BIO: Daniel G. NEFF, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 202-203.
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  DANIEL G. NEFF, Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Porter township, Huntingdon county, August 14, 1828. He is a son of 
Andrew and Elizabeth (Grove) Neff. Andrew Neff was a native of 
Lancaster county, Pa., born in 1787. He had the advantage of a good 
education, and was a farmer. His father, John Neff, removed at an early 
date to Huntingdon county, and here in Woodcock valley, Andrew married; 
His wife was a daughter of Jacob and Magdalene Grove. They resided on 
the banks of the Juniata, where Andrew Neff built a home on a tract of 
200 acres. He also had, with his brothers, an interest in the Ridge 
Land. Mr. Neff was warmly interested in the welfare of the community, 
and was always ready to propose or second plans for improvement; his 
intelligence and good judgment gave him an influential position in the 
township. He was a faithful member of the Mennonite church. Andrew Neff 
died on the homestead about 1831; his wife survived him for thirty or 
thirty-five years; both are interred in the Neff graveyard at 
Petersburg, Pa. Their children are: Benjamin, died on the homestead in 
1894; Andrew G., died in Porter township, in 1894; Eliza (Mrs. Samuel 
Hatfield), of Porter township; Jacob, farmer, on the homestead; Mary 
(Mrs. Martin Orlady), McConnellstown, Pa.; Daniel G.; John, died young; 
David, deceased; and Harry, in the hotel business at Alexandria.
  Daniel G. Neff attended first the private, or subscription schools, 
and afterwards the common schools, studying during the winter months, 
and helping in the work of the farm during the summer. He also enjoyed 
a fair degree of musical training, instrumental and vocal; he had the 
good fortune to live in the days of the old-fashioned country singing-
school, the decline of which is much to be regretted, as nothing has 
yet been devised to take its place. Mr. Neff bought what is supposed to 
be the first cabinet organ introduced into this part of the country; it 
is of Mason & Hamlin make. The father of Daniel G. Neff having died 
while most of the family were in early youth - Daniel, the sixth child, 
was still a small boy - the affairs of the family were conducted by the 
mother and eldest brother, Benjamin. Daniel remained at home until he 
was about twenty-four, when he married, and went to live on a part of 
the homestead, including 130 acres. He removed to his new home his 
small share of household belongings, conveying them in a two-wheeled 
cart, with which he forded the river. Among his treasures was a little 
four-octave melodeon, with which his mother and family were very sorry 
to part. Mr. Neff at once began diligently to improve his home, to 
build a comfortable dwelling, erect good barns, outhouses and fences, 
plant orchards, etc. He has been very successful in all his 
undertakings. Besides his home farm, he had one containing 97 acres, on 
which he built a house and barn, and afterwards sold the place to his 
son, Andrew C. Neff. In 1895, he purchased the Blue Spring farm, 
containing 252 acres, and lying in Porter township, partly on the banks 
of the Juniata and partly on Warriors Ridge. He also owns an interest 
in the Ridge land, and a house lot in Alexandria.
  In 1852, Daniel G. Neff was married to Susan, daughter of John and 
Margaret (Mong) Neff, a native of Lancaster county, Pa. Their children 
are: Andrew C., married Miss Stauffer, resides in Porter township; 
Clara; Elmer E., studying medicine in Philadelphia; Benjamin; and 
Walter, cultivating the Blue Spring farm, above described. On Wednesday 
afternoon, September 30, 1891, the mother of the family was suddenly 
taken away, by disease of the heart. She was an excellent Christian 
woman, active in church enterprises and in charitable movements. She 
was an earnest advocate of the temperance cause, a member of the W. C. 
T. U.
  Mr. Neff has always been a staunch Republican. He takes a number of 
the leading papers of the country, and, watching the progress of 
current events, forms his opinions accordingly. He is an active member 
of the Reformed church at Alexandria, where his wife also held her 
membership. He has been for many years an office-bearer, first deacon 
and afterwards elder. When younger, he was engaged in Sunday-school 
work.