Distinguished Citizens of
Allegany County
Excerpts from History of Allegany
County
by Williams and Thomas (1923)
You can scroll through the list of over 600 citizens, or select the first letter of the surname that interests you. As biographies are scanned, they will be added here in the form of links. These biographies are contributed to the USGenWeb Project and may no be reproduced by any commercial organization for the purpose of sale to the public.
GUY NEFF
The history of every community is the record of each business house, for no
locality can rise above the standard of the men who make up its population.
Their achievements, their successes and their failures; their progressive
spirit, or their lack of a proper amount of energy and determination are the
decisive factors in shaping the destiny of the settlement, be it small hamlet or
flourishing city. Therefore no history of any section could be considered
complete without an exhaustive account of what its business men, past and
present, have done and are accomplishing, and Cumberland
is no exception to this universal rule. This city is fortunate, inasmuch as the
men composing its business element are a constructive force, and one which has
already accomplished much, and is planning still further advancement in the
near future. One of these sound, reliable and enterprising men of affairs is Guy
Neff, whose finely equipped and well stocked jewelry establishment is recognized
as one of the leading ones of its kid in Allegany county.
A native of Allegany county, Guy Neff was born February 7, 1883, and has here
spent his life. The public schools gave him his intellectual training, but he
has been a builder of his own fortunes. Mr Neff is a son of John W and
Caroline (Suter) Neff, the former of whom was born at Winchester, Virginia, and
the latter at Hagerstown, Maryland. John W Neff has long been engaged in a
flourishing contracting business. He and his wife became the parents of seven
children, those in addition to Guy being as follows: Walter J, who was born in
Allegany county, is engaged in the postcard business; Harry C, who is a resident
of Jacksonville, Florida; Charles E, who is a resident of Detroit,
Michigan; and three daughters—Mrs Alice C Landis, Mrs Clara Belle Little and
Miss Effie Neff, all of who were born in Allegany county.
After he had completed his school courses Guy Neff became an employee of P.J.
Smith, jeweler, of Cumberland, and remained with him for twelve years, during
that time learning the jewelry business from start to finish and forming an
acquaintance which has been valuable to him since he established himself in a
business of his own, July 15, 1917. Since the day he opened his doors to the
public he has enjoyed a gratifying patronage, and his volume of business shows a
healthy increase with each year. His political convictions make him a Democrat,
but he confines his participation in public matters to the exercising of his
right to suffrage. The creed of the Methodist Episcopal Church affords him an
expression for his religious beliefs, and he has long been a member of the local
congregation of that domination. In fraternal matters he maintains membership
with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is an
enthusiast with reference to that organization.
On June 10, 1919, Mr Neff was married to Mary Eleanor Miller, a native of
Frostburg, Maryland.
JOHN A. NELSON, an old-established general merchant at Eckhart Mines,
Allegany county, is one of the honorable, substantial citizens of that place,
where all of his useful life has been passed. Mr. Nelson was born at Eckhart
August 17, 1862, and the family is well and favorably known there, his father,
Andrew Nelson, having been a miner and merchant there to the end of his days. He
was a native of Scotland. To his marriage with Jane Porter, now also deceased,
were born five children: George and James are both miners; John A. is mentioned
below; Ellen is the wife of Isaac Porter; Catherine is married to Thomas
Philips, of Eckhart.
John A. Nelson was reared at Eckhart Mines, and for a few years attended public
school. His opportunities for an education soon came to an end, however, for he
was only a young boy when he commenced to dig coal at the Eckhart Mines,
following that occupation for several years. In 1891 he entered the mercantile
business, in which he has since continued on his own account, and though he had
little or no capital to start with, he has made good and built up a steady
patronage, gaining and holding customers by carrying reliable merchandise and
giving accommodating service. He has the confidence and respect of all of his
fellow citizens at Eckhart, among whom he has always lived and worked. In
politics a Democrat, Mr. Nelson has been a dependable party worker in his
locality for over thirty years. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal
church.
In 1883 Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Rose B. Crowe, of Eckhart Mines,
Maryland, a daughter of Nelson Crowe of that place, and they have fifteen living
children, namely: Effie, who is the wife of William Wheling, and they have three
children, Idelia, Jean and William; Raymond, who resides at Barton, married
Christina Wagner, and they have two children, Lucile and Beatrice; Daisy B., who
is unmarried, is postmistress at Eckhart, Maryland; James who is a resident of
Mount Savage, Maryland, married Martha Wills, but they have no children; Andrew,
who resides at Eckert; Ada, who is the wife of John Wagner, of Grahamtown,
Allegany county, has five children, Margaret, Marion, Helen, Marvin and John;
John G., who is a resident of Barton, married Miss Maitland James, but they have
no children; Harvey E., who is a resident of Frostburg, married Miss Emma
Shuckhart, and they have one child, Emma I., who is the wife of William Engle,
of Eckhart; Roger, who married Miss Ethel Lewis, has a son, Roger; Herbert, who
is unmarried; and Ruth, who is also unmarried; Marian, Olin and Estella.
Mr. Nelson has reared his large family well, and they are a credit to their home
training and to the community.