WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
JOHN & EMMA HAFEN GRAF FAMILY
(early santa clara residents)
BIOGRAPHY
Johannes (aka John) Graf was born in Rebstein, St. Gallen, Switzerland on September 15, 1859. He was christened on September 18, 1859.John Graf and Emma Hafen were married in St. George on February 12, 1885.
Sometime between 1885 and 1890, John & Emma Hafen purchased a home from Frederick Roulett. They raised their family and lived the remainder of their lives there.
John and Emma had ten children. They saw many sorrows, heartaches, and tragedies. John became mentally ill from a mule kick in the head, and wasn't himself for years before he died on December 11, 1916 at the age of 57. He was buried in the Santa Clara Cemetery. Emma lived to see seven of her ten children pass away. One of their sons, Walter, had a hunchback and required much care. Another son, Otto, shot himself accidentally at age 18. Kenneth, when eight years old, was injured by a mule while helping his father and died from blood poisoning. Their little girl, Orpha, got a throat disease and died from choking. The oldest child, Charlotta, died from breast cancer in 1947.
While Emma was still alive, her son Elgin and his wife, Vivian Tobler Graf, lived in the two front rooms of the house until they built their own home down the street in 1939.
Emma suffered greatly from arthritis later in life. As she was a widow for 30 years, she worked hard to care for the needs of her family. Emma loved her children and grandchildren very much and would do anything for them. Emma was a most thoughtful and unselfish mother and mother-in-law, beloved by her family. She passed away at the age of 83 in 1947. The three children who survived her were Tessie Graf Reber, Oliver Graf, and Elgin Graf.
FAMILY
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John's Parents and Siblings:
Johannes Graf Anna Magdalena Graf Anna Catherine Graf John Henry Graf Arnold Graf Johannes (aka John) Graf Emma Barbara Graf Emil Graf Theodore Harmon Graf |
(12/18/1825-7/23/1883) (married xx/xx/~1854) (12/17/1827-1/4/1869) (3/15/1855-5/3/1898) (married John Reber) (11/28/1856-1/2/1891) (married Barbara Staheli) (8/31/1858-9/14/1858) (9/15/1859-12/11/1916) (married Emma Hafen) (7/21/1861-5/16/1930) (married Trog Graf) (3/29/1863-1/8/1898) (married Juliet Roulett) (1/4/1868-7/12/1947) (married Lydia Eva Knight) |
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Emma's Parents and Siblings: John George Hafen Susetta Bosshard Hafen John Hafen Emma Hafen Harmon Hafen Adolph Hafen Susetta Hafen Ernest Hafen |
(10/17/1838-5/4/1928) (married 10/18/1861) (6/7/1842-7/4/1914) (11/26/1862-11/21/1946) (married Lenora Knight, Ida Florence Gubler, and Rose Ann Gubler) (9/2/1864-11/20/1947) (married John Graf) (6/22/1868-1/11/1952) (married Frances Helen Wilson) (6/16/1874-4/16/1956) (married Nellie Rosetta Atkin) (3/19/1877-12/27/1970) (married Lorenzo Calvin Leavitt) (5/13/1882-11/22/1929) (married Selina Rosina Gubler) |
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John & Emma's Family: John (aka Johannes) Graf Emma Hafen Graf Louis "Lewis" Graf Charlotte Graf John Waldo Graf George Walter Graf Kenneth Emil Graf Tessie Susetta Graf Otto Graf Oliver Graf Orphia Graf Elgin "Brock" Graff |
(9/15/1859-12/11/1916) (married 2/12/1885) (9/2/1864-11/20/1947) (11/22/1885-8/3/1887) (11/23/1887-4/14/1947) (married Fredrick Reber) (3/2/1890-9/28/1890) (12/8/1891-5/24/1934) (3/30/1895-9/16/1902) (5/11/1898-7/14/1989) (married Leo Frei Reber) (2/6/1900-8/29/1918) (2/16/1902-12/16/1987) (married Elsie Jane Horner) (8/27/1904-5/7/1909) (6/29/1908-9/19/2004) (married Vivian Tobler) |
PHOTOS
TBDREFERENCES
History of the Roulett/Graff Homefrom Kaili's Restaurant, 2862 Santa Clara Drive, Santa Clara, Utah 84765
Clippings and photos about the Hafens in Utah
History of Charlotte Juliet Roulet Graf
including stories about John Graf and Emma Hafen
John Graf Home
FamilySearch entry for Johannes "John" Graf
Find-A-Grave entry for Johannes "John" Graf
BillionGraves entry for John Graf
FamilySearch entry for Emma Hafen
Find-A-Grave entry for Emma Hafen Graf
BillionGraves entry for Emma Hafen Graf
FamilyCentral entry for Johannes or John Graf