George Quinn McNeil was born to John McNeil and Mary Jan Quinn McNeil on January 4, 1865, in Bountiful, Utah. He married Adriane Marie Thomas on August 15, 1888. They lived on the family farm located on the southeast side of Bountiful City.

Today, the area is known as North Canyon. McNeil assisted Daniel Davis at the grist mill located on this site. NcNeil captured bears in the mountains above Bountiful City which were trained to do work around the mill. The bears were also taught to pull McNeil's wagon. He desired to take the bears on a tour from Bountiful City throughout the United States and have them perform a circus-type act. McNeil had traveled only a short distance from Brigham City with the bears when they misbehaved and the tour was cancelled.

George Quinn McNeil died on June 23, 1943.