Husband John Graff 1 2 3 4 5 6
Born: 3 Aug 1800 - near Pleasant Unity, Mt. Pleasant Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 1 2 5 6
Christened:
Died: 31 Jan 1885 - Blairsville, Indiana Co, PA 2 6
Buried: - Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, Indiana Co, PA
Father: John Graff (1763-1818) 1 5 7 8 9
Mother: Barbara Baum (1775-1841) 1 3 5 7 9
Marriage: 1824 1 2 10
Wife Lucy Sophia Hacke 1 2 4 11
Born: 19 Oct 1805 12
Christened:
Died: 4 Mar 1876 or 1877 1 2 11
Buried: - Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, Indiana Co, PA
Father: Nicholas Hacke ( - ) 1 2 13
Mother: Sophia Smith ( - ) 4
Children
1 F Susanna Graff 2 14
Born: 25 Jun 1825 2 14
Christened:
Died: 10 Jul 1825 2 14
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 M Henry Graff 7 14
Born: 9 Sep 1826 - near Pleasant Unity, Mt. Pleasant Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 7 14
Christened:
Died: 10 Mar 1899 - Indiana Co, PA 2
Buried: - Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, Indiana Co, PA
Spouse: Margaret Wilkinson ( -1912) 2
Marr: 30 Oct 1848 2 14
3 F Caroline Graff 1 14 15
Born: 10 Dec 1828 2 14
Christened:
Died: 16 May 1882 2 14
Buried:
Spouse: Alexander McKnight Shields (Abt 1817-1863) 1 15 16
Marr: 2 May 1850 16
4 M Alexander C. Graff 2 14 17
Born: 2 Jul 1831 2 14
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Mary Wilkinson ( - ) 17
Marr: 27 Feb 1856 16
5 M Jacob Graff 2 14
Born: 23 Sep 1834 2 14
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sallie I. R. Davis ( - ) 2 18
Marr: 11 Aug 1864 18
6 M Nicholas Graff 2 14
Born: Oct 1836 2 14
Christened:
Died: 1839 or 1899 2 14
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
7 M Paul Graff 2 14
Born: 4 Jul 1838 2 14
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Mowry ( - ) 18
Marr: 23 Oct 1860 18
8 M James G. Graff 2 14
Born: Jan 1841 2 14
Christened:
Died: 11 May 1860 2 14
Buried:
9 M Edward Graff 2 14
Born: 12 Feb 1843 or 18 Feb 1843 2 14
Christened:
Died: Mar 1845 2 14
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
10 M Charles H. Graff 2 14
Born: 6 Feb 1846 2 14
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Margaret Loughry ( - ) 1 2
Marr: 15 Sep 1868 18
11 F Mary Graff 2 14
Born: 10 Jan 1850 2 14
Christened:
Died: 16 Mar 1850 2 14
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
General Notes: Husband - John Graff
Beginning life almost with the beginning of our Republic, he drank in its early spirit of enterprise, patriotism and love of liberty. His entire life be-came a picture of "strength and beauty." He inherited a strong physical constitution, which was early developed by the work and fare of farm life. He maintained his great strength until the natural decay of old age, and remained until death, as erect in form as he had been upright in character. With him the wants of his physical nature were always an interesting study. He never assumed to have the knowledge of a doctor, but such was his understanding of the human system, and the confidence of others in his judgment in cases of sickness, that, whenever any of his grandchildren were taken sick, the first thing to do was to "send for Grandfather."
Little can be said of his school life. He attended the subscription school of his day, and for two months in each of the winters, when he was sixteen and seventeen years old, he attended the Greensburg Academy. Limited though his time for study was, he yet laid a good foundation for the future, and became thoroughly imbued with a desire to learn. This desire never left him, but became one of the striking characteristics of his life. Whatever of his success is to be attributed to his own persistent effort, the right direction of that effort is largely due to the strong life and character of his mother.
He remained on the farm until 1833, his father having died in 1818. While on the farm at the age of twenty-four, he married. She was but a girl, and knew literally nothing about farm life, but she became a true helpmate to him.
During his stay on the farm, an incident occurred which clearly illustrates one of the traits of his character.
