Abraham Graffius 1756 – 1830

Abraham Grafius

Son of  Martin Nicholas & Anna Catherine Graffius

Birth Aug. 22, 1756 in York, York, Pennsylvania, United States

Death Jan. 20, 1830 in Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Married

Elisabeth Rothrock

Birth 1 Mar 1766 in Yorktown, York, Pennsylvania, United States

Death Aug. 18, 1845 in Williamsport City, Lycoming, Pennsylvania

Children:

Joseph Grafius 1784 – 1878

Jacob Graffius 1785 – 1844

Daniel Graffius 1787 – 1847

Elizabeth Graffius 1789 – 1860

Mary Graffius 1791 – 

Catherine Graffius 1797 – 1855

Juliana Graffius 1804 – 

George Graffius 1811 – 1892

Timeline

1756 22 Aug - Birth

York, York, Pennsylvania, United States 

1783 17 Jun - Marriage to Elisabeth Rothrock

Age: 26

York, Pa. 

18 Apr 1784 - Baptism of Son Joseph

Name: Joseph Grafius
Birth Date: 9 Mar
Event Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 18 Apr 1784
Baptism Place: York, York, Pennsylvania
Father Name: Abraham Grafius
Mother Name: Elisabet
Organization Name: Trinity United Church of Christ

1785 - Residence

Age: 29

York, York, Pennsylvania 

Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 about Abraham Graffius
Name: Abraham Graffius
Year: 1785
Town or Ward: York
County: York
Archive Rollname: 343

20 Nov 1785 - Baptism of Son Jacob

Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 about Jacob Grafius
Name: Jacob Grafius
Birth Date: 15 Oct
Event Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 20 Nov 1785
Baptism Place: York, York, Pennsylvania
Father Name: Abraham Grafius
Mother Name: Elisabet
Organization Name: Trinity United Church of Christ

1788 -Residence

Age: 32

York, York, Pennsylvania 

1793 - Residence

Age: 37

York, York, Pennsylvania, United States 

Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863 about Abraham Graffius
Name: Abraham Graffius
Residence Year: 1793
Residence Place: York, York, Pennsylvania

13 Aug 1797 -Baptism of Daughter Catharina

Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 about Catharina Grafius
Name: Catharina Grafius
Birth Date: 6 Jul
Event Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 13 Aug 1797
Baptism Place: York, York, Pennsylvania
Father Name: Abraham Grafius
Mother Name: Elisab Grafius
Organization Name: Trinity United Church of Christ

1798 - Residence

Age: 42

1st District, York, Pennsylvania, United States 

Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 about Abraham Graffius
Name: Abraham Graffius
County: York
Locality: 1st District

1800 - Residence

Age: 44

York, York, Pennsylvania 

1800 United States Federal Census about Abraham Graffius
Name: Abraham Graffius
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): York, York, Pennsylvania
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 2
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 7
Number of Household Members Over 25: 4
Number of Household Members: 13

1806 - Son William Is Baptized
Son William Baptized Records of Trinity Reformed Church, City of York, York County, Pennsylvania, 1801-1853

1810 - Residence

Age: 54

Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania 

Moved to Williamsport, Lycoming County Pa

1810 -Occupation

Age: 54

Market Square, Williamsport, Lycoming County PA 

Abraham started a tin ware business on Market Square

1817 - Appointed Commissioner

Age: 61

Lycoming County, PA, USA 

134. An act to incorporate a company to make a turnpike road from Berwick, Columbia county, to Williamsport, Lycoming county. That JOHN BORROWS, ABRAHAM GRAFIUS, JONATHAN SMITH, BENJAMIN WARNER of Lycoming county, and JOHN BROWN, DAVID C.

1820 - Residence

Age: 64

Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States 

1820 United States Federal Census about Abraham Grafius

Name: Abraham Grafius
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 2
Number of Persons - Engaged in Commerce: 2
Free White Persons - Under 16: 3
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 8

1830 20 Jan - Death

Age: 73

Burial in PA

Find A Grave Listing: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=GR&GSfn=a&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=40&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=281&GRid=42074305&df=all&

Grafius, Abraham - comments: Pvt. PA Militia Rev. War; location: Washington Blvd. Cemetery, Williamsport

(I have not yet been able to locate any Revolutionary War records for Abraham)

Research:

"In fact Thomas Updegraff and Abraham Grafius each married an Elizabeth Rothrock who were cousins in York. " From Letters In The Attic

Martin Nicholas Graffius 1722-1790

Martin Nicholas Grafius

Birth May 2, 1722 in Standing stone, of Standing stone, Pennsylvania, USA

Death May 20, 1790 in Standing stone, Pennsylvania, USA

married

Anna Catharine

Born

Died  January 12, 1845

Children:

Nicholas, Peter, Rebecca, John, 

Abraham

Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Martin, and Jacob

"The Graffius family is one of the most widely known families of Huntingdon
county, and its numerous descendants are now widely settled throughout
central Pennsylvania. Martin Nicholas Graffius, the founder of the family,
was born May 2, 1722, and died May 20, 1790. His eleven children, who were
born between 1746 and 1770, were: Nicholas, Peter, Rebecca, John, Abraham,
Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Martin, and Jacob." From the Biographical Sketch of H. Price Graffius

Timeline

1722 2 May - Birth

Nicholas's family lived in France but were not French.

Bef. 1749 - Marriage
He married Anna Catharine. They had two sons by the time they came to America. 

