Frank Rivers MacNeill

Narrative:

     Frank Rivers MacNeill was born on 19 Mar 1885 in 943 West Monroe St., Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.^7,8,9
     His birth record shows his surname spelled as McNeill. But by the time he left home his father had changed the spelling to MacNeill, and Frank used that spelling as an adult. While he used that spelling for all official documents the McNeill spelling continued to appear in records prepared by others, such as census forms and city directories.^4,20,21
     Neither Frank nor his father have been found in the 1900 census. They were not with his mother, who was listed in the household her brother Frank in Leake Co., Mississippi.²²
     He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with his parents by 1903.^23,24
     He was a telephone operator by 1903, and was a clerk with the Bell Telephone Company two years later.²⁵
     Frank graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1906, having been a founding member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity chapter there.³

Starting a Career in the Insurance Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He was a clerk working for the Southeast Tariff Association, an insurance industry group, by 1908. The following year he said he was a draftsman. In 1910 he was doing that work for a fire extinguisher company.^26,27 Frank appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas, at 319 Main St., enumerated 4 May 1910, as a roomer at the Imperial Hotel. There were also two other employees of the fire extinguisher company listed there, a steam fitter and a machinist.²⁸
     Frank married first Mabel W. Abbott, daughter of William Henry Abbott and Mary Dacora Wood, on 15 Oct 1910 in Hall Co., Georgia, with Rev. J. J. Christian officiating.^10,11
     After their marriage Frank and Mabel lived with his parents, at 96 E. Linden Ave., Atlanta, for several years.²⁹
     He was working as a draftsman for the Cotton Insurance Association, a group providing re-insurance to companies insuring cotton crops, by 1911.²⁹
     The 1915 Atlanta city directory reported that Frank had moved to Dallas, Texas, but it appears Mabel did not join him.³⁰ By 1918 Frank and Mabel were both back in Atlanta, when they were living at her parents' home, 532 Lawton St.³¹ Frank registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at 532 Lawton St., Atlanta, Georgia, reporting he was employed as a clerk for Queen Insurance Co. in Atlanta.¹
     Frank and Mabel appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia, in the household of her parents.³²
     In the 1920 census his occupation was recorded as an engineer working in the constructing and building industry, which is perplexing since all other sources during this period show him in the insurance industry.³³
     Frank went to Florida in 1920 as state agent for the Hartford Insurance Co., while Mabel remained with her parents in Atlanta.^34,35 Frank apparently returned briefly to Atlanta about 1923, when he and Mabel were listed as living with her parents. He was listed as an insurance agent there.³⁶

Establishing Roots in Florida --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     In 1924 Frank opened a local insurance agency in Sanford, Florida, which he operated for many years. In 1940 he reported he had worked 48 hour the last week of March, and 52 weeks the prior year, earning $5,000.^37,38,39,40
     Frank and Mabel were divorced before 1926.^12,13
     Frank married Ann M. Lee, daughter of William Wiley Lee and Fannie Vaughan, on 13 Mar 1926 in Orange Co., Florida.^2,14,15
     Frank formed an insurance and real estate loan business in Atlanta about 1929, under the name of McJenkin & MacNeill Inc. Johnson E. McJenkin was president, and Frank was treasurer. Frank and Ann moved to Atlanta for a time, living at 1396 Piedmont Ave. NE, but apparently returned to Florida soon after. The firm appeared in the 1929 city directory and again in 1930, but by then Frank was no longer listed as a participant.⁴¹
     Frank and Ann, and their son Malcolm, appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Sanford, Seminole Co., Florida, in the household of her sister Laura and her husband, Zeb B. Ratcliff.⁴²
     Frank and Ann appeared on the 1935 State Census of Sanford, Seminole Co., Florida, reporting they were renting their home. Their son Malcolm was listed as living with them.⁴³
     Frank and Ann appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Sanford, Seminole Co., Florida, at 123 West 9th St., enumerated 6 Apr 1940, reporting they were renting their home, for $30 per month, and had lived in the same house in 1935. Their son Malcolm was listed as living with them, as was her mother.⁴⁴
     Frank was a vice president of the American Fire and Casualty Company at the beginning of World War II. He interrupted his business career to serve in Washington, District of Columbia, as the Assistant Chief Fire Prevention Engineer for the United States.³
     Frank and Ann moved to Miami, Florida, in 1946.³
     He founded the agency of Frank R. MacNeill and Son, which he operated with his son Malcolm until his retirement in 1970.³
     Frank died on 2 Dec 1977 in Coral Gables, Dade Co., Florida, at age 92.^16,17,18 He was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Sanford, Seminole Co., Florida.¹⁹