It’s a short walk but it’s filled with danger. Dead bodies, walking dead, ghosts, bats, spiders, skulls, flashing lights, surrounded by the eerie sounds of Halloween. The darkened driveway and yard add to the danger for all trick and treaters who should chance to try for a treat. The trees along the street are filled with sparkling lights glinting off the needles of fir trees and shrubs giving an ethereal, dangerous feeling as in the first photo. Finally, beware of the skeleton at the top of the steps

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This Book is now available from

Kindle Direct Publishing

LINK HERE FOR THE BOOK

Book 2 -Trails North an and West: The Pioneer Way 1824-2024 is now available from Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) You can search by book title or author name. A preview of the first seventeen pages is provided (link on bottom left on the KDP order page). The preview also includes the Table of Contents.

Note: When ordering four or fewer books, they will be printed and shipped within Canada. An order of 5 or more books may be printed and shipped from the United States. Postage is included in the purchase price when ordering from either country.

If you are thinking of sending books as gifts to others, you may consider having those books mailed directly to the recipient(s), by Amazon, at time of ordering.  In this way, you would avoid Canada Post fees which currently run about $20.00 (plus tax) for one or two books, if enclosed in a single mailer.

———————–

October 12, 2025

Dear Family and Friends,

Below is the complete index of Book 2 (by Chapter and Sub-Chapter). This index gives you a broad perspective of the book content as well as a sneak preview of family, friends, acquaintances, and other items and events appearing in the book. At 486 pages, the book not only provides an in-depth look at our families during the past 200 hundred years, it also includes an overview of major events which shaped their lives in North America.

While Trails North and West is Book 2 of a two-volume set, it was published first as the author felt a compelling need to capture, record, and share more current events, stories, and succession changes which have and continue to impact our families today. The book is divided into three parts beyond the regular introductions: a list of 279 photos; charts; graphics; and an index (copy below). A few appendices cover additional topics.

Part 1: 1824-1940 Highlights our families throughout their early lives in the Dakota Territories (McNeill/Church) and Michigan (Wheelers), and to Canada in 1910. The McNeills migrated to Saskatchewan, while the Wheelers journeyed to Alberta. In 1924, the Wheelers were forced to make a further move from Alberta to Saskatchewan where they set up new homesteads near the McNeills.

Part 2: 1940 and 1960 Depicts the lives of many of the children of the McNeill and Wheeler families as they spread throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, and beyond. This was a period in which both a world war and other monumental changes thrust the families into a new world beyond anything they had experienced or even imagined in their early lives.

Part 3: Snapshot Biographies of the twenty-one McNeill and Wheeler children – the children of our Grandparents – along with their spouses. Several migrated to Canada along with their families in the early 1900s while others were born in Canada. (My father was born in the USA in 1908, while my mother was born in Canada in 1918.) It is likely most of our close relatives (children of our Grandparents and Great Grandparents) still live in the United States.

The snapshot biographies are viewed through the eyes of their children and grandchildren (the author’s first and second cousins) many of whom remain closely connected to the present day. Sadly, all of our Aunts and Uncles born in the late 1800s and early 1900s have now passed, but many of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue to carry the family banners and legacies into the emerging new world of the twenty-first century.

Book Prequel: Book 1 Sails and Trails West: The Pioneer Way (1600 – 1800). The McNeills, Wheelers, and Elliots from the Old World to a New

This early part of our history explores many of the reasons that compelled our direct descendants to sail 3000 miles across the treacherous waters of the Pacific Ocean, and into the wilds of North America by oxcart, covered wagon, on foot, and along the many waterways that cover the continent. The challenges they faced is outlined in a decade-by-decade chronicle over that five-hundred-year period of books one and two.

All things being equal (they seldom are..), Book 1, of this two part series, will be published in 2026, under the above title. The traces our families from England, Ireland, and Scotland, as they join the masses who decided to make new lives in North America as they could not abide the old. Most initially settled in what became the Thirteen Colonies, while others may well have settled along the East Coast of what would become part of Canada.

Many then migrated across the continent into what would become known as the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In this migration process, they came into constant conflict with the Indigenous Peoples whose lands were being flooded and absorbed as if a tsunami had struck the Eastern seaboard. The stories of the challenges faced by the Indigenous Peoples, and others who were being marginalized in this new land, will become central to the longer family story. Both books along with other books by this author, will all become available on Amazon KDP Books unless otherwise notified.