1749 Arrival
Age: 27
Germantown, Pennsylvania 
   According to rumor, Nicholas took the money that was intended to buy his exemption from service in the German army for their passage to America.  They sailed to Rotterdam in Holland on the ship EDINBURGH and arrived at Philadelphia Pa. on Sept 15, 1749.  It was necessary at that time for all males over 16 to take an oath of allegiance in order to gain admittance into the country and "Nicklas Grusius" was one of the group who took the oath.  
The EDINBURGH carried 380 passengers from Rotterdam with a stop at Portsmouth, England and on to Philadelphia.  They went first to Germantown, which is now part of Philadelphia.  From there they went to York Co. and made a home for themselves and stayed for 20 years.

1785 - Residence

Age: 63
York, York, Pennsylvania 
Listed on a PA Tax & Exoneration List

1790  - Residence
Age: 68
Residence -Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States 

1790 United States Federal Census about Nicholas Griffes
Name: Nicholas Griffes
[Nicholas Graffius] 
[Nicholas Griffis] 
Home in 1790 (City, County, State): Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females: 6
Number of Household Members: 10
1790 20 May - Death

Age: 68

Standing stone, Pennsylvania, USA 

Research:

Emmigrated from Switzerland to Philadelphia, Pa. on Sept. 15, 1749, on the ship "Edinbburgh", then settled in York, Pa.

History of Huntingdon and Blair Co. Pa. by J. Simpson Africa, p. 417

THE GRAFFIUS STORY-Nicholas's family lived in France but were not French.  They had two sons by the time they came to America.  According to rumor, Nicholas took the money that was intended to buy his exemption from service in the German army for their passage to America.  He married Anna Catharine. They sailed to Rotterdam in Holland on the ship EDINBURGH and arrived at Philadelphia Pa. on Sept 15, 1749.  It was necessary at that time for all males over 16 to take an oath of allegiance in order to gain admittance into the country and "Nicklas Grusius" was one of the group who took the oath.  The EDINBURGH carried 380 passengers from Rotterdam with a stop at Portsmouth, England and on to Philadelphia.  They went first to Germantown, which is now part of Philadelphia.  From there they went to York Co. and made a home for themselves and stayed for 20 years.  It was here that the rest of the children were born and many of them were married.  York Co. was at this time very prominent in the plans of the American Revolution and it was at the York Co. Court House that the American Congress assembled during the gloomiest period of the war.  Much of the war was fought in this vicinity.  The Graffis family was drawn into the conflict as the boys served in the York Battalion.Nicholas and Anne then moved to Standing Stone, now part of Huntingdon, PA and where they remained for the rest of their lives.  

The Graffius Story by Beatrice Kingsley 19831790 Census PA, York, p. 282

  ====================================================================

Nicholas settled on the Robert Myton place and was among the first of the Shaver's Creek Pioneers.  He bought 300 acres of land to which he came in the spring.  With split rails he mad a sort of pen in which to live during the summer.  by the time winter came he had built a small log cabin with clapboards for a door, holes in the walls for windows and one in the roof for a chimney.  Mr. Graffius cleared his farm and farmed it for eight or ten years.  Then because of troublesome Indians, the family was obliged to remove over the border to Maryland.  A year later they returned.  They came back in one of the first wagons to make it across the mountainous terrain.  Soon after they sold their land in Porter twp and bought 240 acres in Shaver's Creek, now West twp.  On this property he built a small log cabin , which in a course of a few years, had to give way to a larger one, the last house in which the builder lived. He cleared a great portion of his land, cultivated it, raised stock and was something of a hunter besides.  He added a distillery to his other industries.

  He died on July 22, 1822 and is buried in Union Graveyard at Monorhill, six miles from his home.  Elizabeth survived him 23 years, dying on January 12, 1845 and is buried beside her husband.  

(from THE GRAFFIUS STORY) 

