Colonel John McNeel

 Colonel John McNeel was one of the earliest pioneers and the first actual settler on the Little Levels area of Pocahontas County, arriving around 1765

Colonel John McNeel was indeed one of the earliest pioneers and the first actual settler on the Little Levels area of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. He arrived in the area around 1765, making him a significant figure in the early settlement of the region[2].

Born near Winchester, Virginia, McNeel had initially settled in the Cumberland Valley, Maryland. After a physical altercation with another man, which he believed had resulted in the man's death, McNeel fled into the wilderness. His wanderings through the Allegheny Mountains eventually led him to discover the area known as the Little Levels[2].

Attracted by the beauty of this small valley surrounded by mountain ranges, McNeel decided to make it his home and built a cabin there around 1765[2][3]. He was about 20 years old at the time of his arrival in the area that would later become Pocahontas County[3].

McNeel's status as the first settler was soon followed by others. He encountered Charles and James Kennison, who were also searching for a place to settle. From them, McNeel learned that the man he thought he had killed had actually survived, allowing him to return east to prepare for a more permanent settlement in the Little Levels[2].

Citations:
[1] Pocahontas County Bicentennial ~ 1821-2021 https://pocahontastimes.com/pocahontas-county-bicentennial-1821-2021-59/
[2] Pocahontas County,West Virginia Genealogy Trails History of ... http://genealogytrails.com/wva/pocahontas/history.htm
[3] John McNeel Jr. (1745-1825) - Mémorial Find a Grave https://fr-ca.findagrave.com/memorial/27528171/john-mcneel
[4] John Abraham MCNEEL b. 11 Nov 1860 Pocahontas ... - Kith 'n Kin https://www.riverwye.us/getperson.php?personID=I17434&sitever=mobile&tree=Watkins
[5] Three generations make the Workman Farms work https://pocahontastimes.com/three-generations-make-the-workman-farms-work/
What was John McNeel's relationship with the Workman family

Based on the search results, there is no direct mention of John McNeel's personal relationship with the Workman family. However, we can infer some connections between the McNeel and Workman families:

1. The McNeely (likely a variant spelling of McNeel) and Workman families were intermarried in later generations. For example:

- Elizabeth McNeely married Joseph Workman[1].
- Cynthia Emcrine McNeely married James M. Workman, son of Abraham and Mary (Ballard) Workman[1].

2. Both the McNeel and Workman families were prominent in the early settlement of West Virginia, particularly in areas like Pocahontas County[3].

3. The families seem to have lived in close proximity and were part of the same pioneer communities in southern West Virginia[1][3].

While these connections exist between the families, there's no specific information about John McNeel's direct relationship with the Workman family. The intermarriages and shared history in the region suggest that the families were likely acquainted and possibly had social or business relationships, but the exact nature of John McNeel's interactions with the Workmans is not specified in the provided search results.

Citations:
[1] [PDF] THE McNEELY FAMILIES OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA https://occgs.com/projects/rescue/compiled/Agnus%20Pearlman%20Research/McNeely%20Families%20of%20West%20Virginia%20related%20to%20the%20Workman%20Family.pdf
[2] Full text of "Workman family history" - Internet Archive https://archive.org/stream/workmanfamilyhis00ande/workmanfamilyhis00ande_djvu.txt
[3] Three generations make the Workman Farms work https://pocahontastimes.com/three-generations-make-the-workman-farms-work/
[4] John Stewart Workman (abt.1824-abt.1853) - WikiTree https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Workman-2610
[5] [PDF] The McNeel Family Record - Seeking my Roots https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G004750.pdf
Were there any notable conflicts between John McNeel and the Workman family

There are no records of notable conflicts between John McNeel and the Workman family. In fact, the search results suggest a positive relationship between the families. For example, Nora McNeel married Lawrence "Skeeter" Workman, indicating a familial bond between the McNeel and Workman families[1]. This marriage and the subsequent generations working together on the Workman Farms highlight a cooperative and harmonious relationship rather than any significant conflicts.

Citations:
[1] Three generations make the Workman Farms work https://pocahontastimes.com/three-generations-make-the-workman-farms-work/
[2] The McNeel family record: descendants of pioneer John McNeel... https://libcat.familysearch.org/GroupedWork/c145a5e5-cecd-ddce-ef86-fd8d934e715f-eng
[3] [PDF] THE McNEELY FAMILIES OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA https://occgs.com/projects/rescue/compiled/Agnus%20Pearlman%20Research/McNeely%20Families%20of%20West%20Virginia%20related%20to%20the%20Workman%20Family.pdf
[4] John Stewart Workman (abt.1824-abt.1853) - WikiTree https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Workman-2610
[5] [PDF] The McNeel Family Record - Seeking my Roots https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G004750.pdf