Isaac D. Neff (1913)

NEFF, PAYNE, LEHMAN, JONES, BECHTEL

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 1/27/2007 at 19:55:59

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
January 7, 1914

ISAAC D. NEFF

Isaac D. Neff enered this life on June 18, 1836 in Franklin county, Virginia, son of John and Nancy Neff, moved with his parents to Hendricks county, Indiana in 1852 at the age of 16. In 1865 he moved to Iowa. On June 8, 1867, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Jane Payne at Adel, they resided on a farm near Adel until the fall of the same year, when they moved to what is known as the John E. Darby farm, where they lived two years. In the fall of 1870, they moved on to the present homestead, where they have resided continuously for 43 years.

He is survived by his companion, who devotion through the past five months, has been a beautiful thing. A step son to whom he has been a father in every sense of the word; Mrs. Carrie Lehman, Millington, Ill; Mrs. Cora Jones and John G., both of who reside near the old home; Isaac Franklin, of Des Moine; Jake O., of Kelly, Montana; H. Roy, at home, the staff of his father's declining years; Byron D., of Indianapolis, Ind.; and Mrs. June Bechtel of Earlham. Twenty four grandchildren are left, who will remember their grandfather as one of the very best friends of their childhood.

He was preceded in death by little twin daughters, Vina, who died Sept. 12, 1877, aged 4 months; Verna, who died Dec. 27, 1878, aged 19 months; and his son, Neil, who passed away August 5, 1911, aged 25 years.

The death of his son proved a shock, from which he never recovered, but his decline was not rapid, until a stroke of paralysis occurred in July of this year, since which time he has gradually declined; patient in suffering, determined to the very closing of his life not to be a helpless burden he many times expressed a wish to be at rest and his peaceful death, in the quiet watches of the night, was a fitting close to a long and useful life, at the age of 77 years, six months, four days.

At the age of 27 years he confessed the name of Christ and united with the Church of Christ at De Soto, under the ministry of Rev. Roach. He transferred his membership to the North River church in 1890, and again to the organization at Earlham, becoming a charter member at that place, but not living to see the completion of the church building.

The immediate cause of his death was heart failure, induced by complications attendant upon old age. The funeral was held at the Penn Center church Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock. Dean Sherman Kirk, a special friend of the family had charge of the services. Music was furnished by a quartet.

Note: Burial was at Penn Center cemetery.