This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: NEFF, GAROVICK, GRUBAUGH, ROE
Classification: biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 510-511.
HERCULES H. NEFF.
An ex-school teacher and present farmer in Union township, Wells county, Indiana, Hercules
H. Neff, a son of Jacob and Isabella (Garovick) Neff, was born in Crawford county, Ohio,
January 16, 1863. From that locality the father removed with his family to Cambridge City,
Wayne county, Indiana, where he died, and his widow re-married, becoming the wife of David
R. Grubaugh. She then moved to Marshall county, Indiana, whence she went to Huntington
county and in 1872 came with her second husband and her son to Wells county, where they
have lived and prospered ever since.
Hercules Neff was reared under the care of his mother and step-father on a farm, and has
lived in Union township Wells county, for thirty years. Here he was primarily educated in
the district schools and in the normal schools of Huntington and Wells counties. He taught
two terms of school and although he had met with eminent success as a teacher, he became
wearied of the profession and abandoned it for the purpose of resuming agricultural
pursuits. Mr. Neff is engaged in general farming and stock raising, but gives especial
attention to Polled Durham cattle and Cotswold sheep, in the breeding of which he has met
with more than usual success and from the sale of which he has realized his largest
profits. This farm contains one hundred and twenty acres, which is well cultivated and
improved with good buildings, tiling, etc.
March 13, 1888, Mr. Neff was united in marriage with Miss Emma J. Roe, the daughter of
Jere Roe, of Union township, and a highly educated and accomplished young lady, who has
blessed her husband with one child, Ola M., born December 16, 1889. In their religious
connection Mr. and Mrs. Neff are members of the United Brethren church and are liberal
contributors of their means to the maintenance of this religious organization. For a
number of years Mr. Neff has filled the position of superintendent of its Sunday school.
In politics he is one of Union township's most active and ardent Republicans and has
devoted much of his time to the service of the party and in other capacities. He is
popular, both as a Republican and as a citizen, and at one time was the nominee of his
party for the office of county surveyor, but his indifference as to public position and
his innate modesty were not conducive to his taking any active part in forwarding his own
interests during the canvass.
As a citizen Mr. Neff is broad minded and liberal. He is an advocate of free schools and,
when necessary, of compulsory education, and good roads are among the other conveniences
and comforts he deems absolutely necessary for the use of the farming population
especially, but he does not believe in over assessing those who do not require such
conveniences simply because others do require them. He believes in even-handed justice,
but, as an individual, is always ready to make a sacrifice of his means for the benefit of
the general weal, even though he may not reap the full benefit of such contributions
toward promoting the well-being of the general community.
Important Note:
The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply
to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.