One final note: Additional photos from the two published books (Grayson Chronicles and Trails North and West) as well as information about upcoming books, will be posted on this blog as well as on the McNeill Life Stories Facebook Page.  Please feel free to join that page for regular updates and as a means to exchange information on book contents or with suggestions for changes that may be necessary. Please don’t be shy about drawing attention to errors as they will be noted and updates made on a regular basis.

Comments may also be added to the various posts on this Blog, on Face book, and evaluated on the KDP book site. With respect to the blog, please keep the comments between 10 and 50 characters as we seek to limit spam. When making a comment please be clear as to who you are at the beginning of the comment as that makes sorting the wheat from the chafe much easier. It is also helpful to point to the family or friend connection as there are many hundreds of us across North America and many other parts of the world. You may also choose to send an email to the author at lowerislandsoccer@shaw.ca

As a final note, the Family Tree on the first four pages of the book lead to several difficulties in the publishing process as each family line needed to be split into two to have it accepted. If you see errors, please advise as noted above.  The author is working with a design company to create a large family tree that is much easier read. Both the old and new files will be added to the FB page and uploaded to Esty Canada for the vector file.

We hope you enjoy this journey from the past to the present, and that it enriches your lives as much as it has ours.

Harold McNeill and Family

Book Chapter and Sub-Chapter Index

Chapters are placed in (brackets). Sub-Chapters in open numbers following a colon. Example (Chapters 1-27):  Sub- Chapters 1-137

When known, names are followed by a date of birth. Places by date of event. Names of individuals will often be followed by their birth date and place in the family tree using the following shortcuts: D. (daughter), S. (son), W. (wife), H. (husband). Maiden surnames and other information in brackets.

Example:

McNeill, Martha Ellen (1874) (D. of Lewis and Mary Church) (W. of James McNeill) (Chapters 1, 2, 5, 7, 35): 117 – 127

With so many names there will likely be some errors and omissions. Please take advantage of one or more of the methods of making contact with the author with suggestions for change.

SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK “CONTINUE READING” ON THE LEFT SIDE
TO SEE THE INDEX

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Viewpoint from the eyes of the 68 First Cousins of which Harold McNeill was one

G = Grandparents, GG = Great Grandparents
In which area/state did the GGs McNeill live in 1850?  (p. 40-41)
What was a major accomplishment for them beyond having their first five children?
What catastrophic event consumed the US?
When did they move to the Dakota Territory and why?

In which area/state did the Gs Wheeler live in 1850?

What was a major accomplishment for them beyond having their first five children?

What catastrophic event consumed the US?

When did they move to the Dakota Territory and why?

What State did the Wheeler grandparents migrate from and in what year?

What year did the McNeills and Elliots unite in marriage?

Where did the McNeills settle in Canada?

Where did the Wheelers first settle in Canada?

What year did the McNeills and Wheelers unite in marriage?

When did the Wheelers continue their migration to and and in what  year?

What member was possibly a US Pony Express rider?

What uncle went to Alaska in search for gold, but came back with something far more valuable?

What was the average and medium ages of death for the McNeill siblings over the past 100 years?

What was the average and medium ages of death for the Wheeler siblings over the past 100 years?

Who migrated to new homes in a new land with a gaggle of young children while pregnant several months pregnant?
What was the span of time over which Grandmothers McNeill and Wheeler had their 21 children?

What Aunt lost both her husband and son in the same year?

What Grandmother lost her husband and son in the same year?

What town in Saskatchewan supplied most of the liquor to two US States?

What two women, in separate accidents, were critically injured and near death, after and explosion and fire?

What Uncle and his step-son nearly drown when their car went through the ice?

What happens when you drink a half bottle of gas, the a short time later vomit into a fire?

What communicable disease almost brought the US and Canadian economies to a standstill in the late 1800s?
What families lost their entire life savings and homes during the 1920s drought?

What two sisters nearly died during a gas lead?

What Aunt saved her child from drowning because she learned artificial respiration from a Doctors book?

What Uncle along with his two children and a neice were nearly drown during a line squal?

What large group of men, women and children were forced from their homes and moved half way across Norh America?
How many men were killed in the largest hanging ever held in the United States?

What was the proximate cause of the Indian Wars in the United States?

What year was the hottest summer on record in South Dakota and why was that important?

When did 1200 soldiers with110 wagons, and 1000 head of cattle past by the McNeill homestead?

How many soldiers were killed or died of disease in the US Civil War?

What actions taken by General Custer lead to the immenant death of the General and his men?

How were both the Indian Nations and the Homesteaders deceived in the rush to settle the land?

What pushed Upper and Lower Canada to become a nation in 1867?

