Harry Finley & Clara (Geeslin) Neff

Contributed by Roslyn Strickland.

Henry Finley Neff, the son of Francis Marion and Elizabeth (Shartle) Neff, was born in 1872 in Ohio. His father, Francis, was a Hoosier by birth.  His mother, Elizabeth, was born July 16, 1850 in the rich farm country of Medway, Clark County, Ohio.  Elizabeth's paternal great grandfather immigrated from Germany along with a brother and both of these ancestors fought in the American Revolution. 

Clara (Geeslin) Neff, the daughter of David W. & Josephine (Charles/Main) Geeslin, was born in Clark County in 1881. In 1906, Clara became the cherished wife of Henry F. Neff.  They were long time residents of Neillsville, Clark Co., Wisconsin where they raised their family.  Henry, known as "Harry" by all who knew him well, was a successful salesman for Speed Queen.  Clara had been well educated and became a thought provoking school teacher.  In 1919 they suffered a parent's worst nightmare when their sweet, studious, twelve-year-old daughter, Madlyn, suddenly died shortly after emergency surgery for a complicated case of appendicitis.  The grief stricken family buried her in the Neillsville City Cemetery.  Eleven years later, her father was laid to rest beside her and in 1959, Clara was also buried there.

• Obit: Geeslin, Shirlee T. "Shot" (1895 - 1983)

**Elizabeth Shartle, (b. 16-Jul-1850, m. 6-May-1872, d. 20-Feb-1919) her parents were James Finley Shartle (b. 21-Feb-1821, m. 20-Apr-1847) d. 11-Feb-1882) and Mary Jane Croft (b. 1825, d. 23-Aug-1911).  Her spouse was Francis M. Neff (b. 12-May-1849 d. 16-Jun-1927 in Clark Co., OH) and their son, Henry "Harry" F. Neff, was the husband of Clara Geeslin.  Harry & Clara were long time residents of Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.

Family Note:

"I never knew Grandpa Harry, Clara was such a lady and lived with us many years, helping Mother with us, there were 6 of us and we called her Nonny." 

Roslyn Strikland (March, 2004)