Nafenhaus in Kappal am Albis, Switzerland

Here is a picture of the back of the Nafenhaus and below is a link to a map.  From the road you don't really see this magnificient face.  The front looks more like a garage or barn.

The Albis Mountains are west of the Zurich Sea, south west of Zurich.  If you can go and see it, I think you will be impressed.  I have tried to show the house on this map.  Only the west side of the house belongs to the Neff family.  From the driveway, which is on the west, and the back of the house you can look south across open fields to the church.  They have a lovely garden in back and some outbuildings west of the drive.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216011846557180505928.0004bc1d77c23ca3b488d&msa=0&ll=47.233499,8.526464&spn=0.007912,0.013604

If you would rather I got there by searching for "nafenhauser 13, kappel am albis switzerland" in Google. 
I have marked the Nafenhaus on the map, the Kappel church which is the complex south of the house and the Zwingli Monument to the east and north, just across Albisstrasse.

The article I wrote on the DNA project for the 2008 reunion tells a little about the Kappel war in 1531.  Some reformers were leading people away from the Roman Catholic Church.  Huldrych Zwingli lead the canton (state or county) of Zurich to become protestant.  The 5 inner cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Luzern and Zug were Catholic and the farmers and herdsmen were told to fight for the church.  There were actually 2 battles.  The first in 1529 ended when the Catholic herdsmen and Zurichers shared their bread and milk across the battle lines.

On 11 October, 1531 the second Kappel war began.  The 7000  men from the inner cantons met the 1700 Zurichers near the Kappel am Albis (church in the Albis Mountains.)  In those days a battle was lost when the standard bearer surrendered the regiment's colors or banner.  The Zuricher banner had fallen and Adam Naf, with a two handed sword, cut off the head of an inner canton soldier to save the banner.  The banner was lifted up and the Zurichers won the battle.

After the Zurichers had left the field, their leader, Zwingli, was found wounded on the battle field.  A priest tried in vain to get him to convert to catholicism.  It is said that he was quartered, burned and his ashes scattered over the battle field.

In 1550 Adam and his children were given houses in Kappel am Albis as a thank you for his heroic act in the battle.  Over the years many of them were sold - as they were historic and could not be updated.  In 1884 his descendents, prominent Naf families joined together to buy the one half house that was left.  It is maintained by an artistic couple.  The second floor is a museum of Naf artifacts and documents.

The banner and Adam Naf's sword are in the Landes (or national) Museum in Zurich.  The couple who take care of the house, last I heard, were Margrit and Claude Gressly, Nafenhaus13, 8926 Kappel am Albis, Switzerland.  Telefon 01 764 1274.  I don't have an email address.  It was about 2003 when I was last there, so things may have changed.

