Otto Emil Graf

1869 - 1943  (74 years)

• Name	Otto Emil Graf  [1]
  Born	4 Jan 1869	Grabowo, Province of Posen, Germany   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Immigrated	23 Mar 1885	New York City, New York, New York, United States   [2]
  	1885 from Bremen, Germany arriving
  	Probable manifest found: 23 March 1885 NY Passenger List Otto Graf on the Ship the Oder line # 419 on manifest
  Census	4 Jun 1895	Westford Twp., Martin, Minnesota, United States   [1]
  	1895 Minnesota State
  	in the Charles A. Graf household. Enumerated were Charles A. 30 m w Germany resident MN 13 yrs resident of ED 8 mo Farmer; Wilhalmane 60 f w Germany Housekeeper; Otto 26 m w Germany 9 yrs resident MN 8 mo resident of ED
  Naturalization	15 Sep 1896	, Martin, Minnesota, United States
  	1st Papers
  		nat_graf_otto1.jpg
  Naturalization	7 Dec 1897	, Martin, Minnesota, United States
  	2d Papers
  		nat_graf_otto2.jpg
  Census	22 Jun 1900	Truman, Martin, Minnesota, United States   [3]
  	1900 US Federal
  	in the Otto Graf household. Enumerated were OTTO head w m Jan 1869 31 M3 Ger-Ger-Ger 1885 15 Na Farmer; SOPHIA wife w f Dec 1875 24 M3 2/2 children living MN-Ger-Ger; ALMA daughter w f Aug 1898 2 s MN-Ger-Ger; DORA daugher w f Mar 1900 2/12 S
  Census	3 May 1910	Truman, Martin, Minnesota, United States   [4]
  	1910 US Federal
  	in the Otto Graff household. Enumerated were OTTO head m w 41 M1 13 Ger-Ger-Ger 1882 Na Teamster; SOPHIA wife f w 34 M1 13 4/4 children living MN-Ger-Ger; ANNA daughter f w 11 s MN-Ger-MN; DOROTHY daughter f w 10 s MN-Ger-MN; FRED son m w 7 s MN-Ger-MN; SOPHIA daughter f w 5 s MN-Ger-MN
  Census	5 Jan 1920	Truman, Martin, Minnesota, United States   [5]
  	1920 US Federal
  	in the Otto Graf household. Enumerated were OTTO E. head O/F m w 51 M 1885 Na 189_ Pose-Posen-Posen Farmer; SOPHIA M. wife f 2 44 m MN-Holstein-Mecklenberg; ANNA C. daughter f w 21 s MN-Posen-MN; DORTHY M. daughter f w 19 s MN-Posen-MN; FREDRICK W son m w 17 s MN-Posen-MN; SOPHIA B. daughter f w 14 s MN-Posen-MN; OLGA E daughter f w 4 6/12 s MN-Posen-MN; Perhold D. son m w s 2/12 s MN-Posen-MN
  Census	8 Apr 1930	Truman, Martin, Minnesota, United States   [6]
  	1930 US Federal
  	in the Otto Graf household. Enumerated were OTTO head m w 61 m 27 Ger-Ger-Ger 1884 Na Farmer; SOPHIA wfie f w 54 m 21 Mn-Ger-Ger FREDERICK son m w 27 s Mm-Ger-Mn Laborer; OLGA daughter f w 14 s Mn-Ger-Mn; ARNOLD son m w 12 s Mn-Ger-Mn
  Died	9 Jul 1943	Fairmont, Martin, Minnesota, United States   [7, 8]
  		death_graf_otto.jpg
  Buried	12 Jul 1943	Lakeside Cemetery, Fairmont, Martin, Minnesota, United States   [8]
  		Graf, Otto E and Sophia W (Oberdick) Gravestone
  Obituary	15 Jul 1943	Truman, Martin, Minnesota, United States   [8]
  	Truman Tribune
  	«b» Truman's First Resident Dies «/b»The Truman community was deeply saddened Friday when the news came from the county seat that a highly respected former Truman resident, Otto Graf had passed away at Fairmont hospital as the result of an accident suffered Monday. For the past several years, Mr. Graf has worked for the Fairmont Canning Company and he started there again this year, July 5th while working on a truck, he slipped and fractured his leg. He was taken to the Hunt hospital. The next day pneumonia developed and he died early Friday morning. All of his family were at his bedside with the exception of one son, Arnold, who is in the army, stationed in Florida and was unable to reach home in time. Otto Graf was a gentleman, held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and neighbors. In his passing this community has lost its earliest resident and also one of its few remaining pioneers. Otto Emil Graf was born July 4, 1869, at Grabowo, Posen, Germany. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at an early age. When 16 years old he immigrated to America and came directly to Mankato where he lived with an older sister. For several years he worked on farms in Blue Earth country in the Willow Creek vicinity. October 4, 1896, he entered into holy wedlock with Sophia Oberdieck of Antrim. They were married in the Antrim Lutheran church by Pastor Leo Krueger. After their marriage they lived one year on a rented farm. The following year they bought their own farm from Jim Johnson in Martin county. One 80 Mr. Graf sold to the railroad company for a town site for the village of Truman. The original tract of land began at the Kelley corner and extended south to the Eli Jorgenson corner and west to the railroad track. After he sold the one eighty for the townsite he donated one block for the school grounds and one block for a city park which bears his name. Six children, two sons and four daughters were born to this couple. In 1937 the Grafs sold their Truman home and moved to Fairmont wheres they purchased the residence on North Park St. The deceased was strong and sturdy and although he was in the seventies he was active and busy. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Frederick of Fairmont and Corporal Arnold of MacDill Field Fla.: four daughters, Mrs. Albert Lemke, Fairmont; Mrs. Julius Pyman, Fraser; Mrs. Henry Rose, Welcome, and Mrs. Leonard Carter, Truman. Three sisters, Mrs. Mary Burdin, St. Peter; Mrs. Adelhiide Urban, Truman, and Mrs. August Boelter, Amboy, and twelve grand children. Rev. O. H. Zemke conducted funeral services Monday afternoon at the St. Paul's Lutheran church in Fairmont for Mr. Fraf. Burial was made at Laekside cemetery. Pall bearers Julius Schwartz, Ernest Wollschlaeger, R. A. Schuster, Martin Hartman, Otto Lemke and Wm. H. Meyer. Attending the services for this community were Mrms. Julius Schwartz, Mrms. Ernest Wollschlaeger, Mrms. Marion Johnson, Mrs. Aug. Ebert, Mrs. Lizzie Fritz, Mrms. Alex Bock, Mrs. H. Heinemann, Mrs. Maria Tucholl, Mrs Bert Reinke, Mrs. Chas. Graf, Mrms. Fred Cook.
  		obit_graf_otto.jpg
  Person ID	I2855	Brendas Branches
  Last Modified	18 Jan 2014

