David Neer

As printed in 1902

DAVID NEER.

David Neer, who has received high commendation for his services in behalf of education, is now filling the position of superintendent of the township schools of Harmony township, and makes his home in Plattsburg. -He was born in Summerford township, Madison county, Ohio, March 22, 1861, and is a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Ellis) Neer. His father was a native of Virginia, born near Harpers Ferry in 1799, and was about nineteen years of age when he came to Ohio with his parents, Nimrod and Elizabeth (Ropp) Neer. The Neer family is of German origin and was established in Virginia in pioneer days. The Ropps also come of German descent.

On the removal of the grandfather and his family to Ohio they settled near Marietta and thence came to Clark county, taking up their above in Pleasant township. The grandfather died in Marietta,, however. The father of our subject was married in this county about 1832, his first union being with Jemima C. Shaul, by whom he had four children, all of whom are yet living. Mathew is a resident of Clark county; Mrs. Elizabeth Archer makes her home in Logan county, Ohio; Mrs. Matilda Jones is also living in this county; and Mrs. Sophia Clippinger is located in Bellefontaine, Logan county. For his second wife Mr. Neer those Elizabeth Ellis, and their children are five in number: John and Mrs. Jane Cooper, who are twins and are residents of Madison county; Mrs. Margaret Smith, of Summerford; Saul E., of Urbana, this state; and David, of this review. The father was a farmer by occupation and carried on farming throughout his entire life. He died in Pleasant township, Clark county, on Christmas day of 1865, and his wife passed away in Madison county in 1874. He was laid to rest in Pleasant township, while his wife was buried in Summerford.

The subject of this review was only four years of age at the time of his father’s death. He afterward made his home with Jasper Botkin, with whom he lived until he was married. He attended the country schools and when about nineteen years of age went to Delaware, where he pursued his studies for three years. He then began teaching in Oak Grove, in Pleasant township, and for ten years continued his work as a teacher in country schools. He next secured a position in the village of New Moorefield, and in 1899 he was elected principal of the high school of Plattsburg and superintendent of. the township schools. He is a successful educator who has the ability to impart clearly and concisely to others the knowledge which he has acquired in a way that will leave its impress upon the young mind. He regards education not as something to be learned and put aside, but as a preparation: for life work, something that will be used daily, and with this understanding his own labors have been most effective in the schoolroom.

Mr. Neer was married in South Charleston, August 6, 1889, to Miss Della Cass, who was born in South Charleston, where her parents, Washington and Francina (Bricker) Cass, are now living. She is a graduate of the high school of. South Charleston, of the class of 1885, and for three years successfully engaged in teaching in that place and in Brighton. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children: Milesi Marie, who was born in Moorefield township, Clark county, June 9, 1891; and Lucile Francina, born in New Moorefield December 17, 1894.

The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Neer served as a trustee of the church while living in Vienna. He is now acting as superintendent of the Sunday school at Plattsburg. In politics he is a Republican. Socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Catawba, in which he has filled all of the chairs, and with the Knights of Pythias fraternity in Vienna. Mr. Neer is a man of broad mind and scholarly attainments, who has read largely and is most conscientious and earnest in his work, im spring the teachers and pupils under him vith much of his own zealand interest in the cause of education.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.