Person:James McNeill (3)

friend of Dan Kivett, from Missouri, who was a good story teller and loved laughter. friend of Montgomery who shoed horses in the 700 block of S. State St, Ukiah CA

JP noted for his ability to drive a team of 6-8 horses or mules from Boonville to Ukiah and back, hauling tan bark. The Boontling word, jape meaning to drive well, is taken from his initials.

JP's family ran hogs, with their Rawles neighbors running sheep. Often there were problems when the animals would break down the fences and wander into the land of the others. One day JP was riding home on the Peachland Rd when some of the Rawles boys blocked his path and were looking for a fight. He allowed as how he needed to get some meat for dinner, took out his .25 automatic pistol and in 5 shots had killed some squirrels and quail, by shooting each in the head. The Rawles guys decided to let him pass unmolested.

Notes from Marsha Baker "Occ: James Phillip, age 22 and a farmer, is listed as living with his mother and 6 siblings in the Anderson Twp, Mendocino Co, CA 1900 census. Murle was a homemaker and came to the Anderson Valley, in Mendocino Co CA with her parents from Indiana in 1887. Her Parents owned and operated the old stae stop, which was a hotel restaurant, in Boonville. Reportedly, James met Myrtle while she was working there for her folks. James and Myrtle McNeill and her parents are mentioned in the book, Down to Earth, written about this area and the era. James farmed his father's 160 acres, located in Peachland and west of Boonville, CA at an area locally called "Twin Pines". He also worked another 480 acreas, and leased 320 acres in the same area for raising cattle. At one time, he droe freight wagons with hides and tan bark between Boonville, Cloverdale and Ukiah to the tanneries and worked part time for Myrtle's father. James P. was also an excellent deer hunter and arksman and often would enter rifle matches. When their home burned the family moved to Ukiah. They lived briefly in rural Windsor CA from 1924-25, then moved to the Lane Ranch at Windsor, where James ran this ranch from 1926-29. They also lived in Lake Co in 1933 and at Kenwood, CA from 1934-37. At the time of Myrtle's death, she had resided in Mendocino County for 69 years and was living at 827 North Dora Avenue, Ukiah CA."

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Mcneill.FTW.

   Date of Import: Jan 14, 2011

2. ↑ Redwood Journal Press Democrat newspaper Nov 21, 1951.

   Jas. McNeill Rites On Friday Morning
   Funeral services for James P. McNeill of Ukiah will be held from the Eversole Mortuary Friday morning Nover 23 at 11 o'clock with Elbert Holland officiating. Interment will follow at Boonville.