Longtime Family Reunion Could Be The Last One
MILFORD — Family reunions are still fairly common, but having one for 100 years is not so common. When the Graff family reunion is held Christmas Eve in Milford, it will mark year number 100 family members have gathered.
In addition to the 100th anniversary, what makes this year even more special is there is a possibility it will be the last reunion. Families are getting larger and the Christmas season is already a quite busy time for most families.
All of this has its roots in the family started by Fredrick and Amelia Graff. Frederick was born in Tazewell County, Ill., and Amelia was a native of Switzerland. Amelia started the gathering because she wanted to make sure Christmas Eve was special for her family of 12 children (six boys and six girls).
The Graffs lived on a farm a couple of miles west of Milford in Jefferson Township on what is now CR 1250N. The house and barn are no longer standing. At least for part of the time the Graffs lived on the farm, they did not own the property, according to U.S. Census records.
Fred Graff was killed at the age of 70 when struck by a speeding automobile just north of his farm home, according to an obituary published in The Milford Mail in May 1928. It was also reported in the obituary Fred had purchased a farm 3 miles north of Milford on SR 15 (what is now Old SR 15) in Elkhart County. A 1920s Elkhart County township plat map confirms he owned 30 acres of land at the intersection of Old 15 and US 6.
Amelia Graff passed away in June 1927. None of their 12 children are still living, though some of the grandchildren are. Matilda Graff Kasbaum was the last of the 12 to die and she passed away in 2007.
Graff reunions were originally held on the Jefferson Township farm, then moved for a while to the old Bethany School on US 6. Later the reunions were held in the Milford Community Building and this year was moved for the first time to the Fellowship Hall behind the Apostolic Church in Milford.
Whether or not the reunion is the last one could be discussed at this year’s reunion.