Jacob Garber Neff (December 2, 1840 – January 28, 1925) was an American politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates.[1]

Jacob G. Neff
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Shenandoah County
In office
December 6, 1893 – December 4, 1895
Preceded byPhilip W. Magruder
Succeeded byW. A. Sager
Personal details
Born
Jacob Garber Neff

(1840-12-02)December 2, 1840
DiedJanuary 28, 1925(1925-01-28) (aged 84)
Resting placeMount Jackson Cemetery, Mount Jackson, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
Years of service1861–1865
RankCaptain
Battles/wars

Military career

edit

Neff entered the Confederate States Army and took the rank of captain. He was injured several times during the conflict, but remained in service. He returned to his farm after the war. Soon after, he was made Sheriff for Shenandoah County, but retired early from the position.[2]

Political career

edit

Neff was nominated as the Democratic candidate to represent Shenandoah County in the 1881 Virginia House of Delegates election.[3] His election announcement stated:

Let every man who is opposed to placing the negro above the white man, who is opposed to mixing the negroes and children of poor white men in the same schools, vote for a man that deserves your support, a man who will guard well your interests, who will deal honestly and fairly with the colored man, but who will never consent to place men who pay no taxes in a position where they can assess burdens upon the tax-payers of the State.[2]

He lost the election to George J. Grandstaff, the Readjuster candidate, with 1165 votes compared to his opponent's 1492.[4]

In August 1882, he represented Lee District at the Democratic Convention of Virginia's 7th congressional district.[5] He represented Ashby District in 1893.[6]

1893 election

edit

In October 1893, Neff was again nominated as the candidate for Shenandoah County.[7] He beat J. N. Brennan, the Democratic County Chairman, by four votes.[8] The incumbent Delegate, Philip W. Magruder, had previously turned down the nomination for a fourth term.[9] Neff's campaign leaned on his experience as a farmer and convincing other farmers to support him.[10]

He was elected with 1550 votes, being 336 more than his closest opponent, Republican candidate Daniel Spiker.[11][12]

Later career

edit

In 1902, Neff was president of the Shenandoah Valley Turnpike Company.[13]

Personal life

edit

He resided in Mount Jackson.[14] His daughter, Cora Neff, married P. M. S. Bird Jr. in May 1902.[13]

References

edit
  1. ^ Swem, Earl G. (1918). Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776–1918. Richmond: Virginia State Library. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Our Candidate for the Legislation". Shenandoah Herald. September 14, 1881. p. 2. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Democratic Meeting". Shenandoah Herald. September 14, 1881. p. 2. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "The Vote of Shenandoah County". The Valley Virginian. November 17, 1881. p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Delegates to the Democratic Convention of the 7th Congressional District". Staunton Spectator. August 15, 1882. p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "List of Delegates". Shenandoah Herald. October 27, 1893. p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "1893 Nomination". Staunton Spectator and Vindicator. October 25, 1893. p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  8. ^ "Political Notes". Staunton Vindicator. October 20, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "Leading Man of Woodstock Dies". The Times Dispatch. March 6, 1907. p. 5. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  10. ^ "Communication". Shenandoah Herald. September 22, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "The County Election". Shenandoah Herald. November 10, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "Election Returns". Shenandoah Herald. November 10, 1893. p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Married at Mt. Jackson". Richmond Dispatch. May 22, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  14. ^ "House of Delegates". The Post. November 23, 1893. p. 3. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
edit