JOHN A. MCNAIL was born in St. Clair county, Ill., Jan. 18, 1817, his parents being Abel and Nancy (Thompson) McNail, his father a native of South Carolina, and his mother of Kentucky. His father came to Illinois when a territory, and settled in St. Clair county, where he remained until 1825, when he came to Greene county, and located under the bluff, in what is now Walkerville township, where he remained about two years. He then removed one mile north of Roodhouse, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1828. His parents were among the early settlers of Greene county, and went through the hardships of an early settler's life, which was indeed very hard in those days. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, remaining at home until in his 21st year, when he started out to do for himself, without a penny. He hired out by the month for two years, working on a farm and in a distillery at Alton. He also drove a team at Alton for six months; then he hired out to drive stock, for different parties. He was engaged in this business for five years and by industry and being saving commenced trading for himself, and working on a farm in the summer season. He continued trading and farming until 1846, when the Mexican war broke out, and he enlisted in Co. C, 1st Ill. Reg., under colonel Hardin. He had served about five months, when he was discharged on account of his having the yellow fever. After recovering, he came back to Greene county, and bought 80 acres of land on Sec. 9, T. 12, R. 12, and moved on to it, and where he has since resided with the exception of about five years, when he was traveling around to different states trying to bury his deep troubles and sorrow, which were occasioned by the death of his wife. He has been twice married, first on June 7, 1846, to Hopey Lemons, who died in 1851. By this union they had two children, one of whom is living - Edward C. He was again married April 5, 1854, to Amanda Cranfill, daughter of Isham and Nancy (Groce) Cranfill. By this union they had five children, four of whom are living - Lou J., married to Thomas Hickman, resides in Montgomery county; Isham P., married to Amanda McGown, resides in Roodhouse. William G. and Alta L. The one deceased was one who died in infancy. Mrs. McNail is a member of the Regular Baptist church of Barrow. Mr. and Mrs. McNail own 250 acres of land. In 1868, he built a large two-story frame house at a cost of $3,000. Mr. McNail has been a man of strong mind, having borne up under a great many serious troubles, and has been a hard worker in his life, being industrious, intelligent and enterprising.