J Frank Graff
Hon. J. FRANK GRAFF, part proprietor of the Buffalo Wollen Mills at Worthington, Pa., was born Aug. 12, 1857, son of Peter and Susan (Lobingier) Graff.
J.Frank Graff attended the public schools at Worthington, prepared for college at Steven's Hall, Gettysburg, Pa., and then entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, where he was graduated in 1879. After returning home he became manager of the company store connected with the Buffalo Wollen Mills, near Worthington, and continued this superintendance for ten years, when he became a partner. He has numerous other business interests, being president of the Althom Sand Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa., a director in the P. McGraw Wool Company, of Pittsburgh, a director in the Merchants' National Bank of Kittanning, Pa., a stockholder in the Safe Deposit Trust Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a stockholder in the First National Bank of Parker, Pa., and a stockholder in the Kittanning Telephone Company, of Kittanning, Pennsylvania.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Graff has served in both local and State offices. He has always taken an earnest interest in educational matters, has served on the school board and was promoter of the graded school system at Worthington. For some years he served as justice of the peace. In 1900 and 1902 he was elected a member of the General Assembly, the third of the family to be so honored, and continued in office until 1904. He was State elector for Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. In 1912 he was elected to the State Senate to serve until Jan. 1, 1917.
Mr. Graff was married in 1881 to Carrie L. Brown, who died in 1902, a daughter of Rev. J.A. Browm, D.D., and they had six children: James B., Peter, J. Frank, Jr., May F., Edmund B. and Richard M. In 1904 Mr. Graff was married to Martha Stewart, and they had two sons, Grier S. and Smith S. Mr. Graff and his family are members of the Lutheran Church, in which he has been an elder for twenty-one years and for the same period superintendent of the Sunday school, succeeding his father in both offices.
Mr. Graff is a Mason of high degree, a Knight Templar and Shriner, belongs to the Blue Lodge and Orient Chapter at Kittanning and to the Consistory and Commandery at Pittsburgh. He is associated also with the Elks, Odd Fellows and Royal Arcanum.
Source: Page 412 Armstrong Coonty, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 1998 by Rodney G Rosborough for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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