BIO: Jacob 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 203-204.
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  JACOB NEFF, Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born October 12, 
1820, in the homestead in Porter township in which he now resides, and 
is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Grove) Neff. His grandfather, John 
Neff, who, as mentioned elsewhere in these records, was a native and in 
his earlier life a resident of Lancaster county, Pa., came to 
Huntingdon county after his marriage, and resided on the place now 
occupied by William Stryker, near Petersburg. He acquired much land, 
which is now held by his numerous descendants.
  Helping as a boy can on the farm, during the summer, and studying 
during the winter, first in the subscription schools, and later in the 
public schools, Jacob Neff passed his boyhood and early manhood on the 
homestead. About 1845 he bought a farm of 240 acres on Shavers creek, 
which he cultivated for twenty years. Five years after the purchase he 
married Susan, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Baer) Frank, of 
Lancaster county, Pa. He had begun on the farm with but $400, and the 
brick house which he built for the reception of his young wife, 
together with his many other improvements, cost him $7,000. Of course, 
those were days of much hard work and sometimes, perhaps, of no little 
anxiety; yet Mr. Neff looks back to that period as the happiest of his 
life. In 1865 he sold the farm of John Arnold, and removed to the 
family homestead, where he has ever since resided. He has given his 
entire attention to farming; has made extensive improvement on the old 
place, in the way of setting out orchards, building fences and adding 
various facilities. At the same time, he has not refused to do the 
services required of his as a citizen; has served as school director 
for two terms, and for one term as supervisor. His political views are 
decidedly Republican.
  The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Neff are: Samuel, married Miss 
Sprankle, resides with his father; Frank, also residing at home. Mr. 
Neff is serving as trustee of the Reformed church at Alexandria, of 
which he and Mrs. Neff are both active members.