John NEILL

John Neill of Ridge avenue died on Sabbath afternoon, July 7, after a week's illness. Altho Mr. Neill had not been in the best of health for a considerable period he was able to work in his garden thru the spring. He was at church on Sabbath week, and did a little work on Monday morning of last week, on which day he was taken down. Mr. Neill was a native of the Canonsburg region. His parents were Samuel and Mary Neill, and he was the oldest of nine children. While quite a young man Mr. Neill was a student of old Jefferson College, at this place. Judge J. A. Mcllvaine was a member of his class. The war coming on, Mr. Neill did not complete his college course, but enlisted in Company A, 85th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The date of his enlistment was September 18, 1861, and he served three years and three months. He was a messmate of Robert Greer, John X. Mansfield, Joseph E. McCabe, Nevin Brown and Rev. Jacob R. Thompson, all now deceased except Joseph E. McCabe. Mr. Neill was a member of the Union Veteran Legion. Mr. Neill's grandmother was Margaret McMillan Neill, a daughter of Rev. Dr. John McMillan. Mr. Neill wag first married October 20, 1875, to Mary Jane Hickman, who died December 1898. His second marriage was to Miss Jennie Grier, and the date was November 22, 1900. Mr. Neill is survived by his wife, Jennie Grier Neill, and two sons by the first wife, William H. Neill and B. E. Neill, both of Canonsburg; also by one brother, Samuel Lane Neill, of Jerome, Ohio, and three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Moss, Mrs. Rebecca Porter and Sarah Broback, all of Ohio. Mr. Neill for many years was a fruit grower and a gardener and in this business he was successful. He made a close study of his business and had an accurate knowledge of many varieties of trees and plants and cultivated them in a skillful manner. Mr. Neill was a man of high Christian principles. In early manhood he made a profession of his faith in Christ, and united with the Presbyterian Church. For a number of years he was a ruling elder in the Central Presbyterian Church of this place. At the time of his death he was a member of the Chartiers United Presbyterian congregation. For many years he was an out and out opponent of the liquor traffic. He hated the traffic because of the great evil which it does. He was a member of the Prohibition party because it was the only party which stood out in the-open and defied the liquor traffic. However, Mr. Neill helped support the Anti-Saloon League, and other agencies which battle for the overthrow of the liquor traffic. He longed to see the day when the drink traffic would be overthrown and he was cheered in his last years by the mighty strides made by the temperance cause, and with the eye of faith he looked saw a saloonless nation forward and and a stainless flag. Mr. Neill was a kind and obliging neighbor, and he will be missed from the North Side Hills district where he was a familiar figure as he moved about his work. Of Mr. Neill it can be said that which is the highest tribute which can be paid: "He was a good man, he has gone to his reward." The funeral services will be held in Chartiers United Presbyterian Church on Wednesday at 2 o'clock, and will be in charge of the pastor, Dr. W. P. Aikin. The interment will be in Melrose cemetery at Bridgeville. The Daily Notes (Canonsburg, Pennsylvania) 08 Jul 1918, Mon • Pages 1 & 3

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