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BIO: John GRAFFIUS, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/huntingdon/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/huntingdon/runk/bios-runk.htm __________________________________________________________________ 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 229-230. __________________________________________________________________ JOHN GRAFFIUS, Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in the valley of Shavers Creek, August 18, 1815. He is a son of Martin and Margaret (McGuire) Graffius. Nicholas Martin Graffius, founder of the family in America, and great-grandfather of John Graffius, emigrated with his family from his native province in continental Europe, in 1750, and settled in York, Pa. The family was of the Huguenot faith. After a residence of twenty years in York, they removed to the spot then called Standing Stone, Bedford county, but now within the borough of Huntingdon. Here Nicholas Martin Graffius died. His eldest son, Nicholas, was not more than a boy when he came to this country. When Nicholas reached manhood, he married Elizabeth Correll, of York, who was of German descent, and fixed his residence on the Juniata river, within the present limits of Porter township. He had bought 300 acres of land, to which he came in the spring; with split rails he made a sort of pen in which to live during the summer. By the time winter came he had built a small log cabin with clapboards for a door, holes in the walls for windows, and one in the roof for a chimney. Mr. Graffius cleared his land, and farmed it for eight or ten years. Then, the Indians becoming troublesome, the family was obliged to remove to Maryland. A year later they returned to their primitive homestead in one of the first wagons ever brought into this region. Soon after, Mr. Graffius sold his land in Porter township and bought 240 acres on Shavers Creek, now in West township. On this property he built a small log house which, in the course of a few years, had to give place to a larger one - the last house in which its builder lived. He cleared a great portion of his land, raised stock, besides cultivating it, and was something of a hunter besides. He added a distillery to his other industries. Mr. Graffius was a Whig. His children were: Catherine; Mary; Jacob; Margaret; Martin; Abraham; Susanna; Elizabeth; Esther; Charlotte; Lydia; and five that died in early childhood. Nicholas Graffius died in West township, August 22, 1822; his wife died January 23, 1843. Martin, son of Nicholas Graffius, attended subscription schools which were as homely as the rough but healthy life of this pioneer family. But primitive as his surroundings doubtless were, he learned to read and write well. He was a farmer and distiller; owned and cultivated over 200 acres in what is now Henderson township, and was also a stock raiser. He built himself a house and a barn. Mr. Graffius was a Whig; he cast his first presidential vote for Thomas Jefferson. He was in the army during the war of 1812. Martin Graffius was a hardy and industrious man, just the right one for a pioneer; he was successful in his undertakings, and was liked and respected in his neighborhood. His wife Margaret, daughter of Hugh and Patience (Lyon) McGuire, was born in Doe Run, Chester county, Pa. Mr. McGuire was a farmer of French and Irish descent, and her mother was of a family of English Friends. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Graffius were: Nicholas, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of D. Harris; Jacob, died in Indiana in 1845; Abraham, died in 1878; Matilda, deceased, wife of David Kessler; John; Margaret, deceased, wife of Andrew Neff; Margaret, died young; George, died young; and one that died in infancy. Mr. Graffius attended the Presbyterian church. Martin Graffius was born in Frederick, Md., in 1781, and died in Henderson township, Huntingdon county, in 1853. John Graffius attended subscription schools in the log school house, as his father had also done. He farmed on the homestead until he was twenty-seven, besides working as a "Hand" for neighboring farmers. At that age, he came to Petersburg, and worked for some time as a carpenter. Selling out his interest, he removed to North Henderson, Warren county, Ill., where he bought a farm and cultivated it for four years. On account of his wife's ill health, Mr. Graffius sold his farm, returned to Huntingdon county, and came to reside in Petersburg, where in 1875 he bought a handsome brick dwelling; this house he altered and beautified; he has since worked at carpentry. Mr. Graffius was justice of the peace for fifteen years, besides serving the township as tax collector, and for several years in the school board. His politics are Democratic. His life presents a record of honorable industry and fair dealing, and he is a highly respected member of the community. John Graffius was first married in 1843, in West township, to Margaret, daughter of Alexander Steel, a farmer of Scotch-Irish descent; she was born in Derry, Ireland. All of their three children died in their infancy. Mrs. Graffius died in Petersburg in March, 1878. Mr. Graffius, in December, 1879, married Sarah, daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Thompson) Hutchinson; she was born at Shavers Creek; her father was a farmer, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. The marriage took place at Petersburg. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Graffius are: Jane S.; Margaret; John L.; and one that died very young. Mr. Graffius is a member of the Presbyterian church, and a teacher in the Sunday-school.

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 Nicholas was a sharpshooter in the First Battalion of York Co. under General Daniel Morgan. 
On 6 September 1770, Nicholas and Peter bought 2271/2 acres of land on the south east side of the Juniata River from James Patterson.  In Barree twp.,
 in 1774, he is charged with 70 acres 1 horse, 1 cow and Peter with a like amount.  (Listed as  CRAWPHES). 
 By 1776, he has 15 acres of his 70 improved and 2 horses, 1 cow.  Peter has "a like amount."  (listed as CRAFF) 
on 6 Dec. 1778, Mary Patterson deeded land to Peter and Nicholas "CRAFIS".  
On 10 Jan., 1785, Nicholas CRAFISH and his wife, Elizabeth deeded his interest in the land to David Musselman and moved to Shaver's Creek, where they settled on Robert Myton's place and were among the first settlers.  He bought 300 acres of land.  He bult a small log cabin with clapboards for a door, holes in the walls for windows and a hole in the roof for a chimney.  
At one time they were forced from their home by Indians and went across the border to Maryland, returning by wagon a year later.  They then sold their land in Porter twp and bought 240 acres in West Township. 
He is buried at Union Cemetery, Manorhill about 6 miles from his home.  Elizabeth is buried beside him.  
He was a Whig and successful farmer and also operated a distillery. 

Sources: J. Simpson Africa, History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pa. p.309, p.403 

A Point Of No Return - The Eugene Grafius Story

I got off on a bit of a tangent, as I often do, on this one.  Joseph Grafius was my 4th great uncle, that is how I "connect", very distantly, to this story.  :-)

Abraham Grafius 1756 - 1830

(My 5th Great Grandfather)

