Was born in the state of South Carolina in the year 1830. At the age of five years he moved with his father to
the state of Illinois and settled on section 16 in Barry township, Pike county, where he still resides. John remained
at home with his parents and worked on the farm until 1850, when he equipped himself with the necessary outfit
and went overland to California, where he remained about ten months. His health failing, he found it necessary
to return, which he did in 1851. He resumed work on his father's farm, where he remained until the fall of the
same year, when he was married to Miss Polly Woodruff, who was born in the state of Ohio in the year 1833, and
came with her parents to Pike county in 1842.
Mr. McDaniel's father, Levi McDaniel, was born in the state of South Carolina in the year 1796. His mother's maiden
name was Elizabeth Jennings. She was born in South Carolina in the year 1802. Mr. McDaniel's parents are both living
on their old homestead, and, for persons of their age, enjoying good health. They are blessed with an abundance
of this world's goods for their comfort during the remainder of their days. They have both lived good and pious
lives, and have raised a large and respectable family, who are all settled and doing well. Mrs. McDaniel's parents
are both still living, but in feeble health. They, too, have lived honorable and Christian lives, and expect to
die in the full enjoyment of the Christian religion.
John McDaniel is one of the enterprising and live men of Barry township, of high moral standing, and of general
usefulness in his community. He has always followed farming and raising stock, at which he has been very successful.
He is a good judge of stock, and also a good veterinarian, which adds to his usefulness in his community. He has
experienced many hardships and suffered some heavy pecuniary losses, but being a man of industrious habits and
of an enterprising nature he has succeeded in making himself independent, and is considered one of the good livers
of Barry township. He is a very benevolent man, and does much to relieve the wants and distress of poor people
in his neighborhood. He has had born to him eight children, three sons and five daughters, seven of whom are still
living — one married, and six single and at home. He has one grandchild.