A distillery was attached to the farm, as was common in those days. He observed that men became intoxicated by the use of the liquor, and believing it was wrong, decided that it should not be manufactured there any longer. Ever after he was a staunch friend of the temperance cause, holding in that early day temperance principles that were fifty years ahead of his times.
On quitting the farm, he entered the mercantile business in Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. There he stayed for three years, until 1837, when he moved to Blairsville, and purchased a half-interest in the warehouse built by his brothers Henry and Peter. In 1847 he assumed control of the entire business, and continued in it until his death. The business rapidly increased until nearly all the produce of Indiana and Westmoreland Counties passed through his hands. Two other houses were put up on the banks of the old canal.
His method of impressing the truth was peculiar. His object was, not to make men angry, but to bring them to his way of thinking. He could reason, and reason well, but he preferred, like Abraham Lincoln, to let the light into men's minds by some laughable anecdote which served as an illustration.
His habit was to earnestly seek for the right in any disputed question. When found, he followed it wherever it led, no matter what the opposition might be. This habit of searching for the truth and adopting it with all his heart, generally led him to advanced grounds on all great questions, and hence ahead of his age. This made him a leader of opinion, and also a leader of men. In his early manhood, he very materially aided in securing the system of free schools in the township where he lived.
More than anywhere else his strong convictions and the strong stand which he made for them was shown in his attitude toward the slavery question. In the agitation of that great cause, it soon became a question among the churches whether a man could be a consistent Christian, and at the same time a supporter of a political party which did not favor the abolition of the slaves. Although he granted men full liberty of opinion, yet his own political attitude was such as to be a rebuke to many who had not the courage to take the stand which he took. At first he was a member with others of the Whigs, but failing to see any relief coming from that source, he joined The Liberty Party. By this party he was made a candidate for the legislature. This brought him into more prominence, and the opposition to his convictions soon became opposition to himself. The bitter feeling even entered into the church of which he was a member, but in the midst of all opposition, he stood firmly and kindly. The time was not yet ripe for the breaking of old party ties, and he was defeated at the election. He afterwards became a member of the Republican Party, and through this party saw his desires for the slave fulfilled.
His efforts to help fugitive slaves to Canada would be an interesting chapter in his life, could we but know all that he did. Certainly he was a very active agent of the "underground railway," of that day. When the fugitive slave laws were passed, he was asked by a pro-slavery man if he would catch a runaway slave if ordered to do so. "Of course I would," and after the expression of surprise on the part of the pro-slavery man, he added, "but I would soon whisper in the slave's ear, that, if he would try he could easily break away from me."
It was one of the beautiful traits of his character from his boyhood up, that he always took the part of the weak and the oppressed.
His religious life and experience are interesting. He could not well help having a religious mind on account of the influence of his mother's life, He was early taught in the word of God, and the doctrines of the Reformed church. On coming to Blairsville, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, toward which he had always leaned, and was made by the church a classleader. For a number of years he labored in this position, honestly and sincerely, it is true, but, as he afterwards confessed, having the "form" without the "power of godliness." Several things greatly annoyed him in his class-meetings. When members became happy, some of them would express their religious joy in harsh, unpleasant tones, while others would rejoice aloud. Both of these, he thought, were out of place in a solemn religious service, but his good sense prevented him from offending any by repressing these expressions of feeling. Finally, during a season of revival, he was convinced by the Holy Spirit that there was a power in religion which he had never experienced. So deeply was he convicted that he could not sleep. About three o'clock one morning, he rose from his bed, and started for the kitchen that he might pray alone. The prayer in his heart was, "Lord if there is power of which I know nothing, reveal it to me." The Lord answered his prayer, and as he was passing the dining room table, the power of God so fell upon him as to literally prostrate him. And ever after, his religion was one of "power." Consistent with his own experience, he always sought to lead men directly to God. The salvation of men was his chief concern. He was regular and punctual at all the church services, not even neglecting the Wednesday evening prayer meeting. He was a liberal and cheerful giver to the church for every good cause. The worthy poor were never turned away empty. He stood at his post, as class-leader in the church, until death released him. He was always a great help in revival meetings, and was frequently called to assist in meetings in surrounding churches. It was while attending such a meeting at the Methodist Church at Homer, between Blairsville and Indiana, that he took the cold that resulted in his death. The theme of his talk that night was Naaman, the Leper, his favorite subject when addressing sinners. He dwelt on this because it so exactly described the humiliation of his own proud spirit, before he fully knew the saving power of God.
