Mary and Paul Graf
Paul was born in Warda, Texas May 6, 1899. He was the 2nd child of Ernest August Graf and Maria Theresia Kubitz Graf. Paul went to Wendish school for 2 years. He went to Lutheran church services; these were in both Wendish and German. When he was 11 years old he moved with his family to Wilbarger County, Texas. He lived near Vernon in a German community. He taught himself to read and write in German and later taught himself to read and write in English.
Paul married Mary Elizabeth Obenhaus on January 23, 1925. Mary was born in the Five-In-One-Community (Lockett area, southwest of Vernon). Eight children were born to her parents Otto and Alvene Obenhaus.
Paul and Mary had 5 children: Rueben, Charles, Gladys, and two children that did not survive.
Paul played the organ and fiddle. He loved the outdoors both farming and hunting. He went to Possum Kingdom with friends many time to catch catfish cornering them between rocks and grabbing them with their bare hands. He would corner a 70 lb. catfish, grab him and wrestle him to the shore. He went on several of these excursions and enjoyed it as much as he enjoyed his South Texas deer hunts. He loved animals; he named each of his cows. His cows were trained to come at the sound of his voice. He could also tame squirrels, feeding them out of his hand. A farmer all his life, Paul had 450 acres of land in Vernon. He was a prosperous farmer.
Mary was always willing and ready to help and she had a natural ability to cook. She had a huge garden and orchard. Mary had a devotion to church. She helped her siblings memorize scripture as a child and later had her children memorize scripture.
Memories of Mary Obenhaus Graf
Sources: Gladys Hunting, Michael Schoppa Family Album by Mary Schultz Guggisberg and Kenneth W. Schoppa (2000) pages 37 and 51 and The Otto and Alvene Obenhaus Family History written April, 1977 . Updated Oct. 17, 2009.
Written by Angie Collier March 2002