BIO: David A. NEFF, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ 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, page 202. __________________________________________________________________ DAVID A. NEFF, Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Porter township, Huntingdon county, April 15, 1836, son of Daniel and Mary Magdalene (Huyett) Neff. He is a grandson of John Neff, who was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., married there, and early in his married life removed to Huntingdon county, and resided near Petersburg for the remainder of his life. His son Daniel, father of David A. Neff, was born in West township, Huntingdon county, January 19, 1793. He received his education in the old-fashioned subscription schools. He was married in 1819, and after his marriage took up his residence on the farm, where all the rest of his life was passed, and where his son David now resides. It is known as the Rock Vein farm. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Neff had the following children: Ann Eliza, deceased, was born February 6, 1821, and married Abraham Harnish, of Morris township; Henry, born March 16, 1822, has retired from business, and lives at Neff Mills; Susan, born October 20, 1823, resides with her brother, David A.,; Fanny, born July 9, 1825, died June 8, 1871; John Huyett, born October 9, 1827, was a farmer in West township, died December 23, 1895; Daniel Jacob, born January 3, 1831, is an attorney at Altoona, Pa., solicitor for Pennsylvania Railroad Company; William, born October 18, 1833, is a farmer; and David A. Daniel Neff was greatly respected in the community; he was known as a quiet and unassuming man, strictly attentive to his vocation; but those very qualities, coupled with his benevolent disposition, won for him the greater consideration. He was frequently called upon to serve as supervisor of roads. He was careful in the fulfillment of his religious duties, as a member of the Mennonite church. He was beloved not only by his family but by a large circle of friends and neighbors. Mrs. Daniel Neff died in 1842; her husband on October 17, 1865, upon the homestead. Both are interred in the Neff cemetery, in Logan township. Their son David A. Neff attended the common schools until he had nearly attained his majority. He also studied for two terms at Mooresville Academy. During the vacations he assisted in the labors of the home farm, and after his education was finished, remained on the farm. After the death of his father he farmed the homestead for a number of years, and has been ever since in possession of ninety acres of it. He continued to give his attention to farming until 1890, when he rented the farm to his brother. Mr. Neff is a Republican, and very staunch and true to his party. He was for a short time in the school board of the township. He is a member of the Reformed church at Alexandria, and has for some years borne the office of elder.