IN the passing of John H. O'Neil of Park Rapids, on Febru- 

 ary 1, the cause of Forestry in Minnesota lost one of the 

 most ardent supporters. As a member of the State For- 

 estry Board, Mr. O'Neil had given of his best efforts to pro- 

 mote the best interests of forestry. 



A Man of the North. 



Mr. O'Neil was at one time a member of the State Legisla- 

 ture. During his term of office he evinced considerable in- 

 terest in the forestry problems then confronting the legislators. 

 A man of the north country, he realized the needs of his sec- 

 tion of the state keenly. He gave his best to the development 

 of the country in which he labored. 



Mr. O'Neil died at St. Luke's Hospital, St. Paul, following 

 an illness of several weeks. He was at the same hospital two 

 months previous but had improved and had gone to to his 

 home at Park Rapids. He returned to th hospital in Jan- 

 uary suffering from heart disease. 



Started as Railroad Man. 



Mr. O'Neil was 57 years old. He was one of the early con- 

 ductors on the Northern Pacific railroad, serving in that 

 capacity for eighteen years. In 1881 he built the Great North- 

 ern hotel at Park Rapids and had conducted it since. He be- 

 came interested in politics and was elected to the Legislature 

 from the Fifty-first district in 1901. He served one term, and 

 a few years ago was appointed to the forestry board. 



Was High Mason. 



He was born in Louisville, Ky., and was educated at Logan 

 college. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, and a Knight 

 Templar, holding membership in the commandery at Wadena 

 and in Zuhrah temple, Minneapolis. He also was a member of 

 the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. He is survived 

 by a widow. 



