James A. Linn

As printed in 1908

JAMES A. LINN, auditor of Clark County and a resident of Springfield since 1872, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1864 and is a son of the late "William R, Linn.

William R. Linn, who was also a native of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, was for a great many years emigrant agent for the Atchison & Topeka Railroad Company. He died in Springfield in 1890.

James A. Linn was reared and educated in Springfield and early in life engaged in the coal and ice business, beginning at the age of nineteen. In 1894 he became associated with the Hosterman Publishing Company as manager of the advertising department, acting in that capacity until 1898, when he organized the Springfield Publishing Company and bought the Hosterman Publishing Company. He published the Press & Republic and did a job printing business until 1903, when he sold the newspaper end of the business and has since continued the printing business, his firm having been for six years the State printers. Mr. Linn was united in marriage in January, 1893, to Harriet Hosterman, of Springfield, and they have four daughters, namely— Margaret, Harriet, Ruth, and Patti.

Mr. Linn has always taken an active interest in politics and has been on the Republican executive committee for a number of years. He was elected auditor in November, 1905, assuming the office in October, 1906. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, and is religiously affiliated with the Third Presbyterian Church of Springfield.

JACOB I). NEFF. trustee of Bethel Township and owner of sixty acres of farm land situated about twelve miles west of Springfield on the Valley Pike, is one of the township's enterprising and substantial farmers. He was born December 20, 1864, on the old home farm in Wayne Township, Montgomery County,

Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Harnish) Neff.

Jacob Neff, Sr., was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and was one of the eldest of a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. His boyhood days were spent in Pennsylvania and in 1835 he accompanied his father, John Neff, across the mountains to Ohio, where the family settled in the wilds of Wayne Township, Montgomery County. Here he assisted in clearing and cultivating the farm which is still in the possession of the Neff family. The father's death occurred in Clark County at the home of his son David. When a young man Jacob Neff spent much of his time during the winter months in teaming, hauling flour from the old Harris Mills to Cincinnati. He married Mary Harnish, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them were born twelve children, as follows: John, who died in infancy; Amos, who died aged sixteen years; Albert, who died aged twenty-eight years; Hetty, who is the wife of C. K. Brenner; Elizabeth; Frank; Mollie, the wife of Dr. C. A. Herr; Jacob D, subject of this sketch; Emma, who married Jacob Tippy; Henry; Christopher; and one unnamed, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Neff both died on the old home place in Montgomery County, the latter passing away first, at the age of sixty-five years, the former surviving her one year, his death occurring at the age of eighty-one years.

Jacob D. Neff was reared on the old home farm in Wayne Township, Montgomery County, and his primary education, which was received in the district schools, was supplemented by a course of study at the Miami Business College of

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

He was united in marriage June 1897, with Blanche Huffman, a daughter of Charles and Barbara (Flick) Muffina! of Hancock County, Ohio, and to then; have been born two children — Helen and Orrau. Politically, Mr. Neff is a Repute lican and he was elected trustee of Bethel Township in the spring of 1903, to which office he was re-elected in the fall of 1907. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pvthias, Osborn Lodge No. 379.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.