[2] Her father, Sylavanus Lord (1762-1822),was a Connecticut Yankee, her mother, Elizabeth Blanchard (1775-1858),[4] a native of Massachusetts.

[2] About a month after her marriage, she became a Christian, a devout Presbyterian, and began a life's work of caring for homeless children.

Her brother, Edward Clemens Lord, was a Baptist missionary in China, unable to care for his five children, and Mrs. McNeills agreed to do so.

She attended all the national conventions up to 1905,[6] when compelled by failing strength, she retired from active service.

[3] McNeill's health had been failing because of advanced age for some time, but she was clear-thinking until a few days before her death, when she became semi-unconscious.