married

Elisabeth Rothrock 1766-1845

Joseph Grafius 1795 – 1878

married

Mary W. Woodward 1805 – 1884

William Graffius 1827-1898

married

Margaret Ramsey

Vanderbelt Graffius 1858-1944

married

Florence Horlacher 1858-1952

Eugene Graffius 1896- 1918

A Point Of No Return - The Eugene Grafius Story

by H. Joseph Grafius

March 8, 1998

   Eugene Grafius was born October 26, 1896 in Montoursville Pennsylvania.  His parents were Vanderbelt and Florence (Horlacher) Grafius.  Eugene was one of ten children born to Van and Florence.  the family lived at 29 Jordan Avenue, not far from where the railroad tracks crossed Loyalsock Avenue.  Eugene attended the Montoursville public schools and, like all the kids at that time, had to help with the family chores when he came home from the school,  his father tried to earn money to support the family in whatever manner he could.  Van was a teacher, a preacher, a lumberman, and an overall jack-of-all-trades.  The family were members of the Church of our Savior Episcopal Church on the N. Loyalsock Avenue.  Although there was a lot of work to do about the house, Eugene was allowed to participate in baseball during the summer.  When he was in high school, he played for the Montoursville Warrior Baseball team and later played on several city and county teams.  Perhaps one of the reasons his parents allowed him to play was to compensate for the sorrow they experienced when six of their children died at young ages due to illness.  Eugene's one older brother, Guy, died in 1894.  Another older brother and sister, Van and Jessie, died of diphtheria in 1904, a week apart from each other.  A set of twins and another child died at birth as well.  The family was robbed of the joy of seeing happy children at play too many times.

When Eugene finished high school around 1916, World War One was already in progress in Europe. The United States wasn't eager to be involved in another war but we did send food and supplies to Great Britain.  This did not go unnoticed by the Germans.  At the time, the German Navy had the largest submarine fleet in the world.  These submarines, or U-boats as they were called, patrolled all the areas of the Atlantic Ocean scouting for any ships that might be sympathetic to the English or French cause. The U-boats practiced  hit-and-run tactics.  They were most effective running on the surface of the water when they could use their deck guns as well as their torpedos.  They could also travel at greater speeds this way, but when the escape was necessary, they would submerge and disappear from their foes.  After several American ships were torpedoed and sunk, public sentiment started to change.  This change made declaring war on Germany unavoidable.  The United States officially entered war on  April 6, 1917.  The economy, at the time, was in good shape because the country was not torn apart by the war.  War trade though, was being disrupted by the war in Europe.  Eugene Grafius saw an opportunity to serve his country, see the world, and be employed by joining he United States Navy  Patriotism was riding high with all the young men eager to defeat the Kaiser and drive the Huns back to Germany.  Eugene had heard stories how his grandfathers on both his mother's and father's side of the family had served during the Civil War to preserve the Union so, to him, this was the natural thing to do.  Eugene enlisted on May 15 1918 and soon became a Seaman 2nd Class.  He was stationed aboard the U.S.S Ticonderoga when was actually a German steamer seized by the United States Customs officials in 1917.  The ship was built in 1914 and called the Kamilla Rickmers. This ship was fitted out by the US Navy as an animal transport.

On September 5 1918, the U.S.S. Ticonderoga docked at Norfolk. Virginia to load its cargo of horses and Army supplies. One has to remember that at this time in the century. horses still played a big part  in the war as a pack animal and for pulling wagons. There were still some cavalry units that rode horses as well. Alter the Ticonderoga was loaded it joined a convoy in New York Harbor and on September it departed destined for a port in France called the Gironade estuary which it had visited just two months prior. An interesting side note is that the convoy almost wasn't allowed to leave New York Harbor because of a health concern at that time. There was an influenza epidemic that had spread across the United States and it was killing more people per day than were dying from the war. The doctors had discovered that the flu virus was airborne and would therefore: be spread through close contact with an infected person. President Woodrow Wilson was hesitant about sending more troops to Europe for the war effort because of the close conditions the troops would face while on board a ship. Any infected soldier could pass the virus to the rest of the ship in no time, which would in essence, be certain death for hundreds and thousands of soldiers and sailors. After much deliberation, President Wilson felt the end of the war was near at hand and that the presence of an overwhelming force would probably speed up Germany's surrender. Therefore, the convoy was ordered to proceed as scheduled.

On the morning of September 29, 1918, the Ticonderoga developed engine trouble and dropped behind thc rcst of thc convoy. Thcy were 1700 miles off the Atlantic coast, just halfway to their destination and at a point of no return. At 5:20, the following morning, just as the sun was lighting the sky the German submarine, U-152, was sighted about a mile away. crew was ordered to their battle stations, but, before they could react, a torpedo mashed into the Ticonderoga's hull. Ticonderoga was only equipped with two 6" guns, one forward and one aft. The U-boats usually used the same size guns but, as one of the shells pierced another section of the Ticonderoga, it was reported to be at least an eight inch shell. Without the promotion of the convoy escorts, the Ticonderoga was a sitting duck for the U-boat that was running on surface in order to utilize its full fire power. The forward gun of the Ticonderoga was blown away after only five or six rounds. The aft gun tried to pick up the slack but it was no match for the U boat that kept up a continuous barrage that lasted about two hours. None of the 237 men on the Ticonderoga, which included the soldiers assigned to be horse handlers, were able to escape the shrapnel that was flying everywhere on the deack of the ship. Almost every man on board, including the captain, suffered wounds of some sort.  As the crew scrambled for the life boats, it was fiscrovered that all but one of the eight life boats hadbeen destroyed by the shelling.  Thoese who were not badly wounded jumped overboard to fill that one life boat.  One of the survivors swam over to the submarine to beg the officer to stop firing.  By that time, there was no fight left in the Ticonderonga.  The lieutenant on the U-boat pulled out his revolver and told the swimmer to go back to the lifeboat or he'd be shot.  After there were about twenty or so survivors in the lifeboat, they were ordered alongside the submarine while the U-boat continued shelling the sinking ship. Two officers were taken prisoner from the lifeboat before the submarine slipped beneath the water leaving twenty - two survivors to drift for four days in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

the British steamer. S.S. Moorish Prime spotted the lifeboat and its survivors and brought them back to England. lt was then learned that the USS Ticonderoga had gone to its watery grave with 213 sailors and soldiers on board. Two weeks  later. Mr. and Mrs. Van Grafius were officially notified that their son. Eugene, was among those missing from the ship. His body was never recovered. A month later. on November ll. Germany surrendered and peace was declared. Subsequently, the US. struck thc Ticonderoga from their list. This ship was the third to be called the Ticonderoga during the wars history and it wasn't until 1943 that the name was reinstated for an aircraft carrier in  World War Two.

