James Neal

James was born on the Isle of Man, November 3, 1835, and accompanied his father, Joseph Neal, to Michigan in 1855, locating in the township of Bloomfield. James soon after moved to Springfield, but for some time purchased no land. He has lived on his present farm since about 1864. He was unmarried on his arrival in the country, and on the 3d day of June, 1857, was married to Ann Eagle, then living with her father, Solomon Eagle, in Pontiac. She has been in the country several years longer than her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Neal (the name originally spelled Kneale) are the parents of ten children, their names and births as follows: Lucy, born April 2, 1858. William E., born July 27, 1859. Charlotte, born January 2, 1861. Jane, born December 10, 1862. Egbert, born December 10, 1864. Charles, born February 12, 1867. Millie, born May 29, 1868. Nellie, born May 18, 1870. James, born July 27, 1872. Elizabeth, born November 5, 1874.

The farm on which Mr. Neal now lives he purchased of the heirs of Thomas Lapham. The place at the time Mr. Neal came to it had an old log house standing upon it. The present fine frame dwelling and the large barn now standing were built by Mr. Neal, who has also greatly improved the farm in many respects, Mr. Neal has three brothers and one sister living, all in Michigan except one brother, who is in California. His sister lives with her father, in Rose township, and two brothers are residents of Clinton county.



Source: History of Oakland County, by Samuel W. Durant, 1877