BIO: William NEESE, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  WILLIAM NEESE. The Neese family of Penn township, Centre county, is 
of our oldest and best pioneer stock, and one of its most esteemed 
representatives in this day is the gentleman whose name introduces this 
sketch. The first American ancestor was William Neese, a German by 
birth and a sailor by occupation, who came to this State in Colonial 
times and settled first in Snyder county, in the locality which is 
still known as "Neese Hollow," having been named in his honor. Later he 
moved to what is now Centre county, and secured a large tract of land 
in Penn township, where he made his home over a hundred years ago.
  Among his large family was a son Peter, our subject's grandfather, 
who as a boy volunteered as a soldier during the Revolutionary war, and 
served gallantly in the ranks. He was a man of great muscular power, 
and until a few years be-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  495

fore his death enjoyed perfect health. As a farmer he was very 
successful, and he was the first to improve the portion of the original 
tract now occupied by our subject, and built the first building there, 
the log dwelling house remaining still as an interesting relic of the 
past. He died there, at the age of ninety-one years, his wife, 
Christina (Hess), surviving him some time. They had ten children - four 
sons and six daughters - but all did not live to maturity.
  David Neese, the eldest son, and the father of our subject, was born 
at the old home about 1799, and was reared at the old home. He, too, 
was a successful farmer, and at one time owned about 250 acres of land. 
As a citizen he was highly respected, and he contributed generously to 
Church work and to other progressive movements. Politically, he was a 
Democrat, but, while he served in various township offices, he never 
became a politician as that word is generally understood. He died in 
1872, and his wife, Susan, who was a daughter of Valentine Kersteter, 
survived him only two months, the remains of both being interred in 
Heckman cemetery. Twelve children blessed their union: Elizabeth, the 
widow of Henry Alexander, and who for more than forty years resided 
with our subject, died in November, 1896; William is a mentioned more 
fully below; David is a farmer on a portion of the original homestead; 
John died at Spring Mills; Jacob is a blacksmith at Farmers Mills; 
Samuel resides with our subject; Benjamin died in Wisconsin; Harriet 
makes her home with our subject; Sarah married William Grove, Jr. of 
Benner township, Centre county; Rebecca married Henry Moyer, of Gregg 
township, Centre county; Emanuel also resided in Gregg township; and 
Daniel died in childhood.
  William Neese was born July 16, 1826, and since the age of seven 
years has resided on the old farm, which has now been in the hands of 
some member of his family for more than a century. As a farmer's son he 
was reared after the customs of the times, his education being acquired 
in the local schools, with his uncle, Jacob Neese, as his first 
teacher. A few years before his father's death, Mr. Neese rented a part 
of the home farm, and later he purchased the interest of the other 
heirs, paying them in all over $6,000. Both parents dying about the 
same time, there were two payments falling due very close together, 
causing Mr. Neese great inconvenience, but he was equal to the effort 
required. He now owns about 119 acres of fine land, representing a 
handsome competence, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens 
of the township. He has never married. A nephew, W. H. Grove, son of 
William Grove, Jr., and Sarah (Neese), resides with him, and two of Mr. 
Neese's sisters and a brother also make their home there, as stated 
above. In the spring of 1895, Mr. Neese retired from active work, and 
enjoys in peace the fruits of his past years of labor. He has always 
shown a loyal interest in the advancement of the community, 
contributing freely to religious and other movements. He is an 
intelligent observer of political affairs, and while he is a Democrat 
on national issues, he is not at all bigoted, voting independently when 
local interests only are involved.
  William Grove, the foster son of our subject, was born January 30, 
1867, and his mother was a sister of William Neese. He was educated in 
the common schools of Penn township, and came to live with his uncle 
when but two years of age; in fact was born on this farm, working for 
his uncle till he was twenty-eight years old, since when he has 
operated the farm. On February 5, 1895, he was married, and then he 
took charge of the farm. He married Tammie N. Corman, daughter of John 
Corman, and they had one child, Dorsey Monroe, born January 27, 1897, 
died June 24, 1897. In politics Mr. Grove is a Democrat; in religious 
faith he is a member of the Lutheran Church.