After the veterans returned home and tried to get back into society, they discovered their government was willing to turn its back on the victim's needs. In order to be heard, the veterans formed the Legion. This served a two fold purpose: by giving the veterans a place to gather and to as well as forming a united front to for medical care and job opportunities for the veterans. Montoursville organized their American Legion Post #104  largely through the efforts of George Champion and Peter Lehman. The meetings were held in a hall at Broad Street that previously was used as the headquarters  for the Montoursville Board at the first meeting, there were 111 members and Mr. Lehman was elected as their commander. Post was called "Loyalsock". ln December. the original were for 1920 and a movement was started to change the name of the Post to a more personal name to pay tribute to the memory of a comrade. names were submitted and after much discussion they decided to name the Post after Seaman Eugene Grafius.

Since its inception. the American legion Post #104 has played an important part with the family. Eugene’s youngest sister. Florence married a World War One veteran. Peter Lundy was a member of the Legion Post and was elected commander in 1923. ln 1937 the Post was listed in the city directory as being located at 264 Broad Street. The Post then moved to temporary quarters in 1940 to 109 N. Montour Street. Eugene’s oldest brother, William, had four sons who served in World War Two between 1942 and 1945. At the end of World War Two the four sons returned home and joined Post 104. Around 1947 the Post moved to S. Mill Street along Loyalsock Creek in a building that used to be the Seaside, Hotel. In the early days this hotel was a popular gathering spot for the rivermen and raftsmen. In 1950, one of the sons. Thomas was elected commander of Post #104. Two years later the Post built a permanent headquarters at 1686 Broad across from the Montoursville Cemetery. In 1953 Thomas's older brother. William James Gratins. was elected commander. He was elected commander again in 1954 and 1955. There were five sisters who also joined the Legion's Auxiliary [Katheryn Dieffenbacher, Jane Neece, Charlotte Pittenger, JoAnn Hamm and Rachel Boyles] and several of their husbands joined the Legion as well. Three of the brothers became life members [Thomas, Daniel, and Jerome} which might be a record for any American Legion Post. Florence Grafius was a charter member of the Auxiliary, being one of Montoursvilles first Gold Star Mothers. After the war she was invited to sail to  France on behalf of the War department . When their ship arrived at the site where the U.S.S. Ticonderoga sank, a wreath was thrown into the ocean after a brief ceremony.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the death of Eugene Grafius. We will never know what he might have offered in life or what type of family man he might have become or what great things his children might have accomplished. What we do know is that his name lives on through the American Legion Post #104 and it has been a family to hundreds of veterans for several wars over the past 79 years. The members of the Post have been a positive influence to the community through civic deeds and they have enabled numerous students to pursue higher education from the various scholarships they receive through Post #104. I guess, in many ways, this would be the best family Eugene Grafius could ever have.

Letters In The Attic

Letters In The Attic

H. Joseph Grafius

12/30/00

In April 1999 I received an unexpected phone call from my Uncle Jerry regarding a documentary on the Underground Railroad a friend of his had seen on television and there was mention of a Grafius in the movie. Uncle Jerry hadn’t seen it and knowing I was the family historian, he wanted to bring it to my attention. I explained I was aware of this documentary titled "Follow The North Star" because I had helper with some of the research. I told him I'd get him a copy of the video. A few days latter I made a trip to my uncle’s in White Deer. I talked with Jerry about parts of the documentary and some of the characters such
as Thomas and Abraham Updegraff I explained that the Grafius family and Updegraff families were friends and neighbors originally in York, PA. then in Williamsport. In fact Thomas Updegraff and Abraham Grafius each married an Elizabeth Rothrock who were cousins in York. Several days passed after my visit with Uncle Jerry when I got another phone call from him. Uncle Jerry wanted to show me some letters he had been saving. Because of our previous conversation it had jogged his memory about some letters relating to the Updegraff family he had in his possession. Back in the summer his of 1957 he and my father, Thomas Gratius, were hired to work on a storage shed located near the banks of the Susquehanna
River, west of Williamsport on South Reach Road. This property was just purchased by Nelson Phillips who had moved from Boston to take on a position at the Armour Leather Co. m Newberry. The house on the property is the present day Thomas Lightfoot Inn. Mr. Nelson s father-in-law, Joseph B. Hoyt, lived next door and decided he wanted his house renovated by my uncle s company. While Uncle Jerry was tearing up the attic floor boards that were 12 inches by 12 foot virgin rough cut planks, he found a bundle of letters wrapped in tissue paper. As he carefully unwrapped the tissue paper he noticed the letters were date from the l860’s. The main subject of the letters was a William B. Updegraff. A couple of the letters
referenced him as a private in the 37°‘ Regiment PA Volunteers. Uncle Jerry thought there might be some historical significance to these Civil War era letters so he sent them to the United States War Department for their opinion. Several months later the letters were retumed to him with the reply that they were more of a social value than war related. Uncle Jerry then stuck the letters in a desk where they remained for the next forty—three years. My uncle said now was the time to relinquish the letters. He was sure I would find a proper home for them. So began my search for the answers to the letters in the attic.

