Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== A History of Northern Michigan and its People. Vol. II Perry Francis Powers, Lewis Publishing Co., - 1912 [828-830] WILLIAM O'NEAL, proprietor of the Park House at Petoskey, is one of the pioneer lumbermen of northern Michigan, and the record of his career is an important chapter in the history of development in this part of the state. He was one of the pioneers who accomplished great tasks during the times when the lumber interests were clearing away the wilderness of Michigan, and the honor and prosperity of his later years are well deserved rewards of the determined energy and executive ability displayed in earlier life. Born at Ottawa, Canada, May 9, 1852, he was a son of WILLIAM and ROSE (LYONS) O'NEAL. His father, who died at the age of sixty-eight, was born in County Clare, Ireland, and at an early age made the twelve weeks' voyage on a sailing vessel to Quebec, and from there to Bristol township, Ontario. There he hewed a farm from the wilderness, and a few years later moved to Stephen township in Huron county, twenty-six miles north of London. Here he lived ten years, and in 1864 moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where he was gardener up to the time of his death. He was a lover of fine cattle and always kept some on his farm. Of his life in Ireland, he was always proud to relate his part in hauling the carriage of DANIEL O'CONNELL through the streets of Kilrush, County Clare, after the latter's election to a seat in Parliament. In American politics he was a Democrat and was a member of the Catholic church. His wife, ROSE LYONS, whom he married in Bristol, Ontario, was a native of County Leitrim, Ireland, and passed away at the age of sixty-six. They were parents of four sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter are living. WILLIAM O'NEAL, who was the third child, attended school in his home community until thirteen years old, when he became an employe in ARTHUR HILL's sawmill. At the age of sixteen he went into the woods, walking sixty miles from Saginaw to the then timber-covered site of Mount Pleasant on Pine river, where he worked for two years, the first in peeling logs. The third winter he was placed in charge of a camp of forty men for ISAAC PARSONS of Saginaw. During the three winters of this employment, all the supplies for the camp had to be brought by canoe or scow from Redkey to the mouth of the Molossea river, thence up the Tittabawassee river to their head-quarters., His next work was as log scaler on the Au Sable river, the first year for SANBOURN & BEACH of Port Huron, and two winters for T. F. THOMPSON. On his return to Saginaw he was appointed super- intendent of a lumber camp for WILLIAM CALLAM, and later became foreman for A. T. BLISS, the former governor of Michigan. It was during this latter employment that MR. O'NEAL gained his first important distinction among Michigan lumbermen, and which brought down on him the displeasure of the ax-men. He was the first man in the state to introduce the use of the cross-cut saw in felling trees, instead of the old method of chopping. The walking boss reported this innovation to MR. BLISS. The latter carried the matter before the board of trade of lumbermen at Saginaw. The result of the contention was that TIM DORR and PAT GLENN, both prominent lumbermen from the state of Maine, also introduced the cross-cut saw in preference to the ax, and the method was quickly adopted by most of the lumbermen of the state. It is said that the price of cross-cut saws suddenly rose one dollar each. May 1, 1879, MR. O'NEAL transferred the scene of his opera-tions to Emmet county, and for ten years had charge of the WILLIAM CALLAM lumber business in this region. He was the pioneer on Cecil Bay and among the first in all this region. At the same time his wife had charge of the camp boarding house. His work comprised the removal of ten thousand acres of timber, and the old sawmill is still standing on Carp river near Cecil Bay. From there he moved to Levering and for two years had charge of a lumber business at Pellston. In the meantime he had bought a tract of land in Bliss township of Emmet county, where his family made their home and where he had a man in charge of the clearing. For two years he had charge of one hundred and thirty-five men for HALL & BUEL at Seeny, A. C. HUBBEL being superintendent, and he was then engaged by COL. L. T. DICKERSON of Chicago to superintend the milling and lumber business at Cecil Bay. Four or five years later the ten thousand acres together with the mill at Cecil Bay were turned over to him to sell, and after buying fifteen hundred acres for himself he sold the rest to DAVIS & CALDWELL of Battle Creek. For several years he continued in the lumber business on his own account, selling his logs to the Cecil Bay Lumber Company. The farm in Bliss town- ship which he had cleared out of the wilderness has become a prosperous community largely through his efforts and example. When he first located there, schools were few and far between, and he had to drive thirty-three miles to have his children baptized. Later, when roads were opened, a priest came once in three months to the O'NEAL home to say mass for the people in that vicinity. Later MR. O'NEAL set aside five acres of his farm as the site for the first church built in this locality, and he practi- cally built the church himself. He has also given forty more acres for this little church. Four of his children each live on eighty acres which he gave them, all being within a short distance of the church. The origi- nal farm which he still owns is a finely improved place, and had a good orchard of eight acres in apples. In October, 1909, he bought the Park Hotel in Petoskey and has since engaged in the hotel business. As a citizen MR. O'NEAL has taken a prominent part in the local affairs of his township and county. He has held all the township offices, being super-visor at the time of his removal to Petoskey. He was moderator of the school board several years, was justice of the peace and township treasurer. In politics he is a Democrat. For two years he was chairman of the executive committee of the Emmet County Fair Association and for three years was president of the Fair Association. Fraternally he is a member of O'NEAL Tent No. 763, K. 0. T. M., at Bliss, this tent having been named for him, and he was its commander fourteen years, for seven times was delegate to the grand session of the Maccabees and was county delegate to Toledo. He is a grand knight of Petoskey Lodge No. 923, Knights of Columbus. November 19, 1877, MR. O'NEAL married MISS SARAH McCOURT. She is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and has shared in the experiences and success of her husband and reared a large family of children. Of the eight children born to them, six are now living:- EDWARD J.; EMMA CECIL, who has the distinction of being the first white child born at Cecil Bay, and the locality was named in her honor; ARTHUR P.; MAUD MAY; GEORGE T.; and LEO M., the two last named still residing at home. ================================================================================ If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ================================================================================