Mother Neff’s wheelchair returns to Coryell County

What has been referred to as the first state park in Texas, Mother Neff State Park was created in 1921 when Isabella Eleanor Neff left six acres of land in her last will and testament to the State of Texas, referring to an area previously known as the Neff Picnic Grounds. Her youngest child, Pat Morris Neff, who served as governor from 1921 to 1925, would increase the park’s size and name it in honor of his mother.

At the age of 23, Isabella Eleanor Neff ventured to Texas with her newly wed husband Noah Neff in 1854 and settled in the southeastern portion of Coryell County, which would later become known as the Eagle Springs community. There she raised a large family despite the many hardships she faced on the frontier.

Following Pat Neff’s election as governor, he moved his aged mother, who was wheelchair bound, to live with him and his family in the Governor’s Mansion in Austin where she resided until her death in 1921 at the age of 91.

Pictured is the wheelchair used by “Mother Neff” while living in the Governor’s Mansion in Austin. Next to the wheelchair is a washstand that …

Following her death, for unknown reasons, Governor Neff kept his mother’s wheelchair where she had spent the majority of her latter years. While he served as president of Baylor University in Waco, the wheelchair was stored and eventually ended up in a storage warehouse on LaSalle Avenue.

In the 1990’s, it was brought to Baylor’s attention that the Coryell Museum and Historical Center in Gatesville had a small Neff exhibit to honor their native son. Under the supervision and approval of The Texas Collection at Baylor, the wheelchair and a small, marble-topped washstand belonging to Isabella Neff were donated to the Coryell Museum and are on display in the Neff Room.

Other items in the exhibit include the bonnet that Mother Neff wore to her son’s inauguration as governor in 1921 as well as a China tea set she used while living in the Governor’s Mansion.

Visitors are welcome to drop by the museum located at 718 E. Main to view the massive spur collection. Coryell Museum and Historical Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, as is the gift shop. Yearly Coryell Museum memberships are $20 for singles, $30 for families, and $40 for businesses and include free admission to the museum, plus four newsletters. Of course, large and small donations are welcome at all times.

Coryell Museum offers area schools and tour groups a delightful, guided tour through the museum with docents at many exhibits. Call the museum at 254-865-5007 to plan a visit.