Obit: Margraf, John (1832 - 1900)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: MARGRAF REIL

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 03/08/1900

Margraf, John (13 MAY 1832 - 27 FEB 1900)

John Margraf was born at Mount Pleasant, Pa., May 13th, 1832; shortly after reaching his majority he found his way to Louisiana and engaged in steamboating on the lower Mississippi, making his headquarters first at Baton Rouge and later at New Orleans, where he remained until the war broke out, when he was believed to be a northern sympathizer, lost his property and only escaped with his life by the intervention of Gen Boreaguard, who was his personal friend. Some time in the seventies he located at Milwaukee, where he remained until 1882, when he came to Colby, Clark Co., Wis. and purchased a piece of land on section one, town of Colby; in 1883 he moved into the city, having purchased the Colby House, which he conducted until about six years ago, when he sold his business here and removed to his farm A year or two later he erected a building at Abbotsford, opened a saloon and moved his family there, where he resided until his death.

Mr. Margraf was united in marriage with Margaret Reil, in Jun 1877, who preceded him to the great beyond, Aug. 15th, 1890, leaving him with six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are still living and mourn the loss of an ever kind and indulgent father.

Mr. Margraf was a kind and gentle man, strictly honest in all his dealings, and was respected and loved by all who became acquainted with him. He was a member of the Sons of Herman and his funeral was attended by the local lodge, to a body, and also by a large concourse of citizens of Abbotsford and Colby.