Neff Station and Halfway House (2) Markers

http://history.utah.gov/apps/markers/detailed_results.php?markerid=2162

Neff Station and Halfway House (2) Markers Plaque A: (West side) HALFWAY HOUSE Only a few yards from this monument - to the Northwest - stood the Milo Andrus "Halfway House", a comfortable and convenient two-story pioneer inn. The inn was one of several built along State Street in the 1850-80 period to care for the many south and northbound travelers. The Andrus Inn became known as the "Halfway House" because it was located midway between "Traveler's Rest" at 6400 South State and Porter Rockwell's layout near the Point of the Mountain. If one were walking, riding horseback or in a buggy or ther (sic) horse-drawn conveyance, the Andrus place was always a welcome stop. Built in 1859 and the early part of the 1860's, the Halfway House served as both a hotel and a family residence for 120 years. The structure was moved from here beginning in 1982 to the Pioneer Trails State Park in Salt Lake City after its history was authenticated by the State. The inn was actually a project of Lucy Loomis Tuttle Andrus, one of several wives of Milo. Lucy was a widow with children when Milo married her in 1850 as they were crossing the plains. At the time he was leader of some Church members who were enroute to Utah from England. After the group arrived in Utah, he worked hard to get them all situated. During the 1850's Milo and his families were involved in the great Church colonization program. Locations they helped settle were Green River, Dixie and Cache Valley in Utah, and Oxford and the Salmon River Country in Idaho. They eventually bought 160 acres in the Dry Creek area of the Jordon Bottoms that included this land on State Street. This area is now part of the community of Crescent. (Almost all of the above information was researched by the late Russell Stocking, member and officer of the Temple Quarry Chapter, Sons of Utah Pioneers.) Site #26 Plaque B: NEFF'S STATION The adjoining Benjamin Barr Neff farm - one forth (sic) of a mile north of here - became known as "Neff's Station at Dry Creek" or just "Neff's Station" after Deseret Telegraph established an office here in 1871. Mary Ellen Love Neff, 20-year-old second wife of Benjamin operated the station. The Neff farm was an ideal location for the telegraph station because the north-south line connecting Salt Lake City and east-west lines connecting Alta and Bingham, crossed at that point. With the coming of the cross-valley railroad through the Sandy area in 1873, the telegraph station was moved to that community. Mary Ellen was retained as operator for the new Sandy station. Benjamin Barr Neff, of Swiss ancestry, became a successful farmer owning dairy cows, horses and mules. The well which he dug for the farm was used until a few years ago and remains on the property. Site #27
Site Information
Location:	10500 S State Street SANDY , 84070 SALT LAKE County E. of South Towne Center, directly S. of Schlotzki's Deli
Marker Information
Placed By:	Sons of Utah Pioneers
Materials:	Permaloy
Organization Comments:	Temple Quarry Chapter SUP, (2) plaques
Marker Condition:	Excellent
Marker Description:	Photos of sites
Monument Information
Description:	Free-standing
Constructed By:	Sons of Utah Pioneers
Organization Comments:	Temple Quarry Chapter
Materials:	River rock, concrete cap
Dimensions (top):	5.5' H
Dimensions (base):	6' W 16" D
Condition:	Excellent

Neff's Grove in Sandy
http://www.examiner.com/history-in-salt-lake-city/hidden-history-sandy-neff-s-grove

http://www.examiner.com/history-in-salt-lake-city/neffs-grovepicture#slide=10041406

Hidden among the pavement, shopping malls, and highways in the Sandy commercial district is a small quiet grove with a prominent past.
Currently known as Neff’s Grove and located just west of State Street at 10250 South in Sandy, Utah, this now a hidden nature preserve was once a popular stop for pioneer travelers and pony express riders.
"Neff's Station at Dry Creek,” also known simply as "Neff's Station" became an important telegraph station in 1871 when Deseret Telegraph established an office there in 1871. The area was owned and farmed by Bemjamin Barr Neff but Mary Ellen Love Neff, 20-year-old second wife of Benjamin operated the station.
Just south of this grove (10330 South State Street), in 1859 Milo Andrus and one of his wives, Lucy Loomis Tuttle Andrus, began construction on his two-story pioneer inn and residence. The inn was one of several built along State Street between 1850 and 1880 in order to accommodate the many north-south travelers who would be walking, riding horseback or in a horse drawn buggy.
The Andrus Inn became known as the “Halfway House” because it was conveniently located halfway between Traveler’s Rest Pony Express Station (6400 South State Street) and Porter Rockwell’s station near Point of the Mountain (100 yards south of Utah State Prison, Draper). The structure was moved from this location in 1982 to This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City.
Both Neff’s Station and the Halfway House are gone and have been replaced with parking lots and shopping areas but Neff’s Grove is a peaceful reminder about the past.

