William Neff Scarff, son of John and Mary Scarff, was born December 19, 1863, on the old B.B. Scarff farm, three miles south of new Carlisle, and died at his residence on January 11, 1928, at the age of 64 years and 23 days, following an operation and an illness of 16 months. At the age of six his parents moved to what is now called the old Scarff homestead on the present Scarff farms. His early education was at the Mr. Pleasant school and he later entered Ohio State University in the engineering college.
Broken in health at the age of 21, Mr. Scarff left the university in his Junior year, being advised by his physician to give up his studies and to recuperate in the open air. After a year with his brother in North Dakota, he recovered his health and going back to his father's farm, he became interested in the growing of small fruits, an industry then in its infancy. One-fourth acre of blackberries was planted and it proved a success. Each succeeding year found him increasing his acreage of berry plants until it was found advisable to issue a catalog and this led to an active mail-order business which added greatly to the success of his nursery enterprise. This silent salesman still goes annually into many thousands of homes. From this small beginning Mr. Scarff has increased his holdings until at the present time there are 1400 acres of nursery, fruit, livestock and seed farms.
On September 19, 1890, Mr. Scarff was united in marriage to Mary Ella Miller of New Carlisle and to this union three children were born: Maxwell M., Howard N., and Lucile. Two sons live on the Scarff farms and have been in partnership with their father. Lucile lives with her parents. Besides his wife and three children, he is survived by two brothers: T.J. Scarff of New Carlisle and M.T. Scarff of Devils Lake, N.D. He also leaves five grandchildren.
After being converted at the old camp meeting grounds east of new Carlile, the deceased identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church in New Carlisle in 1888. He has always been a faithful member and for a number of years he served the church as a member of the Official Board.
W.N. Scarff was a man who was concerned not only in the building of his own interest but also in the welfare of his community and state. Early in the nineties he organized the Clark County Horticultural Society and served as its president until the time of his last illness. He was a life member of the Ohio State Horticulture Society, serving a term as vice president. As one of the charter members of the Ohio Nursery Association Mr. Scarff was elected to all of the official capacities at various times and has also been active in the National Nurserymen's Association. A leader in agriculture, it was only natural that at the beginning of the Farm Bureau movement he was elected to head the county organization, serving as its president until 1926.
During the World War when the government called for the utmost efforts on the part of every farmer, Mr. Scarff was chosen by Herbert Hoover as a member of the Food Commission and there was none who served more conscientiously in furthering this movement.
One of the highest honors ever conferred upon Mr. Scarff was that of Master Farmer of Ohio in 1927. This selection was made only after considering his value to the agriculture of Ohio and to his own community.
The New Carlisle Chautauqua has always held a warm place in the heart of W.V. Scarff and as its president, since the time it was organized, he has spent a great deal of time and thought in the furthering of its success.
Mr. Scarff served a number of years on the Bethel Township School Board and as its president helped to build the two new high school buildings.
At the time the county court house was remodeled it was a source of great pride to Mr. Scarff that he was selected as a member of the Advisory Committee, in as much as his father had served in a similar capacity when the former court house was built.
Mr. Scarff was for six years on the County Board of Health. He was a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.
Mr. Scarff's passing will be a distinct loss to his immediate family, and to his host of friends far and near, but the influence of his life and the great work he has stared, will carry on for many years. His life may be characterized by one of the mottoes we find in his scrapbook: "I shall pass through this world but one. Any good thing that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again."
(obituary – "Maggie's scrapbook" – clipping from unknown newspaper)
Sibling : Grace Clark Scarff
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
Sibling; Grace Scarff
Additional Daughter : Lucile Scarff Morrow
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
Broken in health at the age of 21, Mr. Scarff left the university in his Junior year, being advised by his physician to give up his studies and to recuperate in the open air. After a year with his brother in North Dakota, he recovered his health and going back to his father's farm, he became interested in the growing of small fruits, an industry then in its infancy. One-fourth acre of blackberries was planted and it proved a success. Each succeeding year found him increasing his acreage of berry plants until it was found advisable to issue a catalog and this led to an active mail-order business which added greatly to the success of his nursery enterprise. This silent salesman still goes annually into many thousands of homes. From this small beginning Mr. Scarff has increased his holdings until at the present time there are 1400 acres of nursery, fruit, livestock and seed farms.
On September 19, 1890, Mr. Scarff was united in marriage to Mary Ella Miller of New Carlisle and to this union three children were born: Maxwell M., Howard N., and Lucile. Two sons live on the Scarff farms and have been in partnership with their father. Lucile lives with her parents. Besides his wife and three children, he is survived by two brothers: T.J. Scarff of New Carlisle and M.T. Scarff of Devils Lake, N.D. He also leaves five grandchildren.
