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Hans Graaf
Hans Graaf fled
from Switzerland to Alsace, with one of his brothers, about the year 1695
or 96, he came to Germantown, where he remained for a short time; afterwards
settled on Grove's Run, in Earl township, both of which were named in honor
of him. The following circumstance, as related to us by one of his
lineal descendants, will show the reader how Graaf was led to settle in
Graaf's Thal; for this is the name by which the settlement is known to
this day:
His horses
having strayed from Pequea; while in pursuit of them in a northern
direction from the inhabited parts, he discovered a fine spring in a heavily
timbered spot; the head of Grove's Run. In this elysian dale, said
he, will I fix my permanent abode. He nevertheless pursued his horses
till he found them, and returned to Pequea. A short time afterwards
he made a disposition of his effects. Now he returned to the spring,
and about one-half mile down, on the north side, he erected a cabin under
a large White Oak tree, in which he, his wife and an only child, stayed
all winter. 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 progenitors. At this time, as was common
with the aborigines in all the new settlements, the Indians called frequently
at his house to sell 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 the 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. On one occasion, as his team was returning to Philadelphia,
Peter, the oldest, was driving; in crossing the Brandywine, which was very
flush at the time, he was in danger of a watery grave; the father on a
lofty steed, rode in, took the young fellow on his own horse behind him,
and seizing the lines, drove safely through the rushing stream.
He had six
sons, Peter, David, the grandfather of John Graaf, our informant, John,
Daniel, Marcus and Samuel, who was known as Graf der Jaeger, the huntsman.
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. Perhaps there is no family in the county,
more numerous, respectable and useful citizens than the Graafs. 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 Graaf, i.e. Earl Township." ( Rupp)
From the Authentic History of Lancaster
County by J I Mombert (1869)
© Brenda Creasy