James Parker Neil was the son of Andrew Neil and Janet Parker Neil.

He is believed to have immigrated to the US on 3 May 1858 at the age of 22. The Port of Departure was Liverpool, Ship Name - Constellation. He married Rebecca Jane McGee by at least 1863, probably in Pennsylvania. Rebecca was born in 1847 in Pennsylvania and she died on August 11, 1886 while James was enroute to Scotland to bring his mother to the United States following the death of his father. James and Rebecca moved to Amber Township, Mason County, Michigan in 1865, along with his brother, Andrew Neil, and his brother's fiance, Fanny Holmes. Later, his sister Janet, her husband Andrew Falconer, and their son David joined them.

James received a Federal Land Grant, which was only given to Civil War Veterans, with was for 80 acres in Amber Township, Section 18 N 17 W, Patent No. 1433. He and Rebecca were the parents of ten children: Martha Jane, Nettie, James, Rebecca Agnes, Laura, Mary, Emma, William C., Minnie, and George. About 1889, James left Michigan for Rustburg, Campbell County, Virgina, where he established himself as a landowner and farmer. His second marriage was to Margaret Cook Sutton in Mason Co., Michigan. Margaret was born 1840 in Ohio, and died before 1905. Place of death unknown.His third marriage was to Sallie E. Thompson on 29 Mar 1905 in Campbell City, Virginia. Sallie was born Abt. 1859 in Campbell Co, Virginia and died Unknown.

Notes: James must have been a Civil War veteran because he received one of the original Federal Land grants from the United States government, which were given to Civil War vets. James land grant was for 80 acres in Amber Township, Section 18 N 17 W, Patent No. 1433. This is the land that is adjacent to the Andrew Neil Homestead and is located on what is now the northeast corner of Gordon Road and U.S. 10. The first school in Amber Township was located on James' property when he donated the use of his log cabin for that purpose. James also owned a large parcel of which is now called the James Neil Addition in the City of Scottville, Michigan, which he sold to the City for the sum of $1.

Obituary for James P. Neil

The News, Lynchburg, Virginia, January 1, 1914 page 10 col. 6: James P. Neil, a farmer, aged 76 years, died Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock at his home near Bococks, in Campbell County. The body will be interred in the burying ground here. James Parker Neil was born in Sorbie, Wigtown, Scotland, the son of Andrew Neil and Janet Parker Neil.

Note: “Tuesday” would have been 30 December 1913.