Pictures of the Grove

http://www.examiner.com/history-in-salt-lake-city/neffs-grovepicture#slide=10041406

Continue reading on Examiner.com Hidden history in Sandy: Neff's Grove - Salt Lake City History | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/history-in-salt-lake-city/hidden-history-sandy-neff-s-grove#ixzz1bfJLvAy8

Hans Herr House

We went to the Hans Herr House & Museum, near Hans Herr Dr, Willow Street, PA. Because it is a Museum it was easy to find in Google and on B's phone.


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John Neff House in Strasburg, PA

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216011846557180505928.0004bd54ce0e10668594a&msa=0&ll=39.951213,-76.184506&spn=0.008718,0.010815 This link will take you to Google Maps so you can see where the house is.

We were unable to find the house John Neff built the last time I was in Strasburg, PA. I didn't have the map. I remembered it was off May Post Office Road but it was not just left of May Post like I remembered.  You can turn from May Post onto Sawmill Road and continue west to Weaver Road.  I don't know the exact address, but if you Google 622 Weaver Road it shows the forked lane going up to the house.  It is a private home, so if you choose to go, be respectful of the family that owns it.

I don't know how to remove the map below.  It actually shows the house, but it is up in the top left corner just after you turn left off of Sawmill Road.


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Mormon Hollow Plaque on Little Conestoga and Marshall Roads

On the North West Corner of the intersection of Marshall Road and Little Conestoga Road is a large plague on a large rock, telling the story of Mormon Hollow and Edward Hunter.






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Mormon Hollow

John Neff and his family probably heard the gospel in the West Nantmeal Seminary in what came to be called Mormon Hollow. West Nantmeal Seminary was built by Edward Hunter, a fairly well off man who lived in West Nantmeal. The building that was used by the town for a school, worship services and social hall had burned down. Because he had land, and perhaps the old building had been on his land, Edward Hunter was asked to build a new one. Edward said he would build the building on the condition that preachers of all denominations would be welcome to preach there or he would not allow anyone to use it. When the Mormon Elders came to the village and asked to preach in the building, they were turned away. Edward Hunter reminded the village of the deal , did they want to give up the seminary for school and church services? They agreed to allow the Mormons to preach. Edward became the protector of the elders and later entertained Joseph Smith in his home. Edward join the church and immigrated to Salt Lake. He is the ancestor of Howard W Hunter, 14th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this picture you can just see the bell tower on top of the building. We were unable to get close enough to see and get a picture of the sign which identifies this as the West Nantmeal Seminary.

L and J in front of the Seminary.


Looking across Little Conestoga Road to the Seminary Road sign.

Just to the left of the gate to the Seminary are 2 signs. This one put up by the Ogden Chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers tells of Edward Hunter and Mormon Hollow's influence on the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


This sign is next to it, put up by the West Nantmeal Presbyterian Church again thanking Edward Hunter for allowing their members to meet here for many years. The church is now in a new building and called the Fairview Presbyterian Church.
Here we see B and D and their children in front of the West Nantmeal Seminary built by Edward Hunter.

To find the seminary look for Seminary Road, Glenmoore, PA or 996 Little Conestogo Road, Glenmoore, PA. The building is across the Little Conestoga Road and just south of Seminary Road.

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Here are a couple of random facts and websites with more information:

Marriage record for John Neff and Mary Barr
"22 February 1822. On Tuesday the 12th inst. (married) by the Rev. Mr. Boyer, Mr. John Neff, Jr. of Strasburg twp. to Miss Mary Barr, daughter of Christian Barr, dec'd., late of Bart twp."
(Source: The Lancaster Journal, Lancaster, Pa.; Feb. 22, 1822.)

History of Utah: Biographical

By Orson Ferguson Whitney

Page 105

JOHN NEFF

The founder of Mill Creek, where he built the first grist-mill south of Salt Lake City, the subject of this narrative was a native of Strasburg, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was born September 19, 1794. His parents were John and Barbara Herr Neff. They were wealthy and gave their son a good education, both in English and in German. He was particularly noted for his fine penmanship. His boyhood and early manhood were passed in his native place, where he became a farmer and stock raiser and withal a shrewd business man. His father and Mr. Frank Kendig were the owners of a woolen factory near hie home, but failed in business when John was quite young. He bought them out, thus obtaining his start in life, securing the factory at a very low figure, as the neighbors, out of respect, would not bid against the son in purchasing his father's property. While carrying on farming and stock-raising he also had a distillery and manufactured liquor.

