Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 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/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County, Michigan Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884 [197-198] HENRY NEAL, proprietor of the Lake View House at Huron City, was born in the town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Eng., Dec. 13 1828, and is the son of THOMAS and MARY E. (STOWE) NEAL. They were natives of England and emigrated to America with four children,— three sons and one daughter,—in 1837. They lived in the city of Detroit until 1842, the father being employed as a gardener. Eventually he re- moved to Moore Township, Ontario, and there bought a farm of 100 acres, which he cleared and improved. He was born in October, 1801, and died on his farm in 1875. The mother still resides there. MR. NEAL entered the lake sailing service in 1842, and from 1844 to 1880, with the exception of two summers which he spent in lum- bering, operated in that capacity. He began as a cabin boy and held every intermediate position until he became master of a vessel. He made a success of his business until i860, when his vessel was lost. He owned the schooner Harwich, which was in the transporta- tion service as a lumber, coal and stone vessel. In July, 1860, she was driven in a heavy gale upon a reef of rocks on Middle Island, in Lake Erie, becoming a total wreck with no insurance. From 1867 to the date of his changing his vocation in life, he sailed as steward of the "Huron City," a steamer plying principally between Huron City and Sandusky. She was owned partly by LANGDON HUBBARD. Between the years 1860 and 1867 he was the proprietor of two tugs, operating on the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers. In 1878 he became the owner of a farm, which he sold to build the hotel he is now managing. He purchased the hotel lot at Huron City in 1880, rebuilt and refurnished the house. It was put in com- plete repair, the painters finishing their labors Saturday, Jan. 22, 1881. Five days later it burned to the ground. It was insured for $1,600 in the County Mutual Insurance Company. MR. NEAL im- mediately proceeded to replace the structure on the same site, and took possession Saturday, Sept. 3, 1881. On the following Monday, Sept. 5, 1881, the day of the great forest fires, the second house was totally destroyed. It was insured in the same company which was made bankrupt by the fire, but its affairs are now in the hands of a receiver, and the matter of liability is in process of litiga- tion. During the fire of 1881, a small shanty 20 feet from the burning buildings, containing a barrel of kerosene oil, was unharmed. The entire contents of the hotel, with most of the wearing apparel of the family, were destroyed. They were obliged to take refuge at the lake, as the wind was blowing a tornado and the air seemingly filled with fire. After the second fire MR. NEAL removed to Detroit, where he rented a residence for his family and went to Minnesota to look for an opening; but, after spending six months to no purpose, he con- cluded to return to Huron City and make another test of fate on the site where his property had twice disappeared in the flames. It is a two-story structure, with 16 rooms, is creditably finished and furnished, and affords comfortable entertainment. MR. NEAL is a well-informed man, social and genial, and his house is well adapted to the amount and character of the patronage he receives. MR. NEAL is a Republican. He was elected to serve a term of four years as Justice of the Peace, but after serving two years, re- signed. After the fire he was appointed Township Clerk to fill the unexpired term of the regularly elected official whom the fire had compelled to leave the place. He was appointed Postmaster in 1879, and resigned the position in 1883. The marriage of MR. NEAL to MARY A. PROCTOR took place Jan. 9, 1849. Their children were born as follows: EMILY, Sept. 3, 1850, died April 5, 1856; ELIZABETH, Aug. 21, 1852; HENRY A., Oct. 27, 1854; MARY M., Nov. 10, 1856; THOMAS, Sept. 27, 1858; EMMA C., July 5. 1860; MINNIE, Sept. 18, 1826 (died in May, 1863); LILLY C., Oct. 28, 1865; MINNIE (2d), Feb. 19, 1867; WILLIAM C., June 27, 1869; ALVIN FRANK, Nov. 30, 1872. MRS. NEAL'S parents, WILLIAM and ELIZABETH (SIMPSON) PROCTOR, are deceased. Her father was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1784, and died in January, 1847, in Moore Township, Ont. The mother was born Dec. 4, 1796, and died June 4, 1876, in Detroit. MRS. NEAL was born Feb. 27, 1833, in Lincoln- shire, Eng. =========================================================================== 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/ ===========================================================================