From Switzerland [A Book of Photographs] Verlag Edition
Copyright 1998, Photoglob SA, Zurich: ISBN Nr. 3-907570-63-4

Toggenburg Switzerland
Toggenburg, Canton St. Gallen is where it is believed "our" Joachim Näf/Naef/Neff originated.
He was born in 1578, probably in Toggenburg. He died in 1654 in Zell, Canton Zürich.
(Information as of 2004)
Comment: For a Christmas gift in 2004, I (J.L.N.) had this picture copied, enlarged and framed for my Dad (R.H.N.) He particularly enjoyed looking at the stream where he felt his Neff ancestors might have had a grist mill.

Robert H. Neff, June 18, 1995
Holding Adam Näf's sword at Zwingli death site

Adam Näf, the Swiss Reformation and Milk Soup
Although Joachim's parents are not yet verified, work is in progress to link him to Adam Näf, a hero in the Swiss Reformation movement. One attempt to establish this link is a Neff Y-chromosome DNA project. Robert Neff was asked for a DNA sample in 2006.

During the Swiss Reformation, Adam Näf became a hero in the 1529 "Milk Soup" battle. The five oldest cantons in the Swiss Federation, known as the forest, or rural cantons, held to Catholic theology. They strongly objected to the Protestant Reformation which was led by Huldrych Zwingli from Zürich. This led to open conflict. There were three historical battles near Kappel am Albis, south of Zürich, where the Näfenhaus (Neff House) is now located.

The first battle, "Milk Soup War," was in 1529. The adversaries met at Kappel where they waited for orders. As they waited, they became hungry. Both sides had brought food to the battlefield. The "Zürchers" bore bread and the Catholics carried milk. Each side had been told to keep to their side, or all hell would break loose, but the soldiers decided to share their food anyway.

Peace was broken by a second battle in 1531. In this battle Zwingli lost his life. Adam Näf became the hero of the day by saving Zürich's banner. He was awarded a Zürich citizenship, land and the Näfenhaus. The Swiss National Museum in Zürich displays Adam's sword. Every third year the museum allows it to be taken to Neff Family Day held at Näfenhaus. There it is displayed at Zwingli's monument which is located exactly where Zwingli was killed.

The Neff Family Day celebrations at the Näfenhaus in Kappel Am Albis have taken place since 1881. In June of 1995, Robert, Maxine and Jennifer Neff were privileged to attend and were able to hold Adam Näf's sword and enjoy a bowl of "Milchüsppe."

Milchüsppe (Milk Soup)
The Neff family's oldest known fare…dating from 1529

Recipe adapted by Lotti S. Tobler for the "Swiss American Review"
Tobler notes: "This recipe is based on the original ingredients, but it is made a bit more flavorful with a few additions that soldiers on the battle field may not have had on hand."
Ingredients
3 cups milk and 6 slices white bread, cut into cubes, and browned in butter
1 tsp. salt, bay leaf, clove
4-5 egg yolks and ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions:
Sauté bread cubes in butter until brown. Drain on paper towel. Bring milk and seasonings to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove bay leaf and clove. Beat egg yolks and cream until foamy. Slowly add milk. Pour back into pan and heat, but do not let boil. Top with bread cubes.