John McNeil (1813-1891) was born in Nova Scotia and died in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a notorious Union Army general who commanded the Second Missouri Volunteer Cavalry during the Civil War. McNeil was known as "The Butcher of Palmyra" after he ordered troops to execute ten Confederate prisoners in Palmyra, Missouri. The executions were in retaliation for the suspected murder of a pro-Union civilian, Andrew Alsman. McNeil was court martialed towards the end of the war; however, all the charges were dismissed and upon discharge he was made a brevet major general. After the war he was an inspector in the U. S. Indian Service, and in time became superintendent of the United States Post Office, St. Louis branch, a position he held until his passing. There is no record of McNeil studying with Eddy or uniting with the Church of Christ (Scientist).

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