After being converted at the old camp meeting grounds east of new Carlile, the deceased identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church in New Carlisle in 1888. He has always been a faithful member and for a number of years he served the church as a member of the Official Board.
W.N. Scarff was a man who was concerned not only in the building of his own interest but also in the welfare of his community and state. Early in the nineties he organized the Clark County Horticultural Society and served as its president until the time of his last illness. He was a life member of the Ohio State Horticulture Society, serving a term as vice president. As one of the charter members of the Ohio Nursery Association Mr. Scarff was elected to all of the official capacities at various times and has also been active in the National Nurserymen's Association. A leader in agriculture, it was only natural that at the beginning of the Farm Bureau movement he was elected to head the county organization, serving as its president until 1926.
During the World War when the government called for the utmost efforts on the part of every farmer, Mr. Scarff was chosen by Herbert Hoover as a member of the Food Commission and there was none who served more conscientiously in furthering this movement.
One of the highest honors ever conferred upon Mr. Scarff was that of Master Farmer of Ohio in 1927. This selection was made only after considering his value to the agriculture of Ohio and to his own community.
The New Carlisle Chautauqua has always held a warm place in the heart of W.V. Scarff and as its president, since the time it was organized, he has spent a great deal of time and thought in the furthering of its success.
Mr. Scarff served a number of years on the Bethel Township School Board and as its president helped to build the two new high school buildings.
At the time the county court house was remodeled it was a source of great pride to Mr. Scarff that he was selected as a member of the Advisory Committee, in as much as his father had served in a similar capacity when the former court house was built.
Mr. Scarff was for six years on the County Board of Health. He was a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.
Mr. Scarff's passing will be a distinct loss to his immediate family, and to his host of friends far and near, but the influence of his life and the great work he has stared, will carry on for many years. His life may be characterized by one of the mottoes we find in his scrapbook: "I shall pass through this world but one. Any good thing that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again."
(obituary – "Maggie's scrapbook" – clipping from unknown newspaper)
Sibling : Grace Clark Scarff
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
Sibling; Grace Scarff
Additional Daughter : Lucile Scarff Morrow
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
William Neff Scarff, son of John and Mary Scarff, was born December 19, 1863, on the old B.B. Scarff farm, three miles south of new Carlisle, and died at his residence on January 11, 1928, at the age of 64 years and 23 days, following an operation and an illness of 16 months. At the age of six his parents moved to what is now called the old Scarff homestead on the present Scarff farms. His early education was at the Mr. Pleasant school and he later entered Ohio State University in the engineering college.
Broken in health at the age of 21, Mr. Scarff left the university in his Junior year, being advised by his physician to give up his studies and to recuperate in the open air. After a year with his brother in North Dakota, he recovered his health and going back to his father's farm, he became interested in the growing of small fruits, an industry then in its infancy. One-fourth acre of blackberries was planted and it proved a success. Each succeeding year found him increasing his acreage of berry plants until it was found advisable to issue a catalog and this led to an active mail-order business which added greatly to the success of his nursery enterprise. This silent salesman still goes annually into many thousands of homes. From this small beginning Mr. Scarff has increased his holdings until at the present time there are 1400 acres of nursery, fruit, livestock and seed farms.
On September 19, 1890, Mr. Scarff was united in marriage to Mary Ella Miller of New Carlisle and to this union three children were born: Maxwell M., Howard N., and Lucile. Two sons live on the Scarff farms and have been in partnership with their father. Lucile lives with her parents. Besides his wife and three children, he is survived by two brothers: T.J. Scarff of New Carlisle and M.T. Scarff of Devils Lake, N.D. He also leaves five grandchildren.
After being converted at the old camp meeting grounds east of new Carlile, the deceased identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church in New Carlisle in 1888. He has always been a faithful member and for a number of years he served the church as a member of the Official Board.
W.N. Scarff was a man who was concerned not only in the building of his own interest but also in the welfare of his community and state. Early in the nineties he organized the Clark County Horticultural Society and served as its president until the time of his last illness. He was a life member of the Ohio State Horticulture Society, serving a term as vice president. As one of the charter members of the Ohio Nursery Association Mr. Scarff was elected to all of the official capacities at various times and has also been active in the National Nurserymen's Association. A leader in agriculture, it was only natural that at the beginning of the Farm Bureau movement he was elected to head the county organization, serving as its president until 1926.
