THEODORE GRAFE.

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         The late Theodore Grafe, who at the time of his demise had been a resident of Columbus Junction for twenty-nine years, was born in Hanover, Germany, in April, 1841. There he spent the first twenty-nine years of his life, but having decided that America afforded better business advantages, he took passage for the United States in 1870. Upon his arrival in this country he made his way westward to Columbus Junction, Iowa, where he engaged in business for three years. At the expiration of that period he purchased thirty acres of land, in the cultivation of which he was for a time engaged. He subsequently disposed of this and bought property in Columbus Junction, where he had built several houses, in one of which he was residing at the time of his death on the 27th of December, 1899.

         Mr. Grafe was twice married, his second wife being Miss Elizabeth Avesing, whom he married on the 15th of October, 1875. Mrs. Grafe is the oldest daughter of the late Harmon and Gertrude (Manka) Avesing, both natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Avesing there were born seven children, in order of birth as follows: Elizabeth, the widow of Theodore Grafe; Dena, who became the wife of Frank Rath, of Goshen, Washington; Henry, who is living in Muscatine; Herman, who is a resident of Germany; George, whose place of . . .

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. . . residence is Kansas City, Missouri; August, who is living in Columbus Junction; and one who died in infancy.

         Mr. and Mrs. Grafe became the parents of seven children, as follows: Clara, deceased; Walter, who is living in San Francisco, California; Mamie, the wife of William Schlung, of South Dakota; Theodore, who lives in San Francisco; Esther, who is at home; and two who died in infancy.

         The family are all communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and in his political views Mr. Grafe was a democrat. Mrs. Grafe is well known in Columbus Junction, where she has so long resided and has many friends among the German circles.