On March 30, 1858, at the age of 25, she was united in holy matrimony with 32-year-old Neal McNeill (1826-1900). Neal was the son of Irish immigrant Laughlin McNeill and his Somerset County-born wife Sarah "Sally" McClintock of Lower Turkeyfoot Township. 

The Younkin and McNeill families were close. Anna Maria's niece Louisa Younkin -- of the family of David Younkin -- wed Neal's brother Edwin and were pioneer settlers of Iowa, and Anna Maria's Younkin cousin Frederick Dumbauld -- son of Elizabeth (Dull) Dumbauld -- married Edwin's sister Jane and migrated to Kansas.

Just two months into newlywed life, Neil migrated westward to Iowa about the first of June 1858 and settled near the town of Onawa, Monona County, not far from the Missouri River and the Nebraska border. Upon arrival, he settled on land in the southwest quarter of Section 16 in Franklin Township. While he had made the high bid for purchase of 160, he only received 154.15 acres, and the House of the General Assembly of Iowa instructed the governor to issue him additional land to complete his acquisition.

There, he constructed the first brick residence in the county. He became one of the largest landowners and "most extensive farmers" in the county.

Anna Maria apparently remained behind in Somerset County where, in 1859, she gave birth to their eldest daughter Harriet. As soon as could be arranged, mother and daughter traveled to Iowa to reunite their young family and make their home for good.

Their seven known children were Harriet McNeill, Emily Jane McNeill, Henry Laughlin McNeill, Mary McNeill, Levi McNeill, John Knable McNeill and Sarah Elizabeth Heath.

The early days of the settlement were exceptionally difficult. The McNeil farm was among many in the locality to be damaged in a fierce hail and wind storm that swept across the county on July 27, 1872, an event chronicled in the book History of Monona County, Iowa.

In 1875, he was defeated in his bid for election as county sheriff, losing to James Walker 627 votes to 325. Three years later, in 1878, the General Assembly of the State of Iowa granted Neal a patent of 154.15 acres of land in the southwest quarter of Section 16, Township 83, Range 45 in Franklin Township, Monona County. Under Neal's management, the farm grew to the point where he was referred to as "one of the largest landowners and most extensive farmers of the county," said the History. "On his place he put up [in 1859] the first brick residence in the county."

The federal census for 1880 shows the McNeills residing on a farm in Franklin Township, with Neal's 25-year-old cousin "C. McClintock" boarding under their roof and providing farm labor. 

Neal was involved in an especially sensitive family matter regarding a niece, Etta Belle McNeill, allegedly born out-of-wedlock to his brother Edwin. At one point, the girl resided with Neal and Anna Maria about four or five miles from Edwin's home. Etta later sued Edwin's widow for a rightful inheritance. During the legal proceeding, she gave testimony of how "Uncle Neal" had gone out of his way to support her: 

After I left Monona county, my Uncle Neal came to see me every year until I was 21 years old. He came to see me when I was at Canton [South Dakota], and I don't remember that he ever missed a year. I know I looked forward to his visits. He came just once each year, and had no business with me or my mother that would bring him there only just to visit us. He always stayed over night, and on these visits he gave me money. He would give me $5 and $10, and brought me presents and things. I remember only once that he talked about his brother Edwin, and then he told me who my father was; he told me my father's name was Edwin McNeill. At that time I might have been between six and seven years old.

When the History of Monona County was prepared for publication in 1890, Neal signed a statement that he had reviewed the manuscript and made additions and/or corrections that in his judgment were deemed necessary. He received a short profile in the resulting book, produced in Chicago by the National Publishing Company. 

Anna Maria succumbed in Onawa on March 31, 1894 at the age of 61. 

Neal survived his wife by six years. 

By 1900, three of his adult children remained in the household -- 41-year-old Hattie, 35-year-old Mary and 33-year-old Levi. That year, farm laborer William H. Donkin lived in their home and helped with farmwork.

Neal died on Nov. 9, 1900.

~ Daughter Harriet "Hattie" McNeill ~