Owen Neff

NEFF, Owen Husband of 1. Magdalena (Maddie) nee HOOD – m. 3 Jan 1850 in Mahoning Co. OH 2. Maria nee BUCK – m. 4 Mar 1860 Son of George and Eva Measmer Neff B. 12 Mar 1827 in Saegersville, Lehigh Co. PA D. 30 May 1909 in Austintown Twp., Mahoning Co. OH at 82y 2m 18d Burial – 1 June 1909 in Old North Cemetery, Unmarked, Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 4 June 1909 "West Austintown – June 2 – Owen Neff, who was in poor health for some time, died May 30, aged 82 years. Funeral services were held at the house Tuesday, Rev. Schaaf of Canfield officiating. Interment in the cemetery one mile north of Canfield. The deceased was born in eastern Pennsylvania, where many of the early settlers of this township came from. He was a thoroughly good man. His wife two daughters and two sons survive him."

History of Trumbull and Mahoning County, 1882, Vol II, p142 "Oen Naff, farmer, Austintown township, Mahoning county was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1827. His mother died when he was about six weeks old, and he was brought up under the care of his grandfather, Christian Meassamer. When Oen was about six years old his grandfather moved to Jackson township, and resided there until the time of his death. Oen is the only child of George and Eva (Meassamer) Naff. His father still resides in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. When Mr. Naff was eighteen years of age he began learning the cabinet maker's trade at which he worked many years. Since 1850 he has been engaged in farming. He moved upon the present farm in 1860, and has a pleasant home. Mr. Naff was married January 3, 1850, to Madelina Hood, daughter of David Hood. She was born in Mahoning county, June 5, 1828, ;and died February 17, 1859. She was the mother of two children, whose names are Mary Magdalene and John Wallace. Mr. Naff was again married, March 4, 1860, to Maria Buck, who was born March 5, 1825. She was the daughter of David Buck. They have two children: George Oliver and Lucy Alice. Mr. Naff is an active member of the Republican party."

Genealogical and Family History of Eastern Ohio, 1903 p. 689 "This well known and respected resident of Austintown township, Mahoning county, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1827, and thus has completed over three-quarter of a century of his life. His parents were George and Eve (Messamer) Neff, and he was their only child, his mother dying when he was but seven months old. His father was married again, and twelve children were born of this second union; he died in Pennsylvania in 1881. After his mother's death Owen Neff was taken into his maternal grandfather's family and reared to manhood. Grandfather Christian Messamer was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1778, and died at the age of eighty-two years. His wife was Eve Sycle, who died in 1827, and her children were George, Jacob, Eve, Kate, Rebecca and Polly. In 1835 Christian Messamer moved to Jackson township, Mahoning county, and bought one hundred and one acres of land, on which he spent the remainder of his life. He made four trips on foot out to this country before finally purchasing, which indicates his rugged, hardworking nature and he was a credit to his adopted county. Owen Neff lived with his grandfather till the spring of 1845, then went to work at the carpenter's trade, and was later with John Gilbert for four years, becoming well skilled in his trade. He began farming in 1860, at which time he bought his present farm of eighty-two and one-half acres in Austintown township. He has devoted this land to general farming, and has been more than ordinarily successful in his undertakings. Mr. Neff was first married in 1850 to Miss Maddie Hood, and they had two children, Mary and John W. Mrs. Neff died in 1859, and in 1860 he was married to Maria Buck, by whom he had two more children J. O. and Alice. Mrs. Maria Neff was born in New York state March 5, 1826. Mr. Neff is a Republican and a member of the German Reformed church, and in private and public life has always been accounted a most honorable and sincere man, having worthily performed the duties which fall to one's lot in life."

Note: Owen and Magdalena Hood Neff had two children, Mary Magdalena (Nelson Shafer)and John Wallace Neff (Hattie Richards). Owen and Maria Buck Neff had two children, George Oliver (Tilla Hughes) and Lucy Alice Neff (William Helwig).

Comment: To the best of my (JLN) knowledge Owen is the only Neff who originally settled in this area who does not descend from Conrad Neff.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 9 2016, 9:44:39 UTC