BIO: William 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 213-214.
__________________________________________________________________ 

  WILLIAM NEFF, farmer, of Porter township, Huntingdon county, was born 
in October 18, 1833, son of Daniel and Mary (Huyett) Neff. His 
grandfather, John Neff, was born in Lancaster county. After marriage he 
resided in Huntingdon county, near Petersburg, where he farmed until 
his death in 1819. He was an earnest and devout member of the Mennonite 
church. Daniel Neff, son of John Neff, was born in Logan township, 
Huntingdon county, in 1793. He attended the subscription schools only 
three months in his life, but in spite of this he secured a good 
education by close application to books. About 1819 he bought the 
homestead and farmed it until he died, in October, 1865. His wife died 
in 1842. Daniel Neff was a faithful member of the Mennonite church, and 
his wife of the Reformed church; they are buried in the Neff cemetery. 
Their children are: Ann Eliza, deceased, married to Abraham Harnish; 
Henry, residing at Neffs Mills, Huntingdon county; Susan: Fanny, 
deceased; John H., now deceased, who resided at Shavers Creek; Daniel 
J., a lawyer in Altoona; William; and David A., a farmer in Porter 
township.
  William Neff was educated in the common schools and remained on the 
farm until marriage. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted at Alexandria in 
Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
Captain Simpson' proceeded to Washington, and was stationed at 
Arlington Heights. After the battle of Antietam, the regiment was 
stationed for a time at Maryland Heights, then proceeded to Fairfax 
Station. Mr. Neff's first engagement was at Chancellorsville; after 
this battle he was discharged in Washington, D. C., in May, 1863. Going 
home he resumed work on the farm. In Adams county, December 28, 1865, 
he was married to Margaret Cordelia, daughter of William Howard. Their 
children are: Charles Daniel, graduated at Franklin and Marshall 
College, Lancaster, Pa., then took a course of music in Boston, and is 
now teaching music at Albany, Mo.; William Mason, graduated in 1894 at 
Millersville State Normal School, and is now preparing for the 
profession of teaching at Franklin and Marshall College; Mary H.; 
Amelia C.; John Frederick' Paul Howard; and Joseph Huyett, all at home. 
After marriage Mr. Neff built a house on the old homestead and has 
resided there ever since. His farm contains 90 acres, but in addition 
to his own, he cultivates his brother's farm. He is a Republican; he 
has served as school director for many years. He is an elder and active 
worker in the Reformed church at Alexandria, and possesses the 
confidence and esteem of every one in the community.