Graff, Henry, 1873-1939

GRAFF, WILTGEN, AUER, TREINEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Alton Democrat, April 14, 1939:

Former Banker, Granville, Dies

Henry Graff, former resident of Granville, passed away at the hospital at Spencer Friday, April 7. He was born Nov. 5, 1875 and was married to Mary Catherine Wiltgen on September 26, 1899, at Granville. His wife died in September, 1911. About twenty years ago he married Isabelle Auer of Le Mars. They lived at Granville until 1920 when they moved to Spencer. He was formerly president of the Exchange Bank at Granville.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at 9:30 at Spencer with Rev. M. Wendel officiating at the Sacred Heart Church and Rev. Harold Karhoff of Royal at the cemetery.

He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Coletta, and three sisters, Mrs. Catherine Greff, Mrs. Mary Kass and Mrs. Margaret Kass. Two brothers preceded him in death. Those who attended the funeral from Granville were Mrs. John Graff and children, Mr. and Mrs. Milo Graff, Dr. and Mrs. A. J. Miller and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Graff, Ed Luken, Miss Antonia Wiltgen, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eulberg and Mrs. Nic Martin of Alton.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate gives his birth date as Nov. 5, 1874, in Red Wing, Minnesota; father, Theo. Graff, born in Germany, mother (unnamed) also born in Germany; occupation, insurance agent, for 30 years; died at 4:30 a.m. April 7, 1939; cause, embolism, onset April 1[?], 1939. There is a reference to remarks on the back side, but it is not present with the Ancestry document.

His FindaGrave.com page shows him born 5 Nov 1873 in Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota; died 7 Apr 1937 in Spencer, buried in North Lawn Cemetery, Spencer. Parents Theodore Graff (1829-1907) and Mary A. Treinen Graff (1833-1887). Three siblings listed: Margaret Graff Kass (1866-1947), Nicholas H. Graff (1869-1930), and John William Graff (1876-1925). Spouses Mary Catherine Wiltgen Graff (1879-1911, married 1899) and Isabelle Auer Graff (1891-1969 (married 1918). Child Coletta Graff Anderson (1908-2003).

The 1900 U.S. census shows him born Nov 1873, a resident of Granville with his wife Mary and two lodgers, occupation “capitalist.” In 1910 the family is still in Granville; he is cashier of his own bank; Mary is the mother of 0 children; Colette (age 2) is listed as his stepdaughter. In 1920 he is still a bank cashier in Granville, with wife Isabella M., and with Collett M. now listed as his adopted daughter. In 1930 they are living in Spencer, Clay County, where he is an insurance agent and Coletta M., now listed as “daughter,” is a bank teller.

His World War I draft registration card (Sept. 1918) shows him (age 44), born 5 Nov 1873, a bank owner in Granville, nearest relative Colette Graff; medium height and build, grey eyes, dark hair.

Ancestry.com has a marriage license application for Henry C. Graff, age 45, resident of Granville, and Isabelle M. Auer, age 27, resident of Le Mars, filed in Jackson County, Missouri, April 22, 1919.