Rev George Neff

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 3 2019, 12:50:32 UTC

The Rev. George Neff, D.D. (b. December 23, 1813), one of the oldest and most highly respected clergymen in Dutchess County, New York died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Philip Edgar Ackert [Susanna R. Neff Ackert (d.1928)] on South Clinton Street [in Poughkeepsie, New York] on Monday [August 6, 1900], in the 88th year of his age. Pastor's Neff's wife was Elisabeth R. Neff (d. July 1883). The couple had two children John Rugan Neff and Susanna R. Neff Ackert.

Rev. Neff was widely known in the upper section of this country, where for years he was highly esteemed as an earnest and faithful pastor.

His father, Rudolph Neff, was for many years a successful merchant in Philadelphia. [Possible? Rudolph Neff was born Aug 29, 1776 in Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, Oxford Twp., Germantown. Rudolph died June 11, 1857. He married Margaret (Rudi) Rugan Dec 4, 1802 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, First Reformed Church. She was born May 24, 1780. Margaret died Jan 23, 1861. They had 11 children.]

The family tree has its roots in Switzerland, where the chief ancestor, in the struggle of Protestantism in Southern Europe, rescued the standard of Zurich from desecration and received marked distinction.

George Neff was born in Philadelphia, entered the University of Pennsylvania, and after graduating [B.A. degree], he went to the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg to pursue his studies for the ministry [graduated in 1842]. While there he was elected to the Professorship of Latin and Mathematics at Hartwick Seminary, Otsego County, New York, the oldest Lutheran institution in the United States.

In 1842 he was licensed [and ordained] by the New York Ministerium to preach the gospel and in 1844 he received his first call from Trinity Lutheran Church [served 1842-1847], a new organization in Philadelphia. There he labored for eight years under many discouragements, but he was successful in placing it on a solid basis, and it is now [c.1900] one of the largest, most active and liberal churches in the city. He also served Lutheran churches in Saddle River, New Jersey from 1847-1850 and in Passyunk, Pennsylvania, 1850-1855.

His health failing and anxious to make a change, he accepted a call to St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg in Rhinebeck, New York. This was a large field for usefulness but unfortunate divisions had taken place which rendered the work one of considerable responsibility. But an earnest, judicious labor of 21 years heralded the difficulties, restored them again to unity, and prosperity followed. Extensive improvements were made to the church building and surroundings and in the 21 years scarcely a note of discord disturbed the harmony between the pastor and his people.

In addition to these pastoral duties at St. Paul's, he served fifteen years as the secretary of the New York and New Jersey Synod and eight years as the president (1878-1886); his earnest fealty securing the co-operation of both the synod and the churches, and he acquired a large experience of ecclesiastical and congregational working and development.

In 1876 Dr. Neff moved to Poughkeepsie to take a little needful rest. It was not long when he was invited to take charge of the Cherry Street Chapel in Poughkeepsie, where he conducted a Bible class and preached Sunday and Wednesday evenings.

Just at this time the Presbyterian church of Freedom Plains, seven miles east of the city of Poughkeepsie, became greatly disturbed by serious difficulties, which threatened their peace and prosperity. Dr. Neff was invited to supply their pulpit for one Sunday morning, which resulted in a continued supply for nearly two years. Harmony was again restored. The members became more deeply interested in church work. Several hundred dollars were raised for improvements and beautifying their church and it was one of the neatest in that section of the county.

After this he returned to Philadelphia and remained there until his health became impaired when he returned to Poughkeepsie, and has since resided here.

In 1886 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the Wittenberg College of Springfield, Ohio, and the synod of which he was a member, placed his name on the roll of honor, "Senior Ministerii."

The funeral was held from his late home on Wednesday at 2:00 PM. Interment was at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.

Source: The Poughkeepsie [Sunday] Courier, "Rev. George Neff," p.1, August 12, 1900 with minor edits from Rev. Mark D. Isaacs, Ph.D.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 9 2021, 22:08:59 UTC