Jackson County, Ohio

Dr. Gabriel McNeel, Jackson County Pioneer

Dr Gabriel McNeel was one of the most noted pioneers of Jackson C. I am indebted for the following account of his early life to his daughter Mrs. Naomi Harrison, step mother of Hon. T. J. Harrison of Jefferson Twp. Mrs. Harrison resides on a portion of her father's old homestead farm, a mile N.W. of Oak Hill.

Gabriel was born 11-3-1776 in Va. on south branch of Potomiac river. His father was of Scotch descent and his mother Welsh. They removed in his early youth to Bath Co. (now Pocahontes) Va. (1777) where his mother was left a widow and he her her chief support. From his infancy he had such a thirst for knowledge that nothing visible or invisible could stop his progress in his studies, tho poverty often impeded it. He worked hard all day and brot in his light wood in the evening, by light of which he pursued his studies at night. His teachers were any persons he chanced to meet who knew more than he.

At the age of 16 he made his mother a clock having at that time never seen the inside of one. This little machine worked so well that it stimulated him to pursue his mechanical labor. By building his mother a comfortable stone house and furnishing her with other comforts he obtained the privilege of saving his future earnings for himself before he reached his majority.

After he had availed himself of means he visited the place of his birth, after which he went to sea for six months where he learned new and curious things. There was nothing which made so deep and lasting an impression his mind as the slave trade and the cruelty with which he saw the slaves treated in the extreme South. He saw some of the French at New Orleans take their slaves and strip them naked, tie them with their faces to the ground, stretching their arms and legs and tying them to four stakes driven in the ground for that purpose. And in that condition flog them until he sickened at the sight. He attempted to plead for the poor sufferers but he only received fiendish looks and a few words in French, which language he did not understand at that time.

After he had returned from sea he married an orphan girl who was hired to the same man for whom he was at work. After paying the minister for marrying him he had not a shilling left in the world. Soon after he was married he commenced preaching. About this time he was apointed to appraise some slave property that was to be sold in the neighborhood but before the time arrived he saw in a dream by night, an angel flying thru the air and as it came near him it called to him and inquired what estimate he would set upon a soul that had cost the blood of a Redeemer. He went to the appraisement, not to preform that office but to tell his feelings and declare his intention never more to have anything to do with this abominable practice.

He commenced the study of chemistry and surgery in the days of his youth but never till sympathy for the sick and dying and the earnest persuasion of friends forced him to it did he think of the practice of medicine. This like all the rest of studies he acquired with little help except his books. He removed to Ohio in the year 1810.

Here the narrative furnished by Mrs. Harrison closes. Some years ago I published some personal recollections of Dr. McNeel and the following must be somewhat of a repetition.

When I can first remember Dr McNeel was our neighbor. He was man some 5'8' high heavy set and would perhaps weigh 160 lbs. He had sandy hair and beard and blue eyes deep set in his head and very heavy eyebrows. His voice was low and soft and he was good company. As a preacher he was not popular as he was argumentative while the prioneers wanted fuss and noise in preference to sense. If Dr McNeel were living now he would rank with the foremost ministers.

Source: The Standard, Vol 32, No 27. Thursday July 6, 1876, Jackson Co. O.