Over.the years I have found the Lycoming County Courthouse to be an excellent source for
historical information as well as the James V. Brown Library. From these sources I was able to gather enough facts to identify William B. Updegraff his family background and the life at that time. · William B. Updegraff was born in 1844 or 1845. The sources don’t give the exact date. Hrs. parents were Daniel and Catherine Bennett Updegraff His grandparents were Daniel, Sr. and Catherine Palmer Updegraff and his great grandparents were Derrick and Susan Stricker Updegraff. Before moving any further with William I’ll take a few minutes to tell more about his ancestors.

Derrick Updegraff was born in Germantown, a section of Philadelphia, in 1731. His parents were Herman and Mary Ann Lowden Updegraff. The family was of the Quaker faith to begin with but some made changes and adjustments over time. In the 1740’s or 50"s the family moved to York, PA. which was a newly established settlement at that time. Derrick married Susan Striker on Nov.28, 1758 in York. They had nine children. After the Revolutionary War, Derrick bought 313 acres of land along the Susquehanna River in what was then Northumberland County. This stretch of land was known as the "Long Reach". In
1789 Derrick and his family traveled overland on Indian trails and finally down the Culbertson Path to . where Duboistown is now located. He then crossed the river to his property and built a log cabin and cleared the land for farming. This is where he raised his family.

Ten years later, after this area became part of Lycoming County, one of Derrick’s nephews,
Thomas Updegraff decided to move up from York also. Thomas had visited Uncle Derrick before and wanted to start his own business as a farmer in the new settlement of Williamsport. Through the help from his Uncle Derrick and his old friend Jacob Gratius, who had already been in Williamsport a couple of years, he was able to do so. Thus began the two branches of the Updegraff families in the Williamsport area.

Derrick and Susan had about nine children. With their children’s help they were able to clear as much land as they could farm. When Derrick passed away on June 20, 1815 he left a third of his land to his one son, Daniel. Daniel Updegraff Sr. was bom March 9, 1770 in York, PA. He married Catherine Palmer on Aug. 6, 180.1. They had at least six children with Daniel, Jr. being the youngest. He was bom March 3, w 1817. The family continued farming and planting fruit uees on their plot of land. After Daniel, Sr. died on Feb. 16, 1854 a portion of the land was willed to Daniel, Jr.

With the advent of the West Branch Canal in 1834 which passed right by the Updegraff ·
homestead, the family was able to ship their farm goods to Williamsport faster and friends and relatives could visit more frequently. Daniel Updegraff, Jr. was married to Catherine Bennett on March 17, 1842. Catherine was born in 1823 and grew up in a nearby area called Level Comers, now known as Linden. Daniel and Catherine had seven children: Emma C. (1842), William B. (1844), Catherine (1847), Fremont (1848), Augustus Wilson (1850), Helen (1852), and Abraham (1854). The family continued their tradition of farming, which included all the children doing most of the work. This work was very physical, mundane, and time consuming. The highlights in their lives were an occasional church social or a trip into town.
The nation was going through some troubling times in the 1850’s because of internal conflicts
between the norther states and the southern states on the issue of slavery. The Updegraff families in Williamsport and on the Long Reach were abolitionists and operated safe houses for the Underground Railroad. Eventually the southe states voted to secede from the Union. In April 1861 the Civil Warrn started. When William B. Updegraff became a teenager he was hearing stories from various visitors and relatives who traveled around the country and they talked about sights and new inventions they encountered. This would be interesting to any farm boy who spent his days pulling weeds and shoveling manure. Several of William’s relatives joined the army in 1862 when it was seen that the rebellion was not going to end soon. One of the letters to William was from a cousin, Albert , dated September 14, 1862
that says he just arrived in Harrisburg by train. "We just came back from supper. It was good. If it’s this good all the time I can get along. We are about a mile from Camp Curtin. There is 40,000 boys in it. We have 2,000 in this yard. I have a lot to write on what I’ve seen so far. I will not go back home for a farm." In another letter from a friend, C. M. Fisher, who was stationed near Camp Monroe, is dated December 7, 1862. Mr. Fisher writes: "We’re encamped within about 21/2 miles of a rebble camp. We have to take one whole company of armed men to guard the men who goes out to chop wood. Our pickets have skirmishes
with the rebble pickets about every three or four nights. We have long been wishing to get a peep at some of old Jeff`s (Davis) boys and no doubt we will soon be gratified."

In January 1863 William wrote to his friend, Jacob, who was in the army. William said he was
sorry for not writing sooner but he didn’t know where to send the letter. It was difficult for the mail to catch up with the troops who were on the move. William writes about "going over the River last night to a dance and we got some yam yam." He also talked about going sleigh riding every "knight". "Last knight we had another snow so we can goose it now on a git up and dust." William mentions that he and a friend had a great mind to join the army also, "1f we come there Old Jeff will have to leave right strait for down comes his shanty or any other men that will fight for him." In closing he said he had to "clean out that Eternaley Stable." "It has new com stalks in it and about 10,000 on top. Please answer soon and tell me about the war soon." This was all it took to spark a fire under William. A year later when Robert E. Lee was marching his army towards Pennsylvania, nineteen year old William was ready to jump at the chance to answer Governor Curtin’s call for all able body men to come to the defense of their state. William enlisted in the local 37"‘ Regiment, Company "G" PA Volunteer Militia on June 2, 1863. He was shipped to Harrisburg to protect the capitol and remain active for one hundred days.

