Gerhardt F. Graff Biography This biography appears on pages 581-582 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm GERHARDT F. GRAFF. Gerhardt F. Graff, active in the business life of Rutland, is a member of the firm of Graff & Son, proprietors of a grain elevator and also dealers in live stock. He was born in Wabasha, Minnesota, on the 29th of April, 1858, and is a son of Frank and Barbara Graff, who were pioneers of Minnesota, where the father passed away in 1869. The mother survives and now makes her home in Wabasha. Gerhardt F. Graff was educated in the district schools near the old home and afterward worked upon the farm, thus acquiring the early experiences that qualified him for the later duties and responsibilities of life Leaving home when a young man of twenty-one years of age, he came to South Dakota and filed on land on section 5, township 107, range 51. In the years which have since come and gone he has added to his possessions until he now owns five quarter sections, which are being cultivated by his sons. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Rutland township, Lake county, and, in fact, is one of the oldest settlers of that region. He has lived to see many changes which time and man have wrought. He has witnessed and aided in the transformation of the county from a tract of wild prairie, dotted with a million wild flowers in June and covered with a sheet of dazzling snow in December, to a richly productive land, the property of a contented and prosperous population. Since taking up his abode in Rutland he has conducted a grain elevator and also engages in buying stock as well as grain. He makes extensive shipments and his business is a valuable one to the community inasmuch as it furnishes a market for both stock and grain raisers. On the 17th of January, 1880, Mr. Graff was united in marriage to Miss Katie Klein, a daughter of Bartley Klein, who was one of the pioneer residents of Minnesota and one of the first. settlers of Lake county, South Dakota. The children of this marriage are: Frank, who now operates the old homestead; Dora, the wife of Peter Fleissner; George, who is with his father; May, the wife of Claud Alverson; Lawrence; Annie, the wife of Thomas Jurgensen; Marvin; Klein; Barbara; and Raymond. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Graff gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been almost continuously in township offices since the township was organized. He was a school officer for twelve years and is interested in much that pertains to the welfare and advancement not only of his community but of the state. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen He is a devotee of the automobile and finds his recreation in motoring. For thirty five years he has made his home in Lake county and is, indeed, one of the valued citizens as well as pioneers. His worth to the community is widely recognized, for his business activities have been along lines that have contributed to public progress as well as to individual success.