Jacob Hart Neff (October 18, 1830 – March 26, 1909) was an American

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. He served as the 22nd

lieutenant governor of California The lieutenant governor of California is the second highest Executive (government), executive officer of the government of the U.S. state of California. The Lieutenant governor (United States), lieutenant governor is elected to serve a four-yea ...

from 1899 to 1903.

Personal information

Neff was born in

Strasburg, Pennsylvania Strasburg is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It developed as a linear village stretching approximately along the Great Conestoga Road, later known as the Strasburg Road.Susan M. Zacher, NRHP Nomination Form Stra ...

, on October 18, 1830. His parents later moved their family to

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, where Neff completed his education and learned the blacksmith trade. In 1849, he moved to

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. As an adult, Neff resided primarily in

Placer County Placer County ( ; ''Placer'', Spanish language, Spanish for "sand deposit"), officially the County of Placer, is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was ...

, where he had large mining interests.

Early years

Neff moved to California during the 1849 gold rush, and he worked as a miner until 1863, when he had accumulated enough capital to become involved in other business ventures, including ownership stakes in several mines, construction of a toll road and bridge across the Bear River, and a general store in Dutch Flat Station.

Career

Neff was elected sheriff of Placer County in 1867. From 1871 to 1876, he was in the state senate. After completing his senate term, he carried out an appointment as a member of the federal commission tasked with inspecting the new Oregon-California Railroad. Beginning in 1877, he served for 10 years on the board that oversaw California's state prisons. For many years he was the president of the California Miners' Association.''Los Angeles Times'', Mar. 27, 1909, "Jacob Neff Passes Away," p. 11 He served as chairman of three Republican state conventions, and in

1898 Events January * January 1 – New York City annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York as the world's second largest. The city is geographically divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queen ...

was the successful Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. He served from 1899 to 1903, after which he retired.

Retirement and death

Neff resided in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

after retiring. He died there on March 26, 1909, at the age of 78. He was buried in Section E of Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Colma.

References

1830 births 1909 deaths Lieutenant governors of California Burials at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery (Colma, California) People from Strasburg, Pennsylvania People from Placer County, California Politicians from San Francisco {{california-politician-stub