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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 498-499]

    DANIEL W. McNEAL, dealer in lumber and coal, Washta, Iowa, was born
    February 15, 1855, near Ottawa, Illinois, and is the son of William
    and LUCINDA (FURROW) MCNEAL. His father was born in Vermont, and came
    at an early day to the State of Illinois.  His grandfather, JOHN
    McNEAL, lived and died in Vermont.  His mother was born in Ohio, of
    German ancestry.  Mr. McNEAL grew to manhood in his native State, and
    then came to Cherokee County.  He studied law with his half-brother,
    JAMES O'DONNELL, and was the first lawyer admitted to the bar of
    Cherokee County.  This event occurred February 13, 1877, Judge C. H.
    LEWIS, now of Sioux City, presiding.  The bar of Cherokee at that time
    consisted of E. C. HERRICK, H. C. KELLOGG, J.D.F. SMITH, EUGENE COWLES,
    M. WAKEFIELD, P. D. McANDREW, CHARLES GOLDSBURY, E. K. WALBRIDGE and
    JAMES O'DONNELL.  The committee that examined Mr. McNEAL was made up
    of the entire bar.  He practiced law for three years in Cherokee, and
    at the expiration of that period he removed to his farm in Willow
    Township and engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed a
    number of years.  He was postmaster of Wendell from 1881 to 1886, he
    and CHARLES FOSTER selecting the name of that office.  In 1880 he was
    census enumerator for the townships of Rock, Tilden, Grand Meadow and
    Willow; at that time there were only eighty people in Grand Meadow
    Township.  Mr. McNEAL with his father owned 760 acres of land, which
    they improved and brought to a high state of cultivation; it is one
    of the best farms in that section of country, and is well watered by
    never-failing springs and the picturesque stream of the Little Sioux,
    offering fine facilities for stock-raising.  At one time Mr. McNEAL
    was editor and manager of the Cherokee Times.  In 1887 he went to
    Washta and built his residence, and engaged in the business he is
    now pursuing.  Mr. McNEAL was united in marriage September 3, 1878,
    to Miss JENNIE WILLARD, a daughter of LOVELL and J. D. (HOBART)
    WILLARD.  He is a member of Speculative Lodge No. 307, A.F. & A.M.,
    having been made a Mason in August, 1879. He is also a member of the
    Governor's staff, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, receiving this
    appointment from Governor Larrabee in the winter of 1888.  In 1876-'77
    he was deputy clerk of the courts of Cherokee County under OSCAR CHASE,
    Esq.  The confidence of his neighbors is shown by his being selected
    to fill many local offices in Willow Township, and also in the town of
    Cherokee.  He is the present township clerk. Mr. McNEAL received his
    education at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. The mental disci-
    pline he received there together with his legal studies have well
    fitted him for the extensive business which he has carried on since
    his residence in the county.  Besides his many acquired talents Mr.
    McNEAL is a genial, whole-souled gentleman, who has the respect and
    confidence of the entire community in which he lives.  His father died
    May 29, 1883, and his mother is yet living.  Mr. and Mrs. McNEAL are
    the parents of three children: CLARA W., FLORENCE L. and WILLIAM L.

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