"Faded from View"

Brother Frederick William Graff was elected Department Commander at the 1906 Wisconsin Dept. Encampment, held at Marinette's Amaden's Hall. One hundred delegates were there.

Br. Graff was the middle child of German and Swiss immigrants Herman Adolph Grafe and Julia Jankow. He was born in Port Washington in November 1871.

His father, Herman Adolph Grafe, served in Co. I, 27th Wisconsin Infantry, enlisting in November 1862. He was likely injured by heavy Confederate resistance during the Red River campaign. He was transferred to Co. E, 23rd Veterans Reserve Corps a year later and mustered out in September 1865. He died in November 1873, when Fred was two.

Fred moved to Sheboygan, where he married Laura Louisa Seiber on December 23, 1891. Together they had three children: Edwin E. (1893-1983), Esther Clara (1895-1961), and Frederick W. Jr. (1898 - 1965).

In 1893, he organized the Sheboygan Chair Citys, a local baseball team, and coached it successfully for two years.

In 1897, he started as a postal delivery clerk. Over the next ten years, he worked his way up to assistant postmaster.

Sheboygan's Carl Witte Camp #37 was organized in 1889. The Camp continued to have the largest or one of the largest memberships in Wisconsin. It yielded significant influence, propelling several brothers to the highest state post, including Martin Grasse, Rev. Walter J. Patton, and Gustav Geissler.

As the 1906 Encampment was held in northeast Wisconsin, Graff drew more votes than his opponent, Madison's Felix Kremer, who was elected Dept. Senior Vice Commander. Graff had only served on the Dept. Council previously.

By the 1906, Department membership had dropped to 448 brothers in 15 Camps. During his term, Br. Graff organized Geo. W. Stevenson Camp 66 in Darlington, Lincoln Camp 55 at Omro, and reinstated Camp 7 in Watertown. A Camp was established at Reedsburg. When the 1907 Dept. Encampment was held in Oshkosh, Dept. membership had climbed to 524 brothers in 19 Camps. After his term as Dept. commander, PDC Graf served as a Dept. Mustering Officer for the next four years. In 1910, he was his Camp's delegate to the Dept. Encampment. Additionally, he was appointed National Asst. Inspector.

Brother Graff was also active in the Odd Fellows and was elected Grand Noble (head) of Sheboygan's Lodge #13 in 1909. That same year he was elected secretary of United Aid Branch 37. In 1911, he was elected secretary of the Sheboygan's newly formed Order of Modern Brotherhood of America, a fraternal insurance society.

Surprisingly, in July 1914, Graff was relieved of his duties as Sheboygan's Assistant Postmaster, a position he held since 1907. The following April, he was charged with embezzling $733.65 from the post office. He steadfastly maintained his innocence. For nearly two years, he was out on bail. Public opinion and that of his family took their toll on him. Finally, at his trial in 1916, worn and haggard, he was persuaded to make a plea deal, pleading guilty to seven of the 15 charges and receiving a lenient sentence, which included six months in Milwaukee County's House of Correction. He had continually claimed innocence and yet, it did not appear that the postal inspector actively investigated other scenarios or suspects. Graff had avoided his friends and coworkers. This continued throughout the rest of his life.

Graff was able to work as a bookkeeper for a garage for a time, but in 1920, filed for bankruptcy and moved to Milwaukee. He returned to Sheboygan in 1930 and little is known afterwards. By 1940, Mrs. Graf was living with their son, Fred Jr., and his family.

Frederick Graff died on January 13, 1950, and was buried in the family plot (Sec 4, Lot 21) at Port Washington's Union Cemetery.

His wife, Laura, passed in 1956 and was buried with her husband. The Graffs had six grandchildren and several great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.

Researched and written by PCinC Steve Michaels and PDC Kent Peterson

Information Sources:
Darlington Farmer, 27 Mar 1907
Oshkosh Northwestern, 27 May 1907
Sheboygan Press, 8 and 18 Dec 1909, 28 Oct 1910, 10 Apr 1911, 8 Jul 1914, 29 Feb 1916, 16 Apr 1920, 16 Jan 1930, 19 Sep 1956
Watertown News, 27 Apr 1915

Last Updated: 7 March 2022