BIO: Isaiah NEFF, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, page 912. _____________________________________________________________ ISAIAH NEFF, who has been successfully engaged in farming in Chest township, Clearfield county, Pa., for the past thirty-two years, is also interested in merchandising, in 1889 establishing his general store at Five Points, where he does a large business. He was born September 5, 1856, in Chest township, and is a son of John W. and Mary Ann (Barto) Neff. John W. Neff is one of Clearfield county's most venerable citizens. He was born ninety-one years ago, in Center county, Pa., and is a son of Christopher and Sophia (Holton) Neff. He was six years old when he accompanied his parents to Burnside township, Clearfield county, and is one of the oldest surviving pioneers. During the entire period of active life he was engaged in farming and timbering. He has been twice married, his first wife, Mary Ann Barto, dying in 1860, at the age of thirty-two years, survived by two sons: Isaiah and John, the latter being a farmer in Chest township. The second marriage of John W. Neff was to Catherine Wagoner, a daughter of William and Catherine (Rodebaugh) Wagoner, who is also deceased. To this marriage were born three sons and six daughters. Isaiah Neff obtained his education in the early district schools, and then was associated with his father in farming and lumbering, and remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age. He then became similarly interested on his own account, and later enlarged his business responsibilities as mentioned above. He is numbered with the representative business men of Chest township and is a leading member of Harmony Grange. Mr. Neff married into another old family of this section, Miss Susanna Snyder, who was born December 29, 1865, a daughter of Jonas and Mary (Fox) Snyder, who came to Clearfield from Center county. Of the family of children born to Mr. and Mrs. Neff, the following survive: Irwin L., a thoroughly educated young man, who is at present an instructor in the Penfield High School, married Elma Groh, and they have two children; John C., who is engaged in the lumber business in West Virginia; Belle, who is the wife of Perry Kitchen, and they have two children: Clair, who lives on the home farm, married Carrie Woods; George O., who is a successful school teacher; Foster, who is engaged in farming in the vicinity of Philadelphia; Mazie and Wayne, both of whom attend school; and Myrtle and Quentin. Mr. Neff is identified politically with the Democratic party but has never been willing to assume the duties of any public office.