Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

public-spirited citizen, and takes a deep
interest in the town's affairs.
Mr. Raymond married Elizabeth Wil-
kins, daughter of Luke Wilkins, formerly
of Utica, New York. She was a sister of
Albert J. Wilkins, a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond
are the parents of a son, Royal Wilkins
Raymond, who is a graduate of Wesleyan
University, Middletown, and is treasurer
of the Raymond Manufacturing Company.
He married (first) Clara L. Hovey, daughter
of Dr. Horace Hovey, the well known
historian of New Haven, and they were
the parents of a son, Horace Hovey, who
was a student of Yale College. About fif-
teen years ago, he entered the employ of
the Anti-Saloon League, and was connected
with them for many years. Mr.
Raymond married (second) Mary Corn-
ing. Franklin M. Raymond and his wife
attend the Methodist Episcopal church,
and Mr. Raymond has served as a mem-
ber of its official board for about fifty
years.
NEFF, J. Leeds,
Real Estate Operator.
The first mention of the surname Neff
in America is found in Frankford, Pennsylvania,
in 1749, in which year two
brothers, sons of Felix Naf, a pastor of
Zurich, Switzerland, settled there. The
name is found with many different spell-
ings, among them being Naaf, Naef, Neiff,
Neyf, Nef, and Naf, meaning nephew.
The family in Switzerland was founded
by Adam Naf, of Wollenweed, near Cop-
pel, a gallant soldier, who distinguished
himself by his seizure of the banner of
Zurich in the battle near Coppel in 1531
between the followers of the Protestant
refugee, Zwingle, and the Roman Catho-
lics. Descendants of the family were set-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
2Q5
tled in Wethersfield early in the nine-
teenth century, and since that time have
scattered throughout Connecticut.
George G. Neff, father of J. Leeds Neff,
was born in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. In
his young manhood he owned a grocery
store in New Haven, and subsequently
was in business in New York City as a
commission and produce broker. During
this time he made his home in Noroton,
Connecticut, and Brooklyn, New York.
He married Adelaide M. Leeds, daughter
of Joseph Harris Leeds, of Darien. (See
Leeds line). Mr. and Mrs. Neff were
members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
They are the parents of one child, J.
Leeds, of whom further.
J. Leeds Neff was born in New Haven,
April 30, 1878, and in early youth lived
for a short time with his parents in Hartford.
Brooklyn, New York, then became
his home, and he was there educated in
the public schools. Later he was a spe-
cial student in scientific and business
branches in the Brooklyn Polytechnic In-
stitute, and in 1895 he went to Louisville,
Kentucky, where he worked under the
supervision of an uncle, Pulaski Leeds, in
the shops of the Louisville & Nashville
Railroad. There Mr. Neff learned locomotive
building, and subsequently went
to Boston in the employ of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad. When
twenty-five years of age he could build
and run a locomotive, but withdrew from
this industry because its possibilities did
not appeal to him. For a time he was
engaged in the investment business in
New York City, and in 1910 located in
the Springdale district of Stamford, Con-
necticut, foreseeing the growth of an im-
portant manufacturing and residential
center.
Here, in connection with other business
interests, Mr. Neff began real estate oper-