52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #21 - Ernest Ralph McNeal

Ernest is my 2nd great grandfather

Ernest Ralph McNeal was born on July 22, 1896 in Byron, Illinois to Charles Daniel McNeal (1858-1937) and Mary Lousia Alfred (1858-1941).  Ernest was the 12th of 13 children: 

• Sarah Evelyn (1879-1880)
• Cora May (1881-1959)
• Clara Eliya (1882-1976)
• Mary Olive (1883-1966)
• Bertha (1884-1973)
• Bessie (1884-1934)
• Kate Effie (1887-?) 
• Glenna Hanney (1889-1959)
• Lucy Charlotte (1890-1972)
• Robert Elsworth (1892-1894)
• Hubbard Elmer (1894-1975)
• Ida Gladys (1899-1966).  

According to the 1900 census, Ernest and his family were living in Rockvale Township but by the 1910 census they were back living in Byron.  About 1915, Ernest married Oral Marie Hodges (1896-1980) and they would have three children:

• Kenneth Ralph (my great grandfather; 1916-1983)
• Hazel Loraine (1917-1917)
• Ruth Adele (1918-2009).  

Ernest was still living in Byron according to the 1920 census but the 1930's census has him living in Rockford, Illinois.  Ernest and Oral would divorce about 1938 and would both go on to marry other people.  Ernest married Alice Harriet McDaniel (1890-1976).  The only sign I have found of Ernest in the 1940's census has him and Alice living in Riverside, California which also notes they lived there in 1935.  If they did live out in California they were back in the Rockford area by 1942 when Ernest filled out his WWII draft card.  Ernest died in May of 1968 at the age of 71.

Ancestry