honor, Comrade
Galley acting as color bearer. The pail
bearers were L. e. Simpson, Samuel
Cliff, c. l.. LOOMS, VIM. Duke, G.
M. Clark and j. A. Williams. The
soldiers performed the impressive
burial rites of the G. A. R. at his
grave. A. B. Smith, the undertaken,
had general charge of the obsequies.
The comrades present, who acted
as the honorary escort were Jonas
Maust, commander, Joseph Caleb, col
or bearer carrying the flag of the
post), Levi Durflinger, Abram Shurts,
Alex Daniels, Gus Herder, and J. J.
Borland, of Exeter, Neb., and Chas.
Rinkverberger, the latter two visitors
to the city.
Mr.. McNeal was a genius. He was
ambitious, inventive and alert. In
his line he could plan and accom-
plish. He was musician and singer,
and had dramatic talent that would
shame most performers. He could en-
terrain company to their great de-
light. He was erratic and charac-
ter, which added to his fame and
the pleasure of his friends. He had
his faults-so have all of us. He has
lived to a good age, and now joins
! those who have gone before. He was
the last of his family of eight
Henry Gill; Republican.
Carbon paper at the News-B Budget
office, 2 sheets for 5 cents.