NEIL A. MCCANNELL..
 


	The Regina settlers of 1882 included many men who were to play a
substantial part in the upbuilding of Saskatchewan and its capital in after
years. Had they been men of less courage, determination and fortitude
the history of this part of western Canada might have been far different,
for it was these early pioneers that laid the foundations of civilization
and industrial life in this region and thus determined the character
of the development to follow.  Among those early settlers who should
be mentioned in a work of this character is Neil A. McCannell, a retired
rancher now living in Regina.
	The son of Donald and Mary (McCannell) McCannell, Neil A. Mc.
Cannell was born on the 27th of July, 1859, in the township of Arran,
in Bruce county, Ontario, and educated in that locality.  His parents were
both natives of Isla, Scotland, but his mother was brought to Canada by
her family when she was a child of two, while the father grew to manhood
in Scotland. He came to Canada when he was a young man of twenty
and was married in Ontario. Donald McCannell was one of the leading
farmers of his neighborhood and cultivated a prosperous tract of land
be had cleared of its original timber. He was a Liberal in his political
views and a Baptist in his religious faith. Thirteen of the fifteen children
born to Donald and Mary McCannell are living, of whom Neil A. Mc-
Cannell was the fifth in order of birth. He began life on the farm, where
he spent his childhood and remained to assist his father until he was
almost twenty-three years old. In the spring of 1882 he set out for the
new region of the west, to take up a homestead on the government land
and thus begin to build his own fortunes.  He arrived in Winnipeg on
the 9th of April, 1882, and exactly two~months later first set foot in what
is now Regina.  The young man obtained a homestead just outside of
Regina, in Section 16, which he proved up on and cultivated for five years.
In 1887 he went back to Ontario, but the following summer found him
back in the west, although this time he went to Wyoming, where he was
employed on a ranch.  Mr. McCannell did not return to Saskatchewan
until 1893, when he and a brother entered upon a ranching enterprise
near Regina. The ranch was his home until 1900 and leaving that ranch
lie went back to the first homestead and in 1908 settled in Regina, where
he built a comfortable home. From 1913 to 1915 he lived in California,
whither he went with his family, but he makes his permanent home in this
(ity. In 1922 he erected a residence at No.1823 Victoria avenue, which
is now the family home. Although the old family homestead was sold
in 1908, Mr. McCannell possesses some valuable farm property, including
an excellent improved farm near Manson, Manitoba. Part of the time
since retiring from ranch life he has been connected with the insurance
business.  Now, however, he limits his activities to looking after his
private interests and spends the rest of his time enjoying the things that
he had little time for during the busy years of his more active life.
	Mr. McCannell was married to Miss Catherine Swinton in 1889. Mrs.
McCannell was born in Ontario and taught school for four years prior to
her marriage.  Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. McCannell
two are now living: Donald Alexander Roy, the city engineer of Regina;
and Ruby Catherine, who is a government employe. Jean Currie died in
1928. The son, Donald A. R., was educated in this city, and from the
time he was eight years old he drove to school fifteen miles in a buggy,
coming to school on Monday and going home Friday afternoon.  Later
he graduated from the Queen's University at Kingston.
	The family is affiliated with the Baptist church, in which Mr. Mc-
Cannell is active, now holding the chairmanship of the house committee.
A Liberal in politics, he follows public events with close attention and
during his residence in the country was active in party affairs. At one
time he held the office of councillor. He has always been fond of the good
Scotch game of curling and also derives much pleasure from bowling.
He has never regretted his decision to cast in his lot with that of the new
west, for coming to Regina forty years ago a poor man, he has gained
a competence and won a place among the substantial citizens of his com-
munity.

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