Biography

08/12/1857 - 06/06/1918

John Francis Graff (R41) Armstrong and Butler Counties 1913-1918

Early Life:

John Francis Graff, born August 12, 1857, Worthington, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; son of Peter and Susan Lobingier Graff; Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg (now Gettysburg College), 1879; farmer; co-owner, Peter Graff and Company, woolen manufactures (37 years);  director, Merchant’s National Bank of Kittanning; delegate, Republican State Convention, 1897; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1901-1904, not a candidate for reelection, 1904; presidential elector, 1904; trustee, Gettysburg College; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1913-1918; married, Carrie Louise Brown Graff, 1881, children, James Brown Graff, Peter Graff, III, J. Frank Graff, Edmund Dutilh Graff, Richard Morris Graff, Grier Stewart Graff, Smith Stewart Graff; died while in office of the Senate, June 6, 1918, Worthington, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; interment, Worthington Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Worthington, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.  

Pennsylvania Politics:

Delegate, Republican State Convention, 1897

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1901-1904, not a candidate for reelection, 1904. 

Served, presidential elector, Theodore Roosevelt, 1904

Trustee, Gettysburg College. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 41st district, Armstrong and Butler Counties, 1913-1918; committee assignments, Appropriations, Banks and Building and Loan Associations, Canals and Inland Navigation, Elections, Insurance (Chairman), Legislative Apportionment, New Counties and County Seats, Pensions and Gratuities, Public Roads and Highways, Railroads; died, June 6, 1918, while in office of the Senate.

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

Son, Peter Graff, Pennsylvania State Senate, 41st district, Armstrong and Butler Counties, 1933-1936.

Peter Graff III - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1918). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1085, 1096, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1061. 

J. Frank Graff (1857-1918) - Find a Grave Memorial