HENRY P. GRAFF
Henry Peter Graff was born in Germany, August 14, 1838, and came to Tazewell County in 1858. He was educated in the common schools and worked for his father until twenty-six years of age, when he purchased from John Gaines 80 acres of land in Section 21, Little Mackinaw Township, for which he paid twenty-five dollars per acre. Mr. Graff has been a very successful stockraiser and farmer, and now owns 540 acres of, land, on which he principally raises grain. A cyclone at one time destroyed his barns and corn-cribs, and badly damaged his house by blowing a portion of the barn through it. Many of his trees were also destroyed.
Mr. Graff was married in Pekin, Ill., September 4, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Imig, who, was born in Germany April 14. 1845. She is the daughter of Carl and Wilhemina Imig, her parents emigrating from the Fatherland to the United States in 1858. Mr. Imig was a farmer in Little Mackinaw. He died in 1861, and his wife in 1890.
Mr. and Mrs. Graff have eight children, viz.: Carl, Henry, Valentine, Lizzie, Anna, William, Emma and Louie. They are all living at home with the exception of Henry and Anna, who are married and residents of Nebraska.
Mr. Graff votes the Democratic ticket. His father, Henry Peter Graff was born in Germany in 1795, and came to the United States in 1858, settling in Little Mackinaw Township, Tazewell County. The first farm he purchased consisted of eight acres on Section 32. At the time of his death, which occurred October 15, 1865, he was the owner of 120 acres. His wife, Anna Catherine Imig, was born in Germany in 1814, and died in 1877. Henry Peter Graff has served as School Trustee of his town.