1.ThomasBenjaminMcNeill, born February 27, 1907 in Effingham, Effingham Co., IL1; died April 19, 1974 in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo Co., CA. He was the son of 2. ThomasFranklinMcNeill and 3. JemimaAnnGiles. He married (1) KathrynLouellaScholl Bef. 1930. She was born September 19, 1907 in Stafford, Stafford Co., KS, and died August 12, 1982 in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo Co., CA. She was the daughter of Edward Putnam Scholl and Stella May Buskirk. He married (2) RuthMarieMorris Bef. 1951. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown. He married (3) DonnaMarieBaroni April 15, 1966 in Upper Marlboro, MD2. She was born August 24, 1924 in WA3, and died August 28, 1969 in Silver Spring, Montgomery Co., MD3.
Notes for Thomas Benjamin McNeill:
Tom McNeill was born February 27, 1907 in Effingham, Illinois where his father was a telegrapher for the Illinois Central Railroad. His parents were Thomas Franklin McNeill and Jemima Ann Giles. He was the youngest of four children. His sisters were Adele, Libby and Clara. By the time that Tom had entered school the family had moved to Champaign, Illinois. He went through school in Champaign and continued his education at the University of Illinois while still living at home. The family lived in a large house that was only three blocks from the campus. They had several extra rooms that were frequently rented to college students. His early employment included learning to cook in a restaurant and summer work as a part time employee of the U.S. Geological Survey.
In his junior year at University of Illinois Tom met and married Kathryn Louella Scholl. At that time he quit school and went to work full time for the U.S. Geological Survey. He was assigned to a field survey crew and was required to move frequently. In four years Tom and Kay lived in numerous locations in Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. It was during this time that they had two sons; Thomas Edward and William Giles. In 1934 Tom was promoted to a new position and transferred to Washington D.C. In his new job he became involved in the development of photogammetry, the process of making maps with the use of aerial photographs.
In 1940 he was promoted to a higher level management position that would require a return to field work. By this time the family had settled down in the town of Takoma Park, Maryland and Kay had a full time position with the federal government. Field work was not a desired option. Tom resigned from the U.S. Geological Survey and started his own land survey and civil engineering business. It was the right time and the right place. The expansion of government property and the construction work was more than could be handled by existing business. In 1942 McNeill Surveys Inc. had field crews working in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Business was prosperous and continued to do well after World War II. It was gradually phased down after 1965 with the contemplation of retirement.
Tom and Kay were divorced in 1946 and Tom continued to live in Maryland after he retired. In 1971 he moved to Arroyo Grande, California where he passed away on April 19, 1974.
In high school he was on the football team, the golf team, and in his senior year, he was the editor of the school yearbook. In later years he retained his interest in golf and became very involved in hunting and fishing. He was a Mason and was a member of the Takoma Park Lions Club for over twenty years.
He is buried in Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo Co., CA.
Notes for Kathryn Louella Scholl:
Kathryn Scholl was born Septmber 19, 1907 in Stafford, Kansas. Her parents were Edward Putnam Scholl and Stella Mae Buskirk of Mt. Sterling, IL. Her father was in both the real estate and insurance business. Kay was the oldest of six children. Her sisters were Grace and Pearl. Her brothers were Raymond, Charles and William.
She went through school in Mt. Sterling and entered college at State Teachers College in Macomb, Illinois where she was on the girls basketball team. While she was attending college she met and married Tom McNeill, an engineering student at the University of Illinois. That put a temporary stop to a college education. Tom got a job with the U. S. Geological Survey on a surveying crew. This was to mean that they would live in a small town for a few months and then move on to a new location. After several years they were transferred to Washington D.C. in time for their two boys Thomas Edward and William Giles to start to school. Shortly after the youngest son Giles started to school Kay went to work for a federal agency named the Press Intelligence Office. This led to another position with the U.S. Maritime Commission Where she remained until after World War II.
In 1946 Kay and Tom were divorced and Kay resigned from federal service and went to work as an elementary school teacher in Takoma Park, Maryland.
This only lasted two years because Kay realized that she had to finish her college education. She moved to Platteville, Wisconsin where she was able to get her bachelors degree in education at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville in 1949. She got a job as a grade school teacher in Elgin, Illinois but in 1951 she moved to La Crescenta, California where she went to work for the La Canada School District and continued with her education at California State University, Los Angeles. During this time she changed jobs at the school district from being a grade school teacher to being a school psychologist.
It was during this time that Kay received her masters degree and the opportunity for advancement. She moved to Whittier, California and became the principal of an elementary school. Eventually she decided that she had not gone into teaching in order to become an administrator so she went back to the job that she enjoyed. She was a third grade teacher when she retired in 1971.
She liked to travel and her driving trips east went to Mississippi and Illinois. On one occasion she joined relatives and drove to Alaska in a camper. On another occasion she went to Sweden and from there went by boat to Russia.
After she retired she moved to Shell Beach, California and became active in community activities. She was still active with many interests and community activities when she passed away on August 12, 1982.
She is buried in Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo Co., CA.
