Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Graff, John P. 1877 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 23, 2014, 11:06 pm

Source: See Below
Author: L. A. Fritsche

JOHN P. GRAFF, D. V. S,

     Dr. John P. Graff, county commissioner and former mayor of New Ulm, a
well-known veterinary surgeon, who also is engaged in the livery and automobile
business at New Ulm, one of the best-known citizens of Brown county, is a native
son of New Ulm, having been born in that city on July 17, 1877, son of John and
Catherine (Schnitz) Graff, both natives of Germany, the former of Prussia and
the latter of Luxemburg.

     John Graff came to America with his parents in the latter fifties of the
last century and in 1859 came to Minnesota, settling in New Ulm, where he
presently became the owner of the old Union hotel, which was burned down during
the time of the Indian attack on that city in 1862. His father died not long
after coming here, leaving four children, Mrs. Henry Vajen, Mrs. Charles Sommer,
John and Lena, who married Charles Ross and now lives in Wellington, Kansas, she
being the only surviving member of the family. Grandmother Graff married,
secondly, Philip Gross, who also was a pioneer of Brown county, proprietor of
the Union hotel at New Ulm, and both lived to old age. After the destruction of
his hotel during the Indian outbreak, John Graff engaged in the real estate and
cattle business in New Ulm and was thus quite successfully engaged until he
retired from business some years before his death, his last days being spent in
New Ulm. He was a member of: the Lutheran church and his wife was a member of
the Catholic church. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Fred,
deceased; Amelia, wife of William Brust, of Sleepy Eye, this county; George, of
Ivanhoe, Lincoln county, this state; Helena, wife of J. P. Jensen, of Bozeman,
Montana; Dr. John P., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and two
who died in youth.

     Upon completing the course in the public schools of New Ulm, John P. Graff
entered St. John's University at Collegeville, this state, from which
institution he presently was graduated, after which he entered the Chicago
Veterinary College, at Chicago, Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1902.
Upon receiving his diploma, Doctor Graff returned to New Ulm and immediately
opened an office for the practice of veterinary surgery and has been quite
successfully thus engaged ever since. In 1904 Doctor Graff established the
flourishing livery business which he has since conducted and in 1910 added a
line of automobiles to the same, in which latter department of the business he
also has been quite successful, being recognized as one of the substantial
business men of the city.

     On November 24, 1902, not long after establishing himself in practice in
New Ulm, Dr. John P. Graff was united in marriage to Theresa Eichmann, who was
born in New Ulm on October 26, 1876, daughter of John and Margaret (Brown)
Eichmann, natives of Germany and early settlers in New Ulm, of whose children
three are still living, Martha, wife of Joseph M. Arbes, John and Mrs. Graff.

     To Dr. John P. and Theresa (Eichmann) Graff two children have been born.
Richard J. and John W. Doctor and Mrs. Graff are earnest members of the Catholic
church and take their part in good works hereabout, being held in high regard by
all. The doctor is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of
Foresters and the St. Joseph Society of the Catholic church. He is a stanch
Republican and for years has given his thoughtful attention to local political
affairs. The confidence which this community has in his executive abilities and
sound judgment is attested by the fact that he for two terms was elected as an
alderman and then was elected mayor, in which capacity he rendered such
excellent public service that he was re-elected, thus serving two terms in that
important office. He then was elected a member of the board of county
commissioners and is now serving in that capacity.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


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