Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM
CHARLES GRAFF
W. C. GRAFF, plumber, gas-fitter, etc., Sacramento, has in a few years built up a business which has already attained large proportions. He is a native of St. Louis, born December 20, 1851, his parents being Andrew and Anna (Plattner) Graff. Andrew Graff, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Switzerland, who came to the United States when he was a young man. When the California gold fever broke out, his attention was turned, like so many others, to the New El Dorado, and he decided to try his fortune. Accordingly he joined the vast caravan that traversed the plains, mountains and deserts between the civilization of the East, and the new found gold fields of the West, and in 1849 he reached California, and was soon engaged in mining. He returned east, however, and located at St. Louis, in the butcher business. In 1852 he again came out to California, this time bringing his family along, and once more safely accomplished the tedious journey across the plains. On arriving at Sacramento, he first engaged in the brick-making business, afterward at butchering, and later entered the employ of Mr. Locher, the wholesale liquor man. After this he again engaged in the butcher business, which he then followed until the time of his death, which occurred in 1879. His widow yet lives in Sacramento, at the family residence on Tenth street, between Q and R streets. Their children are seven in number, as follows: William C., with whose name this sketch commences; Mary, wife of Joseph Darioth; Emma, wife of Willard Lee; Sophia (Roeder); Emil, Henry, and Louisa, wife of A. Menke. William C. Graff, the oldest of the children of Andrew Graff, deceased, and the subject of this sketch, was reared and received his education in Sacramento. He learned the cigar-making trade in the factory of R. H. Pettit, where he worked three years and a half, then went with David Bush in the plumbing and gas-fitting business. After two years with him he spent four years on the road, and traveled and worked throughout the Pacific coast, from Salt Lake City to San Diego. He then started in business for himself in Sacramento, and by his thorough knowledge of the business, and close attention to all the details, he has made for himself a reputation second to none. He does general work in his lines, and contracts for plumbing, gas-fitting and sewer work. Mr. Graff was married in this city, February 19, 1883, to Miss Sophia Schniedwind, a native of Elgin, Illinois. Mr. Graff is a pushing, enterprising young business man, and is meeting with well-deserved success.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 758. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.