The next four letters were all dated between July 26 and July 29, 1863 and all addressed to .
William. This was about three weeks after the battle of Gettysburg and word had certainly spread on how devastating that three day battle was as far as casualties. William’s sister, Mrs. E. C. Fessler, writes that it was nice to hear from him finally but was sorry to hear he was sick. She said they received the money and clothes he sent back home. The folks were done harvesting and "halling in." "Sam mowed some timothy down Saturday. Mother has not been well since you left. She was worse last week until we heard from you. Ives tobacco is gone up. He has quit it. He is going along with the boat when it comes back. Mother has just got out all of your pictures a looking first at one then at another." In ending his sister says, "l never wrote
such writing in my life. I have a peck of fleas on me and two million flies in my face, so between them and mother gabbling you couldn't expect anything better. You must excuse it. Your old sister E. C. F." The next letter to William was from his cousin, Abraham, dated July 27,1863. This letter was sent from Long Reach so that meant Abraham had already completed his enlistment and was home. Abraham apologizes for not writing sooner but didn’t know where to direct it until the family received his last letter. Abraham  says, things are passing of here very smooth. Everything is lovely and the goose is hanging high. The girls is all right far as I know. I attend to all I can and the rest is assisted by some one else. Newberry lost one of her young girls on Wednesday night which was Lizzy Longan. But never the less the goose hangs high. ln closing he adds, "l want you to write me a letter as long as a studs prick immediately "

The next letter dated July 28,1863 is again from William`s sister. Mrs. E.C. Fessler. She said she was sorry for not being able to send him some provisions but might box something up later unless he was coming home soon. "We heard you were coming back as soon as the railroad was completed. Our folks are working at their timothy hay. Snoop and Pap are halling into the barn while Henry and old Hamon is hoeing the tobacco. Henry said I should tell you to come back in time to hall out the manure." His sister goes on to tell him what news they've heard about the war. "General Morgans was taken with his whole force and that General Meades army had cut Lee`s army into. Also that Fort Sumpter was taken but it has not been continued yet. There is some hopes that the north will subdue the south yet." Something else of interest in her letter is a mention of Uncle Tom stopping by that day. Not everybody was in favor of the war. She writes, "mother is trying to make him understand matters and things about you and the war but it is rather a difficult matter. Uncle Tom says you must be careful of your money. George Leonard sent home one more coat than his own. You better not show him much money." The last paragraph talks about Pap going to town to get stamps and paper. Mrs. Fisher gave lilly cents towards the same so her son John would be able to write home as well. She asked William to write for John or lend him stamps if he needs them because he‘s so backwards.

The last letter in this time sequence is from a friend named Flo and is dated .July 29 1863. lt is addressed to William in Green Castle, care of Colonel Trout. She writes: "l received yours ol`the 2.l"° ami perused its contents with all the pleasure imaginable." She was beginning to think he did not care enough to write. lt continues, "Oh dear but this is a warm day my face feels like a boiled lobster and looks as red as a beet. We are going to have a grand festival in the city of Newberry at our church on the  6th of next month for the benefit of the peoples in general and our Sabbath School in particular. l anticipate having a grand time. Don‘t you wish you could be here to see the fun?" The next part ol`the letter concerns William's letter
regarding him maybe having to break his promise about coming home with the rest of the boys. "William B. Updegraff if you don‘t come home when you are dismissed l will be as rad as l can be and l will never believe a word you tell me again. l would much rather you would not be a soldier any longer than the three months that you have volunteered for. lt is rather a dangerous occupation to suit my fastidious taste." Flo talks about going down on the Reach to see his family and sister, Em, showed her a picture William had sent her. "I have not one picture that looks like you. 1 don‘t think that ambrotype looks like you do anymore." She ends by apologizing for her writing and all the mistakes and says,"please answer soon and
tell me all the news, Your devoted friend Flo." From the faint writing on the envelope l think her name was Flora Brown. `

We aren‘t sure what William was writing about at that time other than the army was perhaps more appealing than returning back to the farm life. As it turned out, William did come home the following month at the end of his enlistment. Although he didn't like the idea of facing the thought of being a farmer for the rest of his life he also was homesick and knew his family needed him.

The next letter from the bundle is actually a song written by William for Lizzie Updegraff and is dated January 7"‘, 1864. This is an army song titled “hoist Up The Flag". I believe there are several versions of this tune depending on what unit you were in. An excerpt nom one of the stanzas goes: " Our troops at richmond were under good training, They were under the command of General McCLellan, Our troops at richmond were anxious for a fight, But the rebles they were cowardly and kept out of sight. Chorus: Hoist up the flag and long may it wave, Over the union our honor to save, Up with the Flag and long may it wave, Over the union the home of the brave". lt can be seen that William maintained his patriotism and that his thoughts were still on the war and the army.

