NEILL, DAVID JASPER (1857-1937). David Jasper Neill, farmers' advocate, was born in Arkansas on March 25, 1857, the son of George and MaryAn (Munn) Neill. While a resident of Gorman, he became associated with the state Farmers' Unionqv and was named lecturer in 1904. He was elected state lecturer the following year and was unanimously reelected in 1906. On August 5, 1907, he became the first West Texan elected president of the state union. He received the endorsement of Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri to seek the presidency of the national union, but declined to make the race. For five years he served as editor of the National Co-Operator, then retired to his farm near Gorman; his last public service was to represent Eastland County in the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth state legislatures.
Neill and his wife, America (Cantley), had seven children. He died on June 28, 1937, in Gorman and was buried there.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: C. Richard King, "Dave J. Neill and the Farmers' Union," West Texas Historical Association Year Book 40 (1964).