In politics he was a Whig, and was intimately acquainted with President Buchanan, Thaddeus Stevens and other leading politicians of the time. In his youth he saw General LaFayette, during his last visit to America, and would often describe the personal appearance of the distinguished Frenchman. He as well as his parents was highly respected, their names being among the most honored in their neighborhood.

The first Mormon meeting attended by John Neff resulted in his conversion to the faith of the Latter-day Saints. The meeting was held in a schoolhouse near his home in Lancaster county, and the preacher was Elder Henry Deem. Soon after this he was baptized, and from that hour until his death his religion was to him the most precious thing in existence.

In the year 1821 he married Mary Barr, daughter of Christian and Susanna Breneman Barr, who was ever a faithful and devoted companion, united with him in all things. In the spring of 1844, accompanied by his wife and child, a daughter named Barbara, he visited Nauvoo, Illinois, for the purpose of seeing the Prophet Joseph Smith, and purchasing property in the City of the Saints, with a view to moving there at an early day. The visitors were warmly welcomed by the Prophet, whom they heard many times in public and in private. On one occasion he said in their hearing that he should not live long. They stayed during their visit at the Mansion House, and left Nauvoo about six weeks before the martyrdom.

Returning to their home in Pennsylvania, they remained until the summer of 1846, when, having disposed of their property at a great sacrifice, they set out to join their people, who were then in the midst of the exodus from Illinois. Mr. Neff had an excellent outfit, for he was still well-to-do, notwithstanding his financial sacrifices. His teams, carriages and equipment were of the best.

He passed the winter of 1846-7 on the Missouri River, where he outfitted Orrin Porter Rockwell, one of the Pioneers; and after their departure for the West he made preparations to follow them in the first company of emigrants to Salt Lake valley. He was organized in the division commanded by Jedediah M. Grant, and between him and Captain Grant, Uncle John Young and other prominent men there sprang up a warm friendship. He entered the valley on the 2nd of October.

He first made his home in the "Old Fort," but early in the spring of 1848 he began the construction of a grist mill below the mouth of Mill Creek canyon. During the summer he moved out to that vicinity, where sprang up a settlement of which he was virtually the founder. His mill was completed and began to grind during the winter of 1848-9.

Father Neff was active from the first in developing the agricultural resources of the country, planting potatoes from seed brought by the Pioneers. During the dark days that followed, when the crops of the settlers were threatened and at times devoured by crickets and grasshoppers, he was always hopeful and predicted the prosperity that would follow. He was a generous and charitable man, freely imparting of his substance for the relief of the poor and needy.

Modest and retiring, he shrank from public life and notoriety, and the offices held by him were few. In the Church he was a High Priest, and he accompanied President Young and party on a mission to Salmon River. He also acted as a commissioner to locate University lands. This seems to have been the extent of his official service, though not by any means the limit of his usefulness to the public.

John Neff was the father of five sons and five daughters. His youngest son and name-sake is now Bishop of East Mill Creek. The honored sire departed this life May 9, 1869, at his old home in the settlement that he founded.

There is a very good history of John Neff at http://www.eternal-links.net/Family_History/ngf/11/2/history/John%20Neff%20II.html.

Here is an article from the Neff Times about the Flour Mill John Neff built.
http://www.eternal-links.net/Family_History/ngf/11/2/mill/Mills.html

This site is a picture of Mary Barr http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USHS_Class&CISOPTR=2747&CISOBOX=1&REC=1

Enjoy learning and let me know if you find more information. Alice Neff, alice@neff.ws