My Genealogy Hound

JOEL NEFF is Treasurer of the Slatington-Bangor Slate Syndicate of Slatington, who are miners and wholesale dealers in black, green and red roofing slate, blackboards and other slate products. The goods sold by this firm are shipped to all parts of the United States, and special attention is devoted to the export trade. The volume of business is constantly growing, and the future prospects of the industry are bright indeed. Mr. Neff, of this sketch, is a thorough business man, and it is largely through his influence and sagacity that the business of this concern has grown to its present large proportions.

The birth of our subject occurred in Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County, November 28, 1836. His father, George Neff, also a native of this county, departed this life in March, 1882, at the age of eighty-one years. His father bore the Christian name of Barnhard, and though his birth took place in Lehigh County, his father, Ulrich, was a native of Germany. He helped to build the first church in Heidelberg Township, and was one of the prominent early settlers of the county. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Susan Handwerk.

The boyhood of Joel Neff was passed in the county where he was born, and he received a good common-school education. While still a youth he became employed in the slate quarry, where he thoroughly learned the business. Being ambitious, he then started in on his own account, leasing a quarry, and in time became the owner of a piece of slate land, where he opened various quarries and has since conducted a large and extensive trade. Mr. Neff is the owner of much valuable slate property, and has been identified with the slate interests of Slatington since 1860. He has a thorough knowledge of the business in its various details, and his long experience and executive ability have made him a prominent factor in the development of this most important industry. The Slatington-Bangor Syndicate mines the Blue Valley slate, which is of a very superior quality, and they have now in their employ about fifty men. Mr. Neff for a number of years carried on the business alone, but in 1892 the present organization was effected, with our subject as Treasurer and J. L. Foote as Manager. In 1871 a large general merchandise store was established in connection with the business, and in addition to this Mr. Neff owns much vacant and residence property in Slatington.

A Republican in politics, the subject of this sketch has always taken an active part in the local and national affairs of his party, and was for two terms Burgess of Slatington, and for a period of four terms was a Councilman. Interested in school matters, he has also done his share in this direction, having been for six years on the School Board. He is a member of the present City Council and is always to be found on the side of progress. Fraternally he belongs to Slatington Lodge No. 624, I. O. O. F.

In 1859 Mr. Neff and Miss Drucilla Handwerk, of Lehigh County, were united in marriage. The lady is a daughter of Martin Handwerk, a pioneer of this county, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Amandus Peter, and Sarana J., wife of John F. Berkemeyer, of this city. Mr. Neff is a member of the German Reformed Church, and Mrs. Neff of the Lutheran Evangelical Church, and both are much respected people.