GROFF/GRAAF IN LOCAL BOOK

GROFF/GRAAF IN LOCAL BOOK:

History of Lancaster County to Which is Prefixed a Brief Sketch of the Early History of Pennsylvania by I. Daniel Rupp.  Published by Gilbert Hills, Lancaster, PA 1844

(page 129-132)

List of how "Conestoga Manor" was sold and/or divided after March 1718.  The tract of land started as 16,000 acres. John Graff is listed as getting 136 acres in 1762. The entire list contains many familiar names: Herr, Hershey, Koenig, Mayer, Kauffmann, Logan, Brenner, etc.

(page 133-34)

Hans Graaf located at the head of a small stream, known by the name of Grove's Run, in West Earl township.

"Hans Graaf fled from Switzerland to Alsace, with one his brothers, about the year 1695 or 96, he came to Germantown, where he remained a short time; afterwards settled on Grove's Run, in Earl township, both of which were named in honor of him."

"...In the spring of the year, having secured by a warrant, dated November 22, 1717, a large tract of land, he erected a house near the cabin.  The spot where he erected the house in the spring of 1718 is still pointed out by his progeny.  At this time, as was common with the aborigines in all the new settlements, the Indians called frequently at his house to see baskets and hickory brooms.  Mr. Graaf had six sons; as soon as some of them were grown up, he turned his attention to dealing in blankets and other articles of merchandise, which he procured at Philadelphia, and took them to Harris's Ferry on the Susquehanna and exchanged them for skins, furs and the like."

"He spoke, it is said, the Indian language fluently.  When one of the sons drove, the old gentleman accompanied him, riding a fine steed, for he kept none but fine horses.....He raised six sons: Peter, David,...John, Daniel, Marcus, and Samuel...."

Hans Graaf, after having served his day and generation, the public also on several occasions, and having divided his land among his sons, died, leaving a large family connection.....So without doubt, the magistrates and inhabitants of Lancaster county thought, when they met to settle upon the bounds and give names to townships, June 9, 1729: they had regard to the worth of this family in calling one of the townships, after the first settlers of Graaf, i.e. Earl township."

(page 190)

"In the north-eastern part of the county, a settlement was commenced about the year 1723 or 24 by Everhard Ream, whose descendants still reside in the village called after the first settler....After clearing a small spot, he procured a warrant and located about 400 acres; afterwards in 1725, received a patent for the same."

Some of his early neighbors, who had been attracted by the improved spot and fine water were Bucher, Huber, Walter, Keller, Schwarzwalder, Leader, Schneider, Killion, Dock, Forney, Rupp, Balmer, May, Mayer, Hahn, Resler, Beyer, Leet, Schlott, Graf, Wolf, Feierstein, Weidman, and others."