George Quinn McNeil was born to John McNeil and Mary Jane Quinn McNeil on January 4, 1865, in Bountiful, Utah. He married Adriane Marie Thomas on August 15, 1888. They lived on the family farm on the southeast side of Bountiful City, in the area now known as North Canyon. McNeil assisted Daniel Davis at the grist mill on this site. He captured bears in the mountains above Bountiful City and trained them to do work around the mill. The bears were also taught to pull his wagon. He hoped to take the bears on a tour from Bountiful City throughout the United States and have them perform a circus-type act, but after traveling only a short distance from Bountiful City, the bears misbehaved and the tour was cancelled. George Quinn McNeil died on June 23, 1943.