On February 8, 1864 William wrote to a friend named Samuel. He said he was sorry for not
making it up to see him but he was sick. By the time he feels better the buck hunting will probably be over and it wouldn't be any fun to come up there just to run around the woods. William says how well the singing school is going. He also mentions they've had no parties this winter at all. He did attend an affair at Will Mahaffey’s and was invited to another but that was when he got sick.

The last two letters are from two female admirers. The winter was over and summer brought out the people to socialize. The first one is dated June 13, 1864 and ls from Carrie Griffin to William. "l hope you will pardon me for being so bold as to enter into a correspondence with you. But as this is leap year l think I am justified in so doing. lt would be my greatest delight to meet you and become acquainted. l have met you on the street and was captivated in seeing you. 1 would like to meet you next Monday evening at 8 o clock at Herrington's saloon. Write and let me know. Don't fall." This seems rather bold for those times.

The other letter or note was undated to William from Ella. "You may find l was somewhat surprised when l received your note but having overcome my surprise I will try to answer your note.  you think I was very cruel not to leave one for you". She thought he was joking when he said he wanted to meet her and she would be much obliged to meet with him.  I'm sure William courted many girls over the next several years until he found the right one.

On December 16, 1868 William B. Updegraff was married to Annie E. Elliot the daughter of
Ralph Elliot and the sister of ex·mayor, William G. Elliot. Annie was born in 1849. William and Annie had a daughter Emily, born in l869 but she died on September 7,1872. A son Ralph was born in May 1879 but he too died ten months later on March 15, 1880. William and Annie had no other children that I know oi Although the other Updegraff families were prolific, William and Annie had to play the role of aunt and uncle for the remainder of their lives. William eventually would be able to break away from farm life and embark on a business career. In 1891 he and his brother-, Fremont, enter into partnership to build and
operate the Updegraff Hotel.  THe building was on the Fourth and Pine Streets in
Williamsport. It was the largest and finest hotel in downtown Williamsport in its day. The hotel replaced the Hepburn House on that site which previously was the Doebler·House. Later the Updegraff Hotel became known as the Ross Hotel then in 1975 the Center City Building.

Annie Updegraff died on September 9,1896 leaving William to live out his life on the family
homestead where he helped care for his father, Daniel, who the passed away on February 16,.1903. William lived another fifteen years operating the hotel until his death on May 18, 19l8. His brother Fremont died seven months later. William was buried in his parent’s plot in the Wildwood Cemetery along with his wife and brother. The family’s tombstones are unique. They are round but in a drum shape and are located near the cemetery office.  That staff at the cemetery office said there aren't any others like them in the cemetery.  After the death of William and Fremont it is assumed that other family members took over the house and property on Reach Road.  The last person bearing he Updegraff name was Alma Brown Updegraff, he widow of the John B. Updegraff in 1932.  In 1943 H. Merrill Winner and his wife, Katheryne Bennett purchase the property along with the old homestead property. Kathryne was a direct descendent of Thomas A. and Derrick Updegraff.  In 1954 the family decided to move back to Williamsport and sold a part of their property to Nelson Phillips.  This portion became the Thomas Lightfoot Inn.  The house where the letters were found was sold to Joseph B. Hoyt in 1967, Mr Phillips father in law.  In 1864 the property was subdivided and purchased by James D. Wither.  His widow still resides there.

This brings us back to the beginning of my story.  My hopes of being able to locate a descendent of William B. Updegraff weren't possible because they had no children who survived to my knowledge. The answer as to why the letters were hidden under the attic floorboards can only be speculated.  william chose those personal letters to stow away. These weren't just from girlfriends; they were to and from friends and family.  Perhaps they were just stored there for safe keeping during one of the floods such as the one in 1865, then forgotten about.  one can only guess.  For whatever reasons, these memories were wrapped in tissue paper, lost in time and kept safe in the attic.

Maybe it was fate that these letters were found by my uncle.  Maybe the letters needed to reach my hands to tell William's story.  Although I could not find a direct descendent to William I was able to locate two living descendents of the family William belonged to.  Two of the letters written to William were from his sister, Emma C. Fessler.  Emma C. Updegraff married Joseph Fessler.  They had two children, Howard G. and Carrie M. Fessler. I couldn't track Carrie's line but I was able to follow Howard G. Fessler though.  He married Ella M. Winner and they had a son, Henry M. Fessler.  Henry married Edna M and they had two children, Robert H. and Barbara Jean Fessler.  Howard died January 19, 1929.  Henry M died August 30, 1960 and is buried in Picture Rocks Cemetery. Robert became a doctor but passed away at a young age on June 21, 1977.  He left two sons in Easton, PA.  Barbara Jean was married to Frank Wolyniec, Jr and she still lives in Williamsport.  I made contact with her on April 9, 2000 to tell her of the letters her great grandmother had tenderly written her brother, William B. Updegraff, one hundred and thirty years ago.  During our conversation Mary Lib Stockwell's name came up as being her cousin.  This she said was through the Winner line.  I then pointed out that their relationship goes back much further than that.  They are related to the Updegraff line.  Their great great grandfathers were brother, Thomas A. and Daniel Jr Updegraff.  Mary Lib's parents were Katheryne and H. Merrill Winner.  Katheryne's parents were Laura U. Mahaffey and William Bennet. Laura's parents were William J. Mahaffey and Catherine Updegraff.  catherine's father Thomas A. Updegraff.  I feel my journey is not complete bridging the gap in history.  The letters in the attic have given Barbara Jean a family history that was lost.

                                                                                                             H. Joseph Grafius