  
  

  Father	Carl Graf,   d. 1869, , , , Germany
  Mother	Wilhelmine Tietz,   b. 16 Jul 1835, Freiedrichest, Province Of Posen, Germany ,   d. 14 Nov 1928, Truman, Martin, Minnesota, United States  (Age 93 years)
  Married	1855	, , , Germany
  Family ID	F1009	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Sophia W. Oberdick,   b. 3 Dec 1875, , , Minnesota, United States ,   d. 2 Apr 1957, Fairmont, Martin, Minnesota, United States  (Age 81 years)
  Married	4 Oct 1896	, Watonwan, Minnesota, United States   [8, 9]
  Children	+ 1. Anna Caroline Graf,   b. 22 Aug 1898, , , Minnesota, United States ,   d. 26 Sep 1980, Fairmont, Martin, Minnesota, United States  (Age 82 years) + 2. Dorothy Wilhelmina Sophia Graf,   b. 15 Mar 1900, , Martin, Minnesota, United States ,   d. 2 Mar 1961, , Olmsted, Minnesota, United States  (Age 60 years) + 3. Friedrich Walter Graf,   b. 22 Jul 1902, Truman, Martin, Minnesota, United States ,   d. 11 May 1983, Fairmont, Martin, Minnesota, United States  (Age 80 years) + 4. Sophia Emma Frieda Graf,   b. 12 Mar 1905, , Martin, Minnesota, United States ,   d. 25 Jan 1997, , Martin, Minnesota, United States  (Age 91 years) + 5. Olga Erna Graf,   b. 11 Jun 1915, , , Minnesota, United States ,   d. 2006  (Age 90 years) + 6. Arnold R. Graf,   b. 19 Sep 1917, , , Minnesota, United States ,   d. Jul 1985  (Age 67 years)
  Last Modified	14 Apr 2010
  Family ID	F2080	Group Sheet

  
  

• Notes

  See attached sources. [1]

  
  

• Sources

  [S197] MN, Martin - 1895 - State Census, Minnesota, Martin County, Page 4, Westford Twp, Family Number 24 (Reliability: 3). [S304] Ancestry.com, New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957; Otto Graf on the Oder a rriving 23 March 1885 (Reliability: 3). [S198] MN, Martin - 1900 - US Census, Minnesota, Martin County, Truman Village, ED # 180 Sheet #8a Dwell/Family # 128-148 i n the Otto Graf household (Reliability: 3). [S200] MN, Martin - 1910 - US Census, Minnesota, Martin County, Truman Village, ED# 130, Sheet 9a; Dwell/Family # 83/86 Ott o Graff household (Reliability: 3). [S442] MN, Martin - 1920 - US Census, Minnesota, Martin County, Truman Village, ED# 138, Sheet 4B, Dwell/Family # 85/90, Ot to E. Graf household (Reliability: 3). [S444] MN, Martin - 1930 - US Census, Minnesota, Martin County, Truman village; ED #46-29, Sheet 6a, Dwell/Fam #134/144, Ot to Graf household (Reliability: 3). [S60] MN - Death Certificate, Minnesota Department of Health, (Microfilm; Mn Historical Society), GRAF, OTTO certid# 1943-MN-008171 Date of Death: 09 Jul 1943 County of Death: MARTIN (Reliability: 3). [S549] Mn, Martin - Newspaper - Truman Tribune, Minnesota. Truman., "Truman's First Resident Dies," 15 July 1943, p. 1, col. 4. (Reliability: 3). [S569] MN - Marriage License - MN Official Marriage System, MACO/MOMS, ((https://www.mncounty.com/Certificate : 04/14/2010)), accessed Apr 14, 2010), entry for Otto Graf & Sophia Oberdick. (Reliability: 3). County: WATONWAN Cert # D-298 Date: 10/4/1896 Groom: GRAF, OTTO Bride: OBERDICK, SOPHIA