Henry McNeal

Joel Thompson and Henry McNeal were squatters in Hampton in the late 1820s.

He had worked in the lead mines around Galena for a time, and later came here and became the proprietor of a wood yard which he conducted for several years. He married Louisa Wells November 20th, 1831. She was the daughter of Rinnah Wells Sr. She died January 3rd, 1848. They were the parents of three children, Ellen, George, and Dan McNeal.

Henry McNeal was one of the 58 men who composed the Rock River Rangers. He was a member of the first grand jury appointed in this country. He was a pioneer of the pioneers whose deeds and actions and influence are reflected in the early history of this place and count. He died in 1878 at the age of 67.

His oldest son, George, was a blacksmith by trade while he lived at Port Byron. He later served in Company G, 126 Reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. for three years during the Civil War, after which he followed farming near Watertown. He later purchased the old S. L. Brettun homestead in Hampton and moved in. Here he lived until his death until June 27, 1915 within 400 feet of where he was born, November 27, 1833, in the old log cabin. He was married to Caroline N. Addison May 1, 1856. They had one child who died in infancy. Mrs. McNeal died January 24, 1916. George McNeal, a grand nephew, now (1938) owns and occupies the old Brettun home.

Dan, second son of the pioneer Henry McNeal, was born December 5, 1839, on a farm near Watertown. He married Anna Crawford. They had four children. He was postmaste and took a prominent part in the affairs of Watertown and elsewhere. His osn, Henry, who donated the lot for the Soldiers Monument is married to Martha Wells, who is a daughter of Edward and Dora Wells. Dan McNeal died July 4, 1916. His wife died February 21, 1894.