Our Margraf family ancestors settled in Northern Indiana between 1850 and 1900. The first Margraf's to arrive in the United States were Peter Margraf (1810-1901), his wife Maria Eva Schaefer (1811-1890), and their son Simon Margraf (1846-1919). Peter and Maria were from Nohn, Kreis Mezig-Wadern, Saarland (present day southwest portion of Germany) and arrived in the United States in 1868. The port of entry was listed as Illinois. Their son Simon married Angela Helfen (1854-1926) who immigrated with her parents Jakob Helfen (1815-1899) and Katherine Boos (abt. 1821- aft. 1857). Jakob and Katherine were from Waldholzbach, Kreis Mezig-Wadern, Saarland (Germany). The Helfen family arrived in the United States through the port of New York on February 11, 1857.
Simon and Angela Margraf lived in Dyer, Lake County, Indiana where their son Peter (1878-1902) was born. Peter married Mary Anna Elizabeth Govert (1879-1956), the daughter of John Govert (1855-1940) and Mary Rietman (1857-1940). Mary's Rietman and Moeller ancestors emigrated from Duhmen and Olfen, Westphalia, Germany to Dyer, Lake County, Indiana in 1853. Peter and Mary's son Philbert Simon Margraf (1903-1972) married Mary G. Morgan (1906-1999) in Joliet, Illinois in 1934. Philbert and Mary Margraf settled in Elkart, Indiana. Mary's parents were Neil Morgan (1861-1937) and Catherine "Katie" Dobbs (1885-1949). Neil was born in County Antrimi, Ireland and Catherine was from an unknown location in Ireland. Neil and Katie married in Pontiac, Illinois in 1903. |
