Hubert Kohlgraf

KOHLGRAF, KOLEGRAFF, GROSS

Posted By: Jane Kolegraff Wendell (email)
Date: 10/3/2002 at 21:17:11

Hubert Kohlgraf
(1814-1899)

Hubert Kohlgraf was born 17 May 1814, to Mathias and Maria Catharina (Könen) Kohlgraf in the village of Sinsteden, near the city of Cologne.

Hubert married Anna Maria Brüggen (Brücken) on 04 Feb 1843. They lived at Sinsteden, and they had seven children:

Catharina Hubertina, b. 22 Dec 1843, married John Feilbach in 1861 at St. Mary’s Ridge, WI.

Elisabeth, b. 04 Oct 1845, d. 12 Jul 1848 at Sinsteden.

Wilhelm, b. 30 Nov 1847, d. 06 Dec 1847 at Sinsteden.

Gerhard, b. 22 Feb 1849, married Elisabeth Ross 04 Jul 1871 at St. Mary’s Ridge, WI, and d. 15 Oct 1879 in Chicago, IL. (Changed his name to George Kolegraff)

Christina, b. 29 Sep 1852, married Joseph Gross, d. 11 Feb 1935 at Cascade, IA.

Philipp, b. 11 Feb 1855, married Mary Deming 13 Feb 1878 in Wabasha, MN, d. 07 Jan 1915 at Onamia, MN, buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Zell, SD. (Changed name to Philip Kolegraff)

Adam, b. 26 Apr 1857, married Katherine Edrich, d. 19 Mar 1934 at Anoka, MN.

In July 1857, Hubert Kohlgraf obtained documents to enable his family to travel to America. In the fall of 1857, Hubert, his family, and his mother traveled to Antwerp, Belgium, where they boarded a shop called the “David Hoadley” and sailed to the United States of America.

Hubert and his family arrived in New York on 18 Nov 1857. Most likely they entered the USA at Castle Garden, a main port of New York at that time. From New York the family traveled to Chicago, IL. On 16 Dec 1857, Hubert Kohlgraf filed a Declaration of Intent in Cook County, IL, the first step toward becoming a citizen of the United States.

Hubert and his family settled in Monroe County, WI, near St. Mary’s Ridge. He obtained land and built a frame house, 18 x 12 feet. The house had a shingle roof and two floors. There were two windows, and one outside door. He also built a stable and a granary, and earned a living as a farmer. In March of 1869, Hubert received his Certificate of Naturalization at Sparta, WI, prior to finalizing the patent on his land in 1870.

In the spring of 1882 Hubert and Anna Maria, along with their youngest son Adam and his wife Katherine, relocated to Spink County, Dakota Territory, and obtained land. Hubert was 68 years old at this time. Land documents state that Hubert and Anna Maria first settled on their claim on 23 May 1882. This land was located about two miles from the settlement of Zell.

Hubert and Adam are included in a list of members of St. Mary’s Parish of Zell, and were part of the group of pioneers in the area who gathered together to organize a Catholic Parish in the village of Zell. Adam sold his land and left the Zell area in April of 1884. Around this same time, Philip and Mary (Deming) Kolegraff came to Zell; they built and operated a hotel, saloon, and dance hall.

Anna Maria died on 24 Oct 1886. She is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Zell, South Dakota. Sometime after her death, Hubert went to Cascade, IA, where he lived with his daughter Christina (Kohlgraf) Gross and her family. Hubert died on 07 Jun 1899 at the age of 85 years. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Cascade.