HENRY D. O'NEIL, Sheriff of Macoupin County, is an able and trustworthy official, well-adapted in every respect for his present position. He is a native of Carlinville, born April 6, 1856, and is the son of the late John O'Neil, a former respected citizen of this county. The father is a native of the Souther part of Ireland, and was a son of Thomas and Rose O'Neil who were both born in the same county as himself, and spent their entire lives there.
When a young man John O'Neil came to America in search of fortune's favors denied him at home. The father of our subject located in Pennsylvania after his arrival in this country, and was employed in the construction of the Reading Railroad. At Catawissa he met and married Miss Nancy Klingeman, a native of Columbia County, Pa., and a daughter of John and Lucy Klingeman, who were born in the Keystone State, and were of German antecedents. In 1852 he came to Carlinville and was the first section foreman here on the Chicago & Alton Railway. He was a man of very industrious habits, and as he was ambitious to secure a home, he carefully saved his money, and in 1861 had enough to buy a tract of wild land near Shipman, upon which he built, and he developed a good farm in the busy years that ensued. He resided there until death closed his useful life June 30, 1879. His good wife survived him until July 2, 1881, when she too passed away. They were the parents of eight children, named as follows: Mary, John, James, Annie, Hugh, Owen, Henry D. and Stephen A. D. The family was well represented in the late war by John and James, the former serving in the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry and the latter in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry.
The subject of this sketch remained an inmate of the parental home until he was twenty-one years old, and then took up his residence at Shipman were he remained until the fall of 1890. During the last ten years that he lived there he was prosperously engaged in the livery business. In his official position he has shown himself eminently worthy of the trust imposed upon him by his fellow citizens when they selected him for this important place, as he discharges its duties promptly, without fear or favor, and is potent in preserving law and order within his jurisdiction.
To the lady who presides over his hospitable home Mr. O'Neil was married February 24, 1879. Mrs. O'Neil was formerly Miss Mary A. Garvey. She is a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and a daughter of Patrick and Bridget Garvey, natives of Ireland. Her pleasant wedded life with out subject has been blessed to them by the birth of these three children - Maggie, John and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are members in high standing of the Catholic Church at Shipman. They stand well in social circles, and have many warm friends, as they possess in a full degree those traits of character that indicate true natures and command regard and confidence.