During the World War when the government called for the utmost efforts on the part of every farmer, Mr. Scarff was chosen by Herbert Hoover as a member of the Food Commission and there was none who served more conscientiously in furthering this movement.
One of the highest honors ever conferred upon Mr. Scarff was that of Master Farmer of Ohio in 1927. This selection was made only after considering his value to the agriculture of Ohio and to his own community.
The New Carlisle Chautauqua has always held a warm place in the heart of W.V. Scarff and as its president, since the time it was organized, he has spent a great deal of time and thought in the furthering of its success.
Mr. Scarff served a number of years on the Bethel Township School Board and as its president helped to build the two new high school buildings.
At the time the county court house was remodeled it was a source of great pride to Mr. Scarff that he was selected as a member of the Advisory Committee, in as much as his father had served in a similar capacity when the former court house was built.
Mr. Scarff was for six years on the County Board of Health. He was a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.
Mr. Scarff's passing will be a distinct loss to his immediate family, and to his host of friends far and near, but the influence of his life and the great work he has stared, will carry on for many years. His life may be characterized by one of the mottoes we find in his scrapbook: "I shall pass through this world but one. Any good thing that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again."
(obituary – "Maggie's scrapbook" – clipping from unknown newspaper)
Sibling : Grace Clark Scarff
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
Sibling; Grace Scarff
Additional Daughter : Lucile Scarff Morrow
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
Broken in health at the age of 21, Mr. Scarff left the university in his Junior year, being advised by his physician to give up his studies and to recuperate in the open air. After a year with his brother in North Dakota, he recovered his health and going back to his father's farm, he became interested in the growing of small fruits, an industry then in its infancy. One-fourth acre of blackberries was planted and it proved a success. Each succeeding year found him increasing his acreage of berry plants until it was found advisable to issue a catalog and this led to an active mail-order business which added greatly to the success of his nursery enterprise. This silent salesman still goes annually into many thousands of homes. From this small beginning Mr. Scarff has increased his holdings until at the present time there are 1400 acres of nursery, fruit, livestock and seed farms.
On September 19, 1890, Mr. Scarff was united in marriage to Mary Ella Miller of New Carlisle and to this union three children were born: Maxwell M., Howard N., and Lucile. Two sons live on the Scarff farms and have been in partnership with their father. Lucile lives with her parents. Besides his wife and three children, he is survived by two brothers: T.J. Scarff of New Carlisle and M.T. Scarff of Devils Lake, N.D. He also leaves five grandchildren.
After being converted at the old camp meeting grounds east of new Carlile, the deceased identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church in New Carlisle in 1888. He has always been a faithful member and for a number of years he served the church as a member of the Official Board.
W.N. Scarff was a man who was concerned not only in the building of his own interest but also in the welfare of his community and state. Early in the nineties he organized the Clark County Horticultural Society and served as its president until the time of his last illness. He was a life member of the Ohio State Horticulture Society, serving a term as vice president. As one of the charter members of the Ohio Nursery Association Mr. Scarff was elected to all of the official capacities at various times and has also been active in the National Nurserymen's Association. A leader in agriculture, it was only natural that at the beginning of the Farm Bureau movement he was elected to head the county organization, serving as its president until 1926.
During the World War when the government called for the utmost efforts on the part of every farmer, Mr. Scarff was chosen by Herbert Hoover as a member of the Food Commission and there was none who served more conscientiously in furthering this movement.
One of the highest honors ever conferred upon Mr. Scarff was that of Master Farmer of Ohio in 1927. This selection was made only after considering his value to the agriculture of Ohio and to his own community.
The New Carlisle Chautauqua has always held a warm place in the heart of W.V. Scarff and as its president, since the time it was organized, he has spent a great deal of time and thought in the furthering of its success.
Mr. Scarff served a number of years on the Bethel Township School Board and as its president helped to build the two new high school buildings.
At the time the county court house was remodeled it was a source of great pride to Mr. Scarff that he was selected as a member of the Advisory Committee, in as much as his father had served in a similar capacity when the former court house was built.
Mr. Scarff was for six years on the County Board of Health. He was a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.
Mr. Scarff's passing will be a distinct loss to his immediate family, and to his host of friends far and near, but the influence of his life and the great work he has stared, will carry on for many years. His life may be characterized by one of the mottoes we find in his scrapbook: "I shall pass through this world but one. Any good thing that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again."
(obituary – "Maggie's scrapbook" – clipping from unknown newspaper)
Sibling : Grace Clark Scarff
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
Sibling; Grace Scarff
Additional Daughter : Lucile Scarff Morrow
Contributor: Debbie Scarff Fuller (49544502)
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