BIO: Henry 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, pages 242-243.
__________________________________________________________________ 

  HENRY NEFF, Neffs Mills, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Porter 
township, Huntingdon county, March 16, 1822, son of Daniel and Mary 
(Huyett) Neff. His ancestor, Franz Neff, a native of Switzerland, took 
refuge from religious persecution, he being a Mennonite, first in 
Alsace, and later in America, settling in Lancaster county, Pa., on 
Neffs run, a tributary of the Conestoga. There he led the peaceful life 
of a farmer, and there his son John was born, who came not many years 
after his marriage to Huntingdon county, took up and cultivated land, 
and raised his numerous family. John Neff was accompanied to this 
county by his brother Jacob who also settled here, on the banks of the 
Juniata, and by another brother, who afterwards went to Virginia. John 
Neff began housekeeping in his new home in a log house, cleared his 
land, raised live stock, etc., and was among the most thriving and 
influential pioneers. He was a quiet and unassuming man, and devoted to 
his family. It was before the Revolution that he came to Huntingdon 
county, and although he took no active part in the war, he was 
interested in the questions of the day, and during the formative period 
that followed the close of the war, adhered to the Whig, or Federalist, 
party. He married Miss Musselman. Their children were: John; Andrew; 
Jacob; Daniel; Isaac; Henry; and Nancy. John Neff and his wife both 
died near Petersburg.
  Their fourth son, Daniel Neff, was born January 19, 1793, in Porter 
township, and educated in the simple, old-fashioned log school house, 
the instructions being given in the German language. Daniel Neff passed 
his life in farming. He cultivated 250 acres of land. Daniel Neff was 
married in Porter township to Mary M. Huyett. She was descended from a 
Huguenot family, who on coming to this country, settled first in 
Maryland; she was born in Porter township, December 8, 1798, and was a 
sister of Col. John Huyett, so well and favorably known. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Neff are: Anna, wife of Abram Harnish, of Morris 
township; Henry; Susan, residing in the old homestead; Fannie, 
deceased; John Huyett, died recently; Daniel Jacob, lawyer, Altoona, 
Pa.; William, residing on the old homestead in Porter township; and 
David A., also on the home farm. Daniel Neff was, like his father, a 
Whig, but took no active part in political affairs. He was a man of 
very quiet habits, and a member of the Mennonite communion. His wife 
was of the Reformed faith; she died April 26, 1842, at the age of 
forty-three. Mr. Neff died on the homestead, October 17, 1865.
  In the log-built home provided by Daniel Neff for his young wife, 
Henry Neff, their second child, first saw the light. He was brought up 
in the simple and unpretending habits of the country in which he lived, 
to attend the old log school house that served from generation to 
generation, and to assist in the work of the farm. Though plain, the 
school was in the main well kept, and an ambitious boy, such as Henry 
was, may obtain more amid simple surroundings than many do with the 
most showy advantages. Here he prepared himself for teaching; and while 
passing his winters in that vocation, he carried on his own studies 
with interest and success. In 1852, at the age of thirty, Mr. Neff 
removed to Neff Mills, in West township, where he combined the labors 
of farming and running a saw-mill. For the past forty years he has 
conducted a flour mill very successfully. He has changed it to a roller 
mill, adding improvements at an expense of about $2,500. On farm 
improvements, he has spent $3,000. In 1856 he built a fine, convenient 
dwelling of brick burned on his farm. He cultivates 76 acres. The mill 
is in the enjoyment of a large country custom. Mr. Neff has been nearly 
all his life a dealer in grain. He has been for a number of years 
postmaster at Neffs Mills, under various changes of administration and 
of party control. His own political preferences are Republican. He was 
warmly interested in the maintenance of the Union during the Rebellion, 
and contributed in money and in other ways to the support of its cause. 
He is also deeply interested in the general welfare of his community, 
in public improvements and in education. He was for two terms county 
auditor.
  Henry Neff was married in West township in 1854, to Isabelle M., 
daughter of William Oakes, a farmer and large land-owner of that 
township, of Scotch-Irish descent. She was born in October, 1825, in 
Barree township, and died February 8, 1856, at the age of thirty. They 
had one child, which died in infancy. Mr. Neff was married again, 
December 31, 1861, to Amelia McCord, a widow, whose maiden name was 
Miller; she is a native of Lancaster county. Their only child is Anna 
Kauffman, born October 22, 1863, married to William Harnish, Esq., 
attorney-at-law, Lancaster, Pa., has one child, Helen. Mrs. Amelia Neff 
died January 7, 1896. Mr. Neff is a member of the Reformed church.