Margaret Swartz Graaf 1848-1943

GRAAF, SWARTZ, CUMMINGS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/26/2013 at 00:50:13

Mrs. Margaret Graaf, 96, Dies at St. Paul
Burial Services To Be Held in Estherville
Mrs. Margaret Graaf, 96, St. Paul, Minn., formerly of Estherville, died at the home of Mrs. Cora Keating, also a former Estherville resident, with whom Mrs. Graaf had been living with for over a year.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul and burial will be at Estherville. The body is expected to arrive here Tuesday.

Mrs. Graaf and her family were pioneer residents of Estherville. H.G. Graaf, her husband, who died several years ago, and is buried in a local cemetery, operated a clothing store when he lived here.

She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Clyde Cummings, who lives in St. Paul but who at present is visiting with a daughter in California, and by two sons, Herman and Henry, both living in California. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, June 5, 1943)

Mrs. Graaf Dies in St. Paul
Pioneer Estherville Woman Passes at Age of 96; Body Brought to Oak Hill Cemetery for Burial
Mrs. Margaret Graaf, a former resident of Estherville, passed away Friday at the home of Mrs. Cora Keating in St. Paul, Minn. Mrs. Graaf has made her home in St. Paul with Mrs. Keating for a year. She was 96 years old.

Her husband, H.G. Graaf, passed away many years ago. He operated a clothing store in Estherville while living here. Mrs. Graaf and her family were pioneer residents of Estherville.

Funeral services for Mrs. Graaf were held in St. Paul. The body arrived in Estherville Tuesday accompanied by Clyde Cummings, son-in-law. Mrs. Cummings was in California to greet the arrival of a new granddaughter.

In the presence of a group of friends, Estherville pioneers, Mrs. Graaf was laid to rest beside her husband in Oak Hill cemetery. Rev. Jos. Kennedy prayed and gave the words of commitment.

Surviving Mrs. Graaf are the daughter, Mrs. Clyde Cummings of St. Paul and two sons, Herman and Henry of California.

The Graaf family for many years was identified with the growth and development of Estherville and held a prominent position here in business and social circles. Several buildings in the business district were constructed by them including the Grand theatre and café, the building occupied by the A. and P. grocery, and a double building which burned and was replaced by the structure housing Montgomery-Ward. The Mrs. J.D. Weir home was the former parental Graaf home. Mrs. Graaf as the center of that home was known as a good friend and capable manager of her household.

As she advanced in years and the family left Estherville she has made her home in California and in St. Paul to be near her children. She also in recent years came back to Estherville and resided with Mrs. Thos. Nivison.

Her life will be recalled kindly and respectfully by many of this generation. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 10, 1943)