Which Uncles remained true horsemen for their entire lives?

Which Uncle was among the first to raise buffallo as a commercial enterprise?

What did the Black Hills become famous for and how did it affect our families?

What was one of the great fears settlers that has come back to challenge us?

Who were the early gunslingers who became childhood heroes?

What had everyone in tears at a community New Years Dance in 1910?

What was a Box Social and why was it held?

What role did music play in the lives of our family during the early years?

What family members, now and in the paste, were gifted with perfect pitch hearing?

What family member died at the Frog Lake Uprising.

What family owned the ferry over the South Saskatchewan River?

Did a family member ever ride with the US Pony Express mail service?

What is a “Deadman’s Hand” in poker and who held it?

Why did members of our family flee to “Long Point” a point jutting into Lake Erie? (26)

What 38-year old son drove the team for his 69-year old mother on a 1000 mile wagon and train trip? (39)

What family from Germany joined the Wagon to Canada? (37)

In what type of accomodation did the McNeill men live during that first winter?

What was the lowest temperature recorded during that first winter in Canada?

What was the type of large stately homes did the Wheeler members build when they arrived in Canada? (60)

What family reunion was held in Kelispell, Montana in 1970 and who attended? (58)

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This Book is now available from

Kindle Direct Publishing

Link Below

Photo (2012): Grayson gazes out over the North Thompson River and the mountains beyond:
“Grandpa, we need to go see what’s beyond those mountains.”
(Cover Photo Arrangement by Alysha McNeill)

Link to KDP Book
(Please order from the January 4, 2025 edition)

Dear Reader,

The following chronicles were written during the magical summer of 2012 when five-year old Grayson Edward Walker, along with his Grandpa, Harold David McNeill, his brother, Jay Wesley McNeill and a close family friend, Bjorn Oscar Simonsen (Uncle Bjorn) completed an exploratory expedition through British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. While the trip through British Columbia was relatively peaceful, once they hit the Alberta border, they entered a new and perilous world. After visiting family and friends across the Province they hit out for Saskatchewan to visit the places where Grandpa was born and where Uncle Bjorn and his family first landed when they emmigrated to Canada from Norway in the early 1950s. In this Province they would again be faced with many hurdles as they visited the many farms and historic sites that were part of the family history.

The 200 page book is filled with dozes of full colour photographs of family, friends, events and special places in the lives of the intrepid explorers. Dozens of Chapters are written from the perspective of Grayson.

Cheers,

Harold, Grayson, Jay, and Bjorn

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Photo (2014): Winter Storm Watch in Tofino, British Columbia
An avid West Coast and Prairie Explorer, there are few parts of Western Canada that Harold has not touched by land, sea, or air. Many dozens of these adventures with family, friends, work, and volunteerism, are chronicled on this blog and in hundreds of Facebook posts.
Many of the stories are now being rewritten, proofed, and published in book form (see Appendix A)

Harold was born in 1941 and started life on his parent’s homestead in Northwest Saskatchewan where he was surrounded by a wider family circle who immigrated to Canada from the United States in the early 1900s. In his early teens, the family settled in Cold Lake, Alberta, where Harold became interested in flying bush planes as they were still in regular use throughout the area and next door was the largest airforce training base in Canada, RCAF Station Cold Lake. During his High School years, along with his best friend, Aaron Pinsky, the boys worked part-time filleting fish at a packing plant owned by Aaron’s dad. As Aaron’s dad also leased a number of aircraft to haul fish from northern lakes, the boys picked up a lot of ad hoc flying time while assisting the regular pilots in loading and unloading airplanes as well as prepping the float or ski equipped aircraft for flight.

After Harold landed his first major job as a Crash Rescue Fireman with the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command based at Cold Lake, he also began flying training at the RCAF Station Flying Club were he was surrounded by the latest fighter jets and bombers that arrived from around the world for all-weather training. It was a crazy time when the world teetered at the edge of a nuclear apocalypse during the Cold War. After gaining his private pilots licence and float endorsement, he began flying as pilot in command on many of the aircraft on which he worked during his high school years. He later earned his Commercial Pilots Licence and one of the bush planes he flew, CF-AXL, holds special memories as it is now housed in the National Air and Space Museum in Ottawa.

Photo: This photo of an Oil Painting of CF-AXL graced the cover of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society’s 2000 Edition. Built in the 1930s, the aircraft was taken out of production in the early 1940s so the Fairchild Aircraft Company could concentrate on building bombers for World War II.

Click “Continue Reading” for more.

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