Mahoning County OhArchives Biographies.....Neff, John E. February 24 1849 - August 6 1940
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Jennifer Neff ffen@zoominternet.net August 21, 2004, 11:24 am

Author: History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley Ohio, 1921
History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley Ohio, 1921
Volumes I, II and III by Jos. G. Butler, Jr.: Publishers: American Historical 
Society, Chicago and New York
Excerpts from Volume III, page 19

John E. Neff
While for nearly thirty years his home has been in the Village of Canfield, 
John E. Neff still has most of his active interests out in the country on his 
farm. For upwards of half a century he has been one of the prominent farmers, 
stock raisers and stock feeders in Mahoning County.

He was born a mile and three-quarters east of Canfield February 24 1849, son 
of Martin and Catherine (Wilson) Neff. His father was born March 24, 1826, and 
when this was written was still alive, one of the oldest men in the county. 
John E. Neff was the only son of his parents. There were four daughters: Mrs. 
Caroline Baird, of Beaver Township; Elizabeth, who died at the age of fifteen; 
Mrs. Mary Blackburn, who died young; and Mrs. Lois Edsell (sic Edsall).

John E. Neff grew up on the home farm. In 1870 he married Harriet Seanzebecher 
(sic Sanzenbacher). Her father, John Seanzebecher (sic Sanzenbacher), came to 
the United States when a lad with his parents. He was a tanner by trade, and 
after locating at Canfield married Sarah Oswald. He developed a very 
successful tanning industry at Canfield, and subsequently built a large 
tannery along the railroad tracks. He not only made leather but converted his 
product into belting. The business was profitably continued until larger 
plants under corporation management absorbed it. John Seanzebecher (sic 
Sanzenbacher) subsequently moved to a farm near the Neff homestead, and it was 
this propinquity of residence that made John Neff acquainted with his future 
wife. John Seanzebecher (sic Sanzenbacher) died in the village of Canfield at 
the age of ninety-one.

For twenty years after his marriage John E. Neff remained at the old 
homestead, farming, buying and feeding and shipping cattle. He also opened a 
meat market in the village, and was associated with his son in that enterprise 
for a number of years, finally turning its management over to the son. With 
his son Calvin he was also in the general merchandise business for about ten 
years, and for three years operated a livery stable. Mr. Neff still retains 
the old farm, comprising 340 acres, and so divided into range that it 
constitutes three distinct farms with two sets of building improvements. He 
has been very fortunate in his tenants, and from father to son has had one 
family for forty years. Mr. Neff still owns the cattle, sheep and other 
livestock on the farm and uses his land as a profitable feeding ground, 
frequently buying carloads of stock in Chicago and after keeping it through 
the winter, sending direct to market.

Mr. Neff moved to the village of Canfield in 1891, primarily for the purpose 
of educating his children, and subsequently found it to his interest to 
remain, his farm being in good hands. Mr. Neff has never cared for politics, 
has voted for the man best qualified, though nominally he is a democrat. His 
children are five sons and one daughter. The daughter, Sarah, lives at home. 
Ensign is a dealer in hides, living at Canfield and married May Porter, who 
died in 1918. The other sons are Martin, Cyrus H., Calvin and Roy J.


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