Anyone know my Swiss/German family: lost parents of Robert Graf of Vermont, born in Switzerland September 26, 1874?

Question

Robert Graf (Graf-391) was born in Switzerland September 26, 1874 (his grand-daughter believes Appenzell).  He was supposedly an only child but came to U.S. at age 11 in 1887 with relatives.  The Immigration record is on his profile.  His life here in the states is well known... he married Georgianna Bingham Leach and had a son named Robert Edwards Graf whom I met years back.  They all spent their entire lives living in Pawlet and Rupurt, Rupert County, Vermont on the Leach family farm now called South-Wind Farm.  None of us has been able to find who the parents were of Robert Graf born 1874.  We are quite possitive he was born in Switzerland, but there are many reasons to believe his family is more German or from Germany.  Any help at all would be appreciated.  Thank you very much.

 

(Graf-391)

Comments

I find this record:

Deutschland, Geburten und Taufen 1558-1898 Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 about Ludwig Robert Graf

Name: Ludwig Robert Graf Gender: Male Baptism Date: 15 Nov 1874 Baptism Place: Evangelisch Entbindungsanstalt, Giessen, Oberhessen, Hesse-Darmstadt Mother: Christiane Graf FHL Film Number: 1193428

Save This Record

 

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Wow.  What can I make of that?  Do you think it's possibly him?  I'm hitting google now using the new info you shared.  Thank you.

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I hope it is the right record.

Good luck to you.

Betty

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This record shows he immigrated in1892:

1930 United States Federal Census about Robert Graf

Name:	Robert Graf [Robert Sia]
Gender:	Male
Birth Year:	abt 1874
Birthplace:	Switzerland
Race:	White
Home in 1930:	Rupert, Bennington, Vermont
Map of Home:	View Map
Marital Status:	Married
Immigration Year:	1892
Relation to Head of House:	Son-in-law
Spouse's Name:	Georgeiana Graf
Father's Birthplace:	Switzerland
Mother's Birthplace:	Switzerland
Occupation: Education: Military service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace:	View image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Helen R Leach 83 Robert Graf 56 Georgeiana Graf 56 Robert E Graf 14 Carroll Battie 27

 

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This record might have some information:

American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) about Georgiana Bingham Leach

Name:	Georgiana Bingham Leach
Birth Date:	1874
Birthplace:	Vermont
Volume:	101
Page Number:	317
Reference:	Lawrence Leach of Salem, Ms. and some of his des. By F. Phelphs Leach. St. Albans, Vt, 1924. (3v.). v.3:50

 

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That cerainly is my guy.  I'm impressed by how quick you all are.  I hope a firm link to his parents pops up as easily.

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Here is a Robert Graf immigrated in 1897 to New York:

New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 about Robert Graf

Name: Robert Graf Arrival Date: 20 Jun 1897 Birth Date: abt 1875 Age: 22 Gender: Male Ethnicity/ Nationality: American Port of Departure: Havre Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: La Gascogne Search Ship Database: Search the La Gascogne in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

 

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He is surely the Robert Graf of Pawlet, Rupert, Vt and of Granville, NY (they border eachother practically at his doorstep).  Correctly shown in some of the Census below are his wife Georgianna Graf (formerly Leach), his sister Genevieve Graf, his son Robert E. and others.  He certainly came from Switzerland.  His life here in the states is clear.  His parents back in the old country are still the missing to our family overseas.  His descendants remember that his son Robert E. Graf used to travel back to Switzerland to visit with family, but he used to go by himself or with his great aunt Genevieve who is no longer with us either.  Seems we lost record of who he was visiting or where exactly he went.  I believe that's where Robert E. Graf's daughter has reccollections of Appenzell.  Looking it up I see Appenzell is both a "town" and a "county" of sorts.  I appreciate all the help.

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My 5th great grandmother was a Graf from Switzerland. If you're ever interested in comparing DNA would be neat to discover a cousin.

Answer 1

Here's Georgianna and Robert in 1925 living in New York:

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 about Georgianna Graf

Name:	Georgianna Graf
Gender:	Female
Residence Year:	1925
Street address:	Pawlet p o Pawlet - Q
Residence Place:	Granville, New York, USA
Spouse:	Robert Graf
Publication Title:	Granville, New York, City Directory, 1925

 

Comments

This is a record from 1900:

1900 United States Federal Census about Robert Graf

Name:	Robert Graf
Age:	28
Birth Date:	Mar 1872
Birthplace:	Switzerland
Home in 1900:	Dundee, Kane, Illinois
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Immigration Year:	1894
Relation to Head of House:	Servant
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	Switzerland
Mother's Birthplace:	Switzerland
Occupation:	View on Image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Godfried Schafferer 35 Mary Schafferer 26 Kate Schefferes 7 John Schefferes 6 Lydia Schefferes 4 Mary Schefferes 2 Samuel Schefferes 6 Rika Gschweud 20 Chas Gschweud 17 Robert Graf 28

 

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Here's one in 1910:

1910 United States Federal Census about Robert Graf

Name:	Robert Graf [Gross]
Age in 1910:	25 [35]
Birth Year:	abt 1885 [abt 1875]
Birthplace:	Switzerland
Home in 1910:	Rupert, Bennington, Vermont
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Hired Man
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	Switzerland
Mother's Birthplace:	Switzerland
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Edward Pasch 65 Helen Leach 63 Elizabeth Harries 73 Georgiana Leach 36 Genevieve Leach 33 Robert Graf 25 [35]  Christopher Mooris 19

 

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This looks like him.

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Thank you.  Why does it say (Gross)? Is that a possible AKA or real LNAB?

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Sometimes the handwriting on the censuses is hard to decypher so, if it is fuzzy, the person will put down all the names it could possibly be.

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In confering with his grand-daughter, I find that although Robert Graf and Georgianna (Leach)Graf spent most of their time in Pawlet, Rupert Co, Vt they also are the people listed as living in Granville, NY.  Turns out they lived on the border.

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He is surely the Robert Graf of Pawlet, Rupert, Vt and of Granville, NY (they border eachother practically at his doorstep).  Correctly shown in some of the Census below are his wife Georgianna Graf (formerly Leach), his sister Genevieve Graf, his son Robert E. and others.  He certainly came from Switzerland.  His life here in the states is clear.  His parents back in the old country are still the missing to our family overseas.  His descendants remember that his son Robert E. Graf used to travel back to Switzerland to visit with family, but he used to go by himself or with his great aunt Genevieve who is no longer with us either.  Seems we lost record of who he was visiting or where exactly he went.  I believe that's where Robert E. Graf's daughter has reccollections of Appenzell.  Looking it up I see Appenzell is both a "town" and a "county" of sorts.  I appreciate all the help.

Answer 2

Graf is a relatively common German name. Doubt that the person in Hesse is the same who claimed to be from Switzerland on the census.

If there is any validity to the origin from Appenzell you might try the following website:

http://www.ar.ch/departemente/kantonskanzlei/staatsarchiv/kirchenbuecher-online/

Comments

Thank you.  The interpreter on my computer and I took a look there.  Nothing hit for me yet but I'll keep trying.