Herr, Neff and Kauffman Family (Manor Twp.) Papers
Description
This collection contains mostly deeds and releases for property in Manor Township between the Herr, Kauffman, and Neff families. The dates for the deeds and releases are 1791-1792, 1804-1808, and 1841-1865. It seems that there are three main properties that all of the documents are mentioning within Manor Township. There are also nine bonds between Tobias H. Herr and Henry Herr Sr. that were all made in 1864. There are two Cyrus Neff's mentioned in this collection, Cyrus Neff and Cyrus L. Neff. One of the documents is Cyrus Neff's Certificate of Election for the Lancaster County Auditor in 1887. The documents pertaining to Cyrus L. Neff are his policy with the Pennsylvania Threshermen & Farmers' Mutual Casualty Insurance Company in the early 1920's. Towards the end of the collection there are two newspapers from 1929 and 1947, pertaining to the Herr family farm and house as well as what seems to be instructions on how to make animal feed.
Admin/Biographical History
John Herr came to Pennsylvania in 1710 with four of his five sons. His oldest son, Abraham Herr came with his father in 1710, and was the only one to settle west of the Conestoga River in Manor Township.
Francis Neff came to America from Switzerland in the early 1700's. One of his sons, Henry Neff, was the first to live in Manor Township. One of Henry Neff's four sons, Henry Neff Jr., was the only child that stayed at the homestead in Manor Township. He and his wife, Susannah Neff, had a son named Benjamin Neff who, in turn, married Anna Hostetter, daughter of Ulrich Hostetter and had two sons, Cyrus and Benjamin H. Neff. Cyrus Neff attended common schools till he was 18 years old then farmed for 11 years, after which he taught in schools for three terms. He was very active in the school board for six years and then was elected as Lancaster County Auditor in 1887. He married Kate Lehman, a daughter of Reverend Benjamin Lehman, of Manor Township, and together they had eight children. Cyrus died in 1890 at the age of thirty-eight years.
The donor, Ethel Huber, is related to the Neff and the Herr families on her mother's side and may be a descendent of Abraham Herr, the brother of Christian Herr.
Papers filed for construction and repair of bridges. The types of petitions presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions include: petitions for bridge construction and repair, petitions for inspections, and petitions for bridge funds. Other types of items include: specifications, proposals, and contracts for bridge construction and repair; bridge blueprints and plans; correspondence; bills for materials; and bridge condition reports. Many papers show date; court term and case number; names of petitioners, viewers, inspectors, and contractors; costs and fees; location of bridge; and name or number of bridge. The order and report of viewers documents are of particular interest as they usually include a copy of the original petition; the order and names of viewers to inspect the site; the public announcement for the viewers meeting; the report and recommendation of viewers, often with a drawing of the site and surrounding area; and the court decision.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Located on the Blue Ball and Lancaster Turnpike Road.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Aaron L. Custer, John Sheaffer, Samuel Stoltzfus, Abraham Groff, William Sprecher, John Petersheime, Isaac Sprecher, Henry Rutter, Lewis Custer, John Myers, Samuel Bachman, [signature in German].
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: John Herbst, Jesse Harting, John Wickel, Isaiah [Marty], Isaac Winters, David Waid, William Cooper, Peter Reidenbach, Simon N. Klause, D. Deshong, Jacob Breneis, Samuel [Steffe].
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Fordney, John B. Brubaker, John Steman, John Minnich, Jacob Acker, Michael Gochnauer, David Gochnauer, [signature in German], George Shreiner, Peter L. Grosh, Simon Minnich, Simon Minnich Jr.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the Columbia turnpike, formerly Hornberger's tavern.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Mayer, William Myers, John Davis, Frederick Hoffman, George Brown, Henry Getz, Benjamin Bear, Jacob Baer, [H. B. Bear], Jacob Hiestand, Christian Riddle, David Brubaker.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: William Myers, Frederick Hoffman, George Brown, H. B. Bear, John Eshleman, Michael Seitz, John H. L. Landis, Christian Kauffman, Jacob Hershey, Edward L. Howard, Christian Riddle, Ezekiel Williams, Henry Getz, Benjamin Bear, Henry Baer.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: John Davis, Henry Getz, Benjamin Bear, William Myers, Christian Kauffman, Michael Snavely, [signature in German], Christian Brown, Jacob Bringoff, Martin Schwar, Michael Seitz, [signature in German], Jacob Kauffman.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
