Neff Family

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Abraham Grim Neff, the earliest discovered ancestor of this line, was born on 3 Apr 1817 and died on 13 Nov 1890. He resided in Colerain Township, Ross County, Ohio as early as 1836.

The parents of Abraham Grim Neff are not known. However, through DNA testing, he is a part of the "C" Neff line as outlined in https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~neff/genealogy/c-line.htm.

Abraham's line can be linked to Johann Michael NEFF , born 21 Feb 1687 in Michelfeld, Germany, the son of Hans Jacob NÄF of Kt. Zürich, CH, Affoltern am Albis. Hans Jacob died 30 Jun 1818 in Michelfeld, Germany. Johann Michael NEFF died after Apr 1756 in Heidelberg Township, Lancaster County, PA. He married Anna Dorothea SAUR on 11 Nov 1710 in Michelfeld, Germany. She was born about 1690 in Michelfeld, Germany. The Johann Michael NEFF family arrived in Philadelphia, PA on the ship James Goodwill on Sept. 11, 1728.

Just before Abraham married, he purchased nearly 40 acres of land. The U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907, shows:

- Name: Abraham Neff

- Issue Date: 8 Dec 1835

- State of Record: Ohio

- Acres: 39.94

- Land Office: Chillicothe

- Accession Number: OH0230__.091

- Metes and Bounds: No

- Canceled: No

- US Reservations: No

- Mineral Reservations: No

- Document Number: 4099

- Authority: April 24, 1820

- Legal Land Description:

---Section: 13

---Twp: 8-N

---Range: 21-W

---Meridian: Ohio River Survey

---Counties: Ross

On 31 Jan 1836, Abraham Grim Neff married Mary Ann Smith, the daughter of John A. Smith and Sarah Richardson.

Per Abraham's death notice, they are known to have 11 children with 10 living to adulthood.

Based on information known, the following chart depicts the known children of Abraham Grim Neff and Mary Ann Smith.

Abraham and family can be found in Colerain Township, Ross County, Ohio on many records:

Ross County, Ohio Marriage Records, Volume GD, Page 86

- Groom: Abraham Neff

- Bride: Mary Ann Smith

- Marriage Date: 31 Jan 1836

- Marriage Place: Ross County, Ohio

- Officiator: John Patterson, JP

- Recorded: 29 Feb 1836

1840 U.S. Census - Abraham G. Neff is listed as HEAD OF FAMILY residing in Colerain Township, Ross County, Ohio. Although the 1840 Census did not record other family names, names can be assigned based on age ranges and is consistent with the 1850 U.S. Census for 2 children born before 1840.

 Listed are:

- 1 male under 5 [William]

- 1 male 20 to 30 years old [Abraham]

- 1 female 20 to 30 years old [Mary Ann]

- 1 female under 5 [Sarah]

1850 U.S. Census - Abraham Neff listed as residing in Colerain Township, Ross County, Ohio with wife and 7 children and Occupation of Tailor.  Listed are:

- Abraham Neff, age 33, born Ohio

- Mary A Neff, age 32, born Pennsylvania

- Wm. Neff, age 12, born Ohio

- Sarah C. Neff, age 10, born Ohio

- Emaline B. Neff, age 8, born Ohio

- John S. Neff, age 7, born Ohio

- Susannah Neff, age 5, born Ohio

- Rebecca Neff, age 3, born Ohio

- Lewis Neff, age 2, born Ohio

1860 U.S. Census - Abram Neff listed as residing in Colerain Township, Ross County, Ohio with wife and 10 children and Occupation as Master Tailor. Listed are:

- Abram Neff, age 44, born Pennsylvania

- Mary Neff, age 42, born Ohio

- William Neff, age 23, born Ohio

- Catharine Neff, age 22, born Ohio

- Emiline Neff, age 19, born Ohio

- John Neff, age 18, born Ohio

- Susanah Neff, age 17, born Ohio

- Rebecca Neff, age 13, born Ohio

- Lewis Neff, age 11, born Ohio

- Abraham Neff, age 9, born Ohio

- Scott Neff, age 5, born Ohio

- Eliza Neff, age 3, born Ohio

1870 U.S. Census - Abraham Neff listed as residing in Colerain Township, Ross County, Ohio with wife and 4 children and Occupation as Tailor. Listed are:

- Abraham Neff, age 54, born Ohio

- Mary A Neff, age 52, born Pennsylvania

- Lewis Neff, age 21, born Ohio

- Abraham Neff, age 19, born Ohio

- Scott Neff, age 15, born Ohio

- Alice Neff, age 12, born Ohio [Most likely listed as Eliza in 1860)

1880 U.S. Census - Abraham Neff listed as residing in Adelphi, Ross County, Ohio with wife and 1 child and Occupation as Tailor. Listed are:

-Abraham Neff, age 63, born Ohio

-Mary A Neff, age 61, born Maryland

-Abram Neff, age 28, born Ohio

According to an 1875 map of Adelphi, Ross County, Ohio map, A. G. Neff resided at the corner of Gay Street and High Street (outlined in red below).

 

It is very likely that Abraham Neff is buried in Belleview Cemetery, located at the intersection of High Street and market Street in Adelphi, Ross county, Ohio, in the village where he lived. Many related family members are known to be buried there. Many of the older stones have disintegrated or worn smooth where the names were inscribed. In addition, Bellview Cemetery suffered a catastrophic collapse in which a portion of the cemetery sank and about fifteen feet over the hill toward the east. Burials were not recovered and the stones were not recorded.

A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio Volume 1, The Lewis publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1917, Page 443

"The next was Belleview, located in the late '60s [1860's]. John Strous donated the grounds and laid it off into lots. In this cemetery lie the grandparents of the founder, and many of the ancestry. Among other prominent people of the early days, who are buried here, are Andrew and Frederick Haynes and their wives and family of children and grandchildren; Amos Bowsher, his wife and descendants; John Strous and wife and descendants; J. H. Larrick and wife, John Wittwer and wife and children.

In 1870, this cemetery, or that part of it overlooking the Salt Creek Valley, covering several acres, began to slide toward the creek, gradually sinking and exposing bodies, until now the highest point of the sliding and sinking portion is thirty feet below the surface from which it separated. This condition caused the removal of many bodies to other cemeteries. In the sinking portion are many graves and tombstones, going down with the slide, but not exposed. Geologists attribute this phenomenon to quicksand that is gradually oozing out into the creek bed and undermining the sacred burial spot."

Abraham Grim Neff Family Descendant Book (1817 - Present) - a privatized (dates & places of living people omitted) 8 Generation Descendant Book (PDF), starting with Abraham Grim Neff - 62 pages plus index.

Abraham Grim Neff Find A Grave - Burial information with links to descendants

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Last modified: August 17, 2026