BIO: Abraham GRAFFIUS, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 228-229.
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  ABRAHAM GRAFFIUS, Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born on the 
Raystown Branch, near Huntingdon Pa., February 28, 1828, son of Abraham 
and Catherine (Rough) Graffius. The Graffius family is noted in the 
county, as being widely spread, and extensively intermarried with 
others of the most extensive and most respected families. John 
Graffius, father of the elder and grandfather of the younger Abraham 
Graffius, was one of a large family of brothers and sisters, of whom a 
part, at least, seem to have been born in the fatherland, but all 
married and had families in America. John Graffius married Miss 
Correll, of York, Pa., and had eight children, of whom Abraham was the 
fourth. John Graffius died January 1, 1826. Abraham, his son, rented 
his father's farm on the Raystown Branch, cultivated it and raised 
stock. His wife Catherine, daughter of Henry Rough, was born in 
Woodcock valley, and married there. Her father was a carpenter. The 
only child of this union was the son, Abraham Graffius, Jr. The father 
died in May, 1830. Mrs. Graffius afterwards married John Aurandt, of 
Canoe valley, Blair county, Pa., and had two children: Josiah, coal 
miner; and Rachel, deceased, wife of John Carothers. Mrs. Aurandt died 
in Blair county, April 17, 1862. She was a member of the Reformed 
church.
  Abraham Graffius, the younger, attended public school and 
subscription schools in Catharine township, Blair county. He was 
brought up by his grandfather, Henry Rough, and remained with him until 
he was fourteen; then he worked on a farm in Catharine township as a 
laborer, and made his living by work of this kind until he attained the 
age of thirty. Having saved a small sum of money, he now, in 1860, 
rented a farm in Yellow Springs, Blair county, for three years; then 
for two years more kept a hotel in the same county, near the Juniata 
river; and for two years he farmed and kept a hotel in Water Street, 
Huntingdon county. In 1867, he bought the Petersburg Hotel, for $4,500, 
and has ever since conducted that house, with the addition of a livery 
stable. Offering good accommodations, and making every effort to please 
the public, Mr. Graffius is very successful in his business. His genial 
and courteous manner assures his guests of their welcome. Mr. Graffius 
has been much in demand for public service; he has been supervisor, tax 
collector and assessor; was a member of the borough council for three 
years, and chief burgess for two terms. He is a Republican.
  Abraham Graffius was married in 1850, at Yellow Springs, Blair 
county, to Rachel Sisler, born in Catharine township, Blair county, in 
1830. Their children are: Margaretta K., deceased; Jennie; Sisler P., 
residing at Petersburg; Clara C. (Mrs. Gilbert Neff), of Logan 
township; and Hiram P., who read law with George P. Orlady, Esq., of 
Huntingdon, was admitted to the bar in 1885, and is now practicing in 
Altoona, Pa. Mr. Graffius and his family attend the Lutheran church.