1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Neff, Felix

NEFF, FELIX (1798–1829), Swiss Protestant divine and philanthropist, was born at Geneva on the 8th of October 1798. Originally a sergeant of artillery, he decided in 1819 to devote himself entirely to evangelistic work. He was ordained to the ministry in 1822, and soon afterwards settled in the valley of Freissinèires, where he laboured in the manner of J. F. Oberlin, being at one and the same time pastor, schoolmaster, engineer and agriculturist. He was so successful that he changed the character of the district and its inhabitants. In 1827, worn out by his labours, he was obliged to return to his native place, where he died two years later.