Jacob Graff and Sarah A. Pershing

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Husband Jacob Graff ^{1 2 3 4}

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           Born: 5 Sep 1810 - Westmoreland Co, PA 1 3 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 9 Dec 1886 1 3 4
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Graff (1763-1818) 1 3 5 6 7
         Mother: Barbara Baum (1775-1841) 1 2 3 5 7

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       Marriage: 9 Jun 1836 - New Derry, Westmoreland Co, PA 8

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Wife Sarah A. Pershing ⁸

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           Born: 22 Jun 1818 8
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 M Cyrus Graff ⁹

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           Born: 27 Oct 1837 9
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Mary C. Potts (1840-      ) 9
           Marr: 18 Feb 1868 9

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2 M Wilbur F. Graff ⁹

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           Born: 12 Mar 1840 9
     Christened: 
           Died: 22 Oct 1862 9
         Buried: 

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3 M John Graff ⁹

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           Born: 2 Sep 1842 9
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Hettie Ramsey (1840-      ) 9
           Marr: 15 Mar 1866 9

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4 M Hiram Graff ⁹

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           Born: 22 Oct 1844 9
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Sarah E. Wilson (1847-1883) 9
           Marr: 27 Dec 1872 9

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5 M Joseph Graff ⁹

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           Born: 18 Feb 1848 9
     Christened: 
           Died: 13 Oct 1851 9
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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6 M Edward Graff ⁹

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           Born: 19 Feb 1857 9
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Jacob Graff

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He lived with his mother on the farm where he was born until the age of seventeen. At this age he learned the trade of making hats-silk, wool, and the finest beaver, with his brother-in-law, John Colleasure, in the village of Pleasant Unity. He was very industrious and a good workman, doing business for himself for several years. He then moved to New Derry, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, about ten miles from the County seat, Greensburg, where he was married, and where he engaged in the milling business with Mr. Armstrong, his brother-in-law, until he moved to Rushville, Illinois. There he purchased a farm and also built a steam flouring mill. He continued in that business until a short time before his death.
At the age of 22, he became a Christian and united with the Methodist E. Church in Pleasant Unity. He soon became a class-leader in the church and engaged in all Christian work until his death.

THE FOLLOWING OBITUARY NOTICE OF JACOB GRAFF WAS PUBLISHED.
On last Thursday morning the people of our city were astonished by the announcement that "Father Graff" was dead. And yet every one said the peaceful and quiet way in which he passed away was fitting the life he had lived.
Jacob Graff was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., September 5th, 1810, making him 76 years, 3 months, and 4 days old. He was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in his 22d year, and has lived an honored and consistent Christian life from the time of his profession. During most of the time he was a class-leader, and has always lived up to the discipline idea of a sub-pastor. He was married to Miss Sarah Pershing, June 9th, 1836, and for fifty years and six months they have walked happily together, and in the nature of the case, it cannot be long until they will be re-united where death never comes.
Brother Graff came to Rushville in 1853, and lived here as one of our citizens until his death, thus, for 33 years he has gone in and out among this people, and many there are who rise up and call him blessed. He was not demonstrative or boastful, but calm and reserved, yet ever anxious and solicitous about the erring or needy; and in his timid, gentle and kind way, went about to do them good. His life was akin to the greatest forces of God-the silent ones! Talents may break forth like a blazing comet and attract attention for a while, wealth may command obeisance and wield a sceptre of power for a season, but after all there is no life that compares with that one which is "hid with Christ in God.'' The last public service that Father Graff attended was that of a Love Feast followed with the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. On Thursday morning, December 9th, 1886, he awakened about half past five o'clock, and remarked to his wife that he would arise to begin the duties of an-other day, but it was only the Spirit that arose, for while speaking he bowed his head and fell back asleep in Jesus. "He was not, for God took him.-F. M. Sisson.
The funeral services were conducted at the M. E. Church, by the Pastor, assisted by the Revs. John Clarke and John Knowly. There was a large congregation assembled to pay their last respects to their esteemed fellow citizen. The remains were laid to rest in the Rushville Cemetery, about 4 o'clock, p. m. His sons, Messrs. John Graff, of Tecumseh, Nebraska, and Edward Graff, who is a student at the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, arrived here in time to attend the obsequies.

1 J. T. Stewart, Indiana County, Pennsylvania - Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1913), Pg 711.

2 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 328.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 141.

4 Paul Graff, History of the Graff Family of Westmoreland County (Philadelphia, PA: Privately published(?), 1891), Pg 6.

5 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 360.

6 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 328, 614.

7 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 16.

8 Paul Graff, History of the Graff Family of Westmoreland County (Philadelphia, PA: Privately published(?), 1891), Pg 88.

9 Paul Graff, History of the Graff Family of Westmoreland County (Philadelphia, PA: Privately published(?), 1891), Pg 89.