Frances Mariah Stillman Russell Neff

Home of Franklin and Frances Neff, East Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah

They made their home at the Neff Mill in East Mill Creek, having built their home of adobes made by Franklin, back of the pioneer Grist Mill in what was called Oakwood. There were four rooms in a row with a porch along the front. The house was white washed. Above the mill, the stream from Mill Creek divided and part of it flowed in front of the house in the Brigham Young ditch and the other part went down the ditch back of the house. A few years ago it was reported that one of the cottonwood trees planted by Franklin Neff when he first came to Utah was still standing near where their first home stood. Grandmother Neff was an active worker in the Church and Civic affairs. She was one of the first school teachers in the district, having taught in the first old log school house. She had a good education and often entertained her children by reading to them. As a family that was their main entertainment, and the children loved it when their mother read novels and stories to them, the youngest, Alfaretta would often go to sleep during the reading and when she awoke would want to know “if they got married.” Grandmother took an active part in the social gatherings, often writing sketches of those prominent in the ward to be read at the socials and gave many of the readings herself. She held offices in the Relief Society, YWMIA and the Primary at different times. She was very hospitable and took many immigrants into her home until they could provide themselves with a home, with the help of Grandfather and Grandmother. She fed the Indians who came to her door asking for biscuits and there were many who came as a consequence of Grandfather having been an Indian Scout and making friends with the Indians. They were given flour and cornmeal from the mill.

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