BIO: NEFF Family, 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 204-205.
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THE NEFF FAMILY.

  This family, now so numerous in various parts of Pennsylvania, and in 
some localities in the west, originated in Switzerland, where there are 
very many of the name, especially in Canton Zurich. There they belong, 
as their descendants in America take pleasure in pointing out, to the 
most substantial and permanent class, the great middle class, whose lot 
in life is "neither poverty nor riches," but useful activity, with 
consequent prosperity, moderate ambitions, and contentment. They are 
said to be among the most prosperous and best educated artisans of 
Europe, so progressive and advanced as to have made their native canton 
one of the earliest seats of the cotton manufacture on that continent; 
the product of their looms is still in demand in every market. That 
traits of heroism and intellectual aspirations are latent under this 
comfortable burgher-like aspect, is clearly proved by incidents of 
family history which are handed down from one generation to another, 
and rehearsed with affectionate and sympathetic pride. The Neffs in 
America are able to trace their genealogy back to the earlier half of 
the sixteenth century. They had their share in the struggles for 
liberty so bravely carried on by the little mountain country of 
Switzerland against the almost overwhelming power of Austria; that 
struggle so celebrated in song and story, which, even more than the 
peculiar grandeur and loveliness of the country, endears her to 
American hearts. Their earliest known ancestor, Adam Neff, with his 
good sword, rescued the standard of Zurich from the hands of the 
invaders, at the battle of Cappel, October 11, 1531. He was then a 
young man of about thirty years of age. The descendants of the name in 
Europe still celebrate the anniversaries of the battle - the same in 
which the great reformer Zwingli lost his life - and of the heroic deed 
of their ancestor with family gatherings, festivals, and eloquent 
addresses. In the next century, Barbara Neff, martyred for her devotion 
to the Reformed faith, lent new luster to the name. In later times, 
Felix Neff, the "pastor of the high Alps," is fondly remembered for his 
short life of Christian zeal and fidelity to his flock, scattered over 
the Alpine heights, and for is self-denying missionary labors in 
spreading the gospel among the destitute and ignorant dwellers in 
remote hamlets. A celebrated publisher of Stuttgart, Germany, is Paul 
Neff, one of the same freundschaft; and the family boasts at least one 
distinguished artist, in the person of Timoleon Carl von Neff, painter 
of the picture of St. Isaac of Dalmatia in the cathedral at St. 
Petersburg, who died in Russia in 1879.
  Representatives of three generations of the Neff family came to this 
country about 1717: Francis Neff; his sons Francis Neff, Jr., Henry and 
Daniel; and the sons of Daniel Neff, also named Henry and Daniel. They 
settled near Little Conestoga creek, in Lancaster county. Hans 
Heinrich, of John Henry Neff, brother of Francis Neff, the first 
regularly educated physician in Lancaster county, appears to have 
settled here somewhat earlier. He was widely known throughout the 
county, and spoken of with affectionate, but respectful, familiarity as 
the "old doctor." The descendants of Franz, of Francis Neff, are spread 
throughout Lancaster and Huntingdon counties, Ohio, Virginia and other 
parts of the United States; and the family has been allied by marriage 
with a great many of the most substantial and intelligent families in 
the country. The early setters of the name were generally Mennonites, 
or members of the Reformed church; the former persuasion seems to have 
predominated among them. Governor Gordon, of Pennsylvania, says of them 
(Colonial Records, vol. 3, p. 296), that they "came into the province 
under a particular agreement with the late Honourable Proprietor, 
William Penn at London." Under whom they took up lands, and that they 
"have generally so good a character for honesty and industry as 
deserves the esteem of this government, and a mark of regard for them."
  Many years after the settlement by Francis Neff and his family, 
Rudolph and Jacob came from the Swiss canton, and became residents of 
Frankford, near Philadelphia. They also have many descendants in this 
country, and of both branches of the family representatives have not 
been wanting who have won for themselves most honorable social 
positions, and merited the gratitude of the states in which they have 
resided for their public services. A descendant of the Frankford branch 
of the family, Miss Elizabeth Clifford Neff, has commemorated her 
ancestry in a large and interesting work, the "History of the Neff 
Family."