John Charles McNeill (1874 – 1907) was born and raised in North Carolina. Of Scottish ancestry, he grew up swimming, hunting, and fishing on his family’s farm. He attended Wake Forest College, studying both English and law. John taught briefly at Georgia’s Mercer University, then moved back to his home state to practice law. Despite success in both those careers, John’s true love was writing. He freelanced for the Charlotte Observer for several years, publishing poems, articles, essays, and editorials. Sadly, this gifted writer died from a sudden illness at the age of 33, only two years after receiving from President Roosevelt North Carolina’s first Patterson Cup award for “the highest literary skill and genius.”