Biography:

Dr. John “Malcolm” McNeil was born in Campbelltown, Argyleshire, Scotland in approximately 1836.  Dr. McNeil was the son of Neil and Catherine McNeil.

Little else is known about this doctor until he appears in the 1867 Business Directory advertisement practicing in Morpeth, Ontario.  The advertisement advises that he is a physician, surgeon and Accoucheur (a person who practices as a midwife).  Dr. McNeil is listed in Morpeth in the 1869 Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory.  There is another mention of Dr. McNeil in the 1870 Sutherlands Gazeteer Business Directory.  In this ad, he is listed as practicing on Wilsons Block, in Morpeth.

Dr. McNeil was married to Elizabeth Birch in Stratford, Ontario on the 24th of May, 1867.  Mrs. McNeil was born in Staffordshire, England around 1838.  She was the 5th of 9 children born to George and Ellen Birch.  Her family immigrated to Canada around 1848 and her father was a tinsmith, a trade he passed down to his sons.   Mrs. McNeil’s siblings were; Thomas John Birch, Frederick Birch, Fanny Burley Birch, George Birch,  John Birch, Hellen Birch, Philip Birch and Bessie Birch.   According to the 1871 census, Dr. an Mrs. McNeil did not have any children.

Dr. McNeil died in Morpeth (Howard Twp) on the 22nd of January, 1872.  He was 35 years old at the time of his death.  His death was registered by another Morpeth doctor, Dr. James M. Smith.

After the death of her husband Mrs. McNeil took housekeeping jobs.  She died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the 8th of December, 1931.  She never remarried and at the time of her death she resided at 5710 Wellsley Ave in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wilkinsburg, Alleghany County, Pennsylvania.  Her brother Philip Birch is buried at the same cemetery.

*Dr. James Martin Smith is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.