Death had no "terror" and no "sting" for him. About the middle of January, 1885, he showed signs of rapid failure. He lingered several weeks, until the 31st of the month, when he "crossed over,'' and was at rest. During his sickness, his mind was clear-in fact it was to the very end. He suffered intensely at the last, but his soul was exceedingly happy. He accepted all as from his Lord, and recognized in his sufferings his last earthly trial.
The "grace" was "all-sufficient," for in spite of the pain, his soul became exultingly happy, and he praised God with a loud voice. He exhorted all who visited him, and all his children to be faithful unto God till death.
An incident occurred a few days before his death, showing the loving Christian character of the man. An Irish woman (Catholic), to whom he had often given advice, and assisted her to invest her little earnings, as soon as she heard he was sick, called to see him. On entering the room next to his sick chamber, she was met by one of his sons, who said his father was too ill and could not be seen. She expressed great sorrow. On his return to his father's chamber, he asked who it was that wished to see him. His son replied, Aunt Kettee Burns. His father said at once, bring her in. After the usual greeting, she expressed great sympathy for him in his sufferings. He then repeated the beautiful hymn, "Jesus lover of my soul, &c." After leaving his room, she said, if there ever was a Christian, Mr. Graff was one.
The funeral services were held in the Methodist church, and, although the church was a large one, there were more people outside who could not get into the church, than there were inside. His grave was made by the side of his wife's grave in the Blairsville cemetery.
He obtained his education principally in the subscription schools of Mt. Pleasant township, Westmoreland County, attending the Greensburg Academy for two terms. He grew to manhood on the home farm, and after his father's death, which occurred when he was a youth of eighteen, he remained there with his widowed mother until 1833, when he became a merchant at Pleasant Unity, conducting a store at that place for three years. In 1837 he moved to Blairsville, Indiana County, at which point he bought a half interest in the warehouse built by his brothers Henry and Peter. Two other houses were subsequently built, and he became owner of all three in 1847, together with the mercantile business carried on in connection. Taking several of his sons into partnership, under the firm name of John Graff & Sons, he continued his connection with this business to the end of his days. When he died in Blairsville, he was the oldest merchant then doing business in the county. Mr. Graff made an enviable position for himself as a successful business man, but he had an equally high reputation for honesty and uprightness in all his dealings, in all the relations of life living up to the Christian standards he professed. He was a member first of the Reformed Church and later of the M. E. Church, joining at Blairsville, and was quite active in church work and a faithful attendant at meetings. As an ardent anti-slavery man he was early associated with the Liberty party, and was its candidate for the State Legislature and for Congress. He was a zealous supporter of the free school law of 1834, and served under it as school director. As times changed he was in turn a Whig, Free-soiler and Republican in politics. [HIC 1913, 712]
General Notes: Wife - Lucy Sophia Hacke
OBITUARY.
LUCY GRAFF, wife of John Graff of Blairsville, Pa., died March 4, 1877, aged 71 years. She was born in Baltimore, Md., October 19, 1805. She was a member of the German Reformed Church for a number of years. She joined the M. E. Church in 1838, of which she continued a consistent member, until death. She died in the triumph of a "living faith," and "her children rise up and call her blessed." She was a woman of decidedly domestic habits, a meek and quiet spirit delighting in the prosperity of her neighbors and annoying none. Herself surrounded by the comforts of a sumptuous home, she labored to make her abundance a blessing to all whose misfortunes brought them under her notice; and many were the blessings invoked upon her by those whose necessity she relieved. Her religion made her life a constant sunshine. She was a model mother, and the "idol" of her children. Never was a family more devoted and assiduous in their attentions than were they, during her illness. Her sufferings were severe and protracted, and yet she never murmured nor complained. She was not only uncomplaining, but even cheerful, during almost her entire sickness. She was greatly interested in the salvation of her children and grandchildren, and it was one of her last acts to impress them with the necessity of preparation for heaven.
No one has passed from this community for years, who was more universally respected than sister Graff. Full of years and good works her life was like a rose, fragrant and beautiful while here; and now, that she is dead and gone, her acts remain as a testimony in this community to the power of the faith which she professed.