Sharp McNiel

Sharp McNiel, full name Julian Hilary McNiel, composer and teacher; born in Rusk county, Texas; educated in the public schools and began the study of music at an early age under his brother, L. L. McNiel [sic T. L. McNiel], who greatly helped and encouraged him; his next teachers were J. B. Martin and Miss Margarite Wood, and in 1898 he attended his first session of the S.N.M.I. at Mansfield, Texas, conducted by A. J. Showalter and Edwin Moore; received his diploma from this school at Childress, Texas, in 1901 since which time he has taught quite a number of very successful normals and other schools himself; his compositions, of which he frequently writes both words and music, are in the popular vein and appeal to the great majority of singers, while his earnest Christian character wins the hearts of the people wherever he goes. He died in 1911 of appendicitis.

The Best gospel songs and their composers by A. J. Showalter (Dalton, GA: A. J. Showalter Co., 1904) and obituary from The Houston Post, Vol. 27, Ed. 1, Sunday, April 30, 1911