J. A. "Jock " McNeil

[Speedway ace]

McNeil did work for Ignaz Schwinn who owned the Excelsior motorcycle company in Chicago.

There is talk that he may have worked for Cyclone Motorcycles of St Paul, Minn.
actually the 'Joerns motorcycle company', production ceased about 1915.

I have looked at the passenger lists, I have access to "Ancestry"  So many Joseph McNeils !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will have to order his military record.

[Speedway ace]

Hi Folks 

I have at last received the military record for "Jock"........all 72 pages ....expensive  !!!!!!!!!!!

I can confirm that he is Joseph Addison McNeil b. 4th April 1881 Victoria West PEI Canada, not Elmsdale which was the address of his Uncle James McNeil  the person given as N.O.K.

Occupation, Machinist, served with the 166,86,83rd Battalions

He never saw any war action..............he was injured (Dec 1916) while acting as motorcycle dispatch rider. On the Folkestone to Hythe road, Kent, England he was knocked of his machine by a Waggon and run over by a bus, he received compound fractures to the Tibia and Fibula of his left leg, the bone became infected and he spent 12 months in Hospital. Discharged as unfit April 1918.
 
Joseph can be found (Giving his Uncle James of Elmsdale as N.O.K.) in the Michigan passenger list March 1919 and the Border crossings Oct. 1919, Canada to USA...................... But suprise he gives his ethnic origin as 'Irish'

Can anyone illuminate on the following?
What is the Triangle club?...............On discharge NOK is given as Fred Johnstone c/o A S Johnstone Pty. Co. Adelaide St West, Toronto....another address given is c/o P A McBride, Yonge & Gould Sts, Toronto. By 1920 he is working for the Excelsior Motorcycle company in Chicago.

When did he die?

Regards Nigel 

[J.J.]

  In answer to one piece of that query... Surprise, surprise...Percy A. McBride sold Bicycles, Motorcycles and Sporting goods out of  406-408 Yonge St.  He was also at 343 around 1912 from and advertisement, which I think is closer to the address you had at Gould...
http://www.archive.org/stream/torontodirec192100midiuoft#page/1064/mode/2up
A little history on Percy's business..http://www.saskma.com/content/view/531/4/
and since the history interests you...He also had a shop in Montreal 
http://www.skimuseum.ca/documents/annuals/1923-24_pt31_pg82-back-cover.pdf

Can't see a Fred...http://www.archive.org/stream/torontodirec191800midiuoft#page/n869/mode/2up
but there was an Alfred before the war, no matching address.

Yes odd that they used "Jock" then, but it may just have been a fanciful play on the nickname Jack...
It may also be that the family before lived in Scotland but the roots were in Ireland...You never know??

modified for spelling....

[J.J.]

Ah, it was the Red Triangle Club

There is a publication...On leave: how the Red Triangle Club, Toronto, provides for the soldier while off duty
Sounds racey, but seems it was a place to relaxe
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=728&dat=19400404&id=zZdHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=40EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1785,3408477

[valeriec]

The YMCA created the Red Triangle club to provide overnight accomodations at minimal cost to Canadian soldiers on leave in French, English and Canadian cities, where writing rooms, travel information and services, storage for personal equipment, banking services, bathing facilities and barbers were made available.

The Red Triangle Club in Toronto was located at 504 Jarvis St in the G. H. Gooderham House.

On Leave: How the Red Triangle Club, Toronto, Provides for the Soldier While off Duty is 10 pages by the National Council Young Men's Christian Association, 1917

http://images.ourontario.ca/ocma/58943/image/132631
One of the pictures is of the Red Triangle Club, Toronto.

[Speedway ace]

Thanks again to JJ & Val for your generosity and expertise.

As Jock gave his uncle as NOK it would appear that his parents were deceased, possibly when Jock was young? as for his ethnic background it could be that one parent was a scot the other irish?

[J.J.]

Just to review, I found this family in 1881 all listed as Scottish origin all Presbyterian/ born P E I
Joseph A. McNeill  c1849  Farmer Annie  c1859
children Alfred Chester c1879 and Joseph McNeill  - baby born April
also in household:
Perhaps grandparents - John M. McNeill  c1811  Mary McNeill  ca821
Probably uncle - Jamesc1847 and perhaps aunt - Lenora  c1854   27

Then I found in 1891 P E I:Joseph A. McNeil  / New wife Margaret?  Alfred C. 1880 - Joseph A 1881. - John B.1889 - George L. 18901890

Then seems he moved up to Canada to enlist as here they are in 1900 U.S. Boston,​ Suffolk,​ Mass. immigration 1898
Joseph A Macneill -Margaret J -Addison J Macneill born April 1881!   
John B Macneill - Leslie G Macneill 1890 - Gordon Macneill c.1894 Ca
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9Y5-371

1910 just George L. & Gordon with parents https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M22H-CRQ

[Speedway ace]

His army record gives his religion as Presbyterian


Edit:...... I think this is the correct family. in the 1900 census it gives Joseph A as Apprentice Machinist

I note another sibling George L has his first and second names transposed.

the ethnic origin is given as English, born Canada for the parents?

[J.J.]

If the grandparents in 1881 parents were John Malcolm Macneill & Mary MCEWEN of p.e.i.
The marriage of Emily Lavinia has them as such

Here is a submission with Lenora Emily Lavinia and "Joseph Abercrombie Macneill" and many more siblings and ancestors listed (AFN: 1XZB-VC3 ) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/M44V-Z9R

This site says spouses were Annie Henry & Margaret Mclean
http://records.ancestry.com/Joseph_Macneill_records.ashx?pid=31892108