Memorable Manitobans: James Henry Neil (1862-1927)

Building contractor, boat builder.

Born at Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on 9 July 1862, he came to Canada in 1882 and settled at Winnipeg. He worked as a contractor until about 1922, being responsible for constructing many well-known buildings. He also built motor launches and other pleasure boats.

He was married twice, first on 16 June 1885 to Margaret Jane “Maggie” Henderson (1865-1895) with whom he had four children: Thomas John Neil (1886-1928), Eliza Jane “Lyla” Neil (1888-1976), Mary Adelaide Neil (1891-1982, wife of William A. Rowland), and Margaret Emmeline “Emily” Neil (1893-?, wife of T. H. Williams). On 23 October 1896, he married Elizabeth Barbara “Lizzie” Coulter (1869-1945) and they had two children: George Albert Neil (1897-1981) and Henry Wilford “Harry” Neil (1901-?). He was a member of the Orange Order, Canadian Order of Foresters, and McDougall Memorial Methodist Church.

He died at his Winnipeg residence, 123 Burrows Avenue, on 20 December 1927 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Some of his construction works in Manitoba included:

Building	Location	Year	Status
McDougall Memorial Methodist Church	939 Main Street, Winnipeg	1891
Scott Memorial Orange Hall	216 Princess Street, Winnipeg	1902
Nassau Street Baptist Church	549 Gertrude Avenue, Winnipeg	1909
Machray Apartments	242 Machray Avenue, Winnipeg	1914

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Neil House (123 Burrows Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“James H. Neil, noted builder here, is dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 December 1927, page 15.

Obituary [Elizabeth Barbara Neil], Winnipeg Free Press, 13 March 1945, page 14.

Obituary [Eliza Jane Neil], Winnipeg Free Press, 27 March 1976, page 56.

Obituary [George Albert Neil], Winnipeg Free Press, 15 October 1981, page 73.

Death registration [Mary Adelaide Rowland], British Columbia Vital Statistics.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 April 2022

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!