Neil Graff Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1226-1227 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				NEIL GRAFF. 

	Neil Graff, one of the leading agriculturists of Brandon 
township, Minnehaha county, residing on section 35, is busily engaged 
in the cultivation of about three hundred acres of valuable land. His 
birth occurred in Brandon township on the 11th of January, 1881, his 
parents being Nils and Elise (Axelson) Graff, of whom more extended 
mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the 
sketch of Martin N. Graff, a brother of our subject. 

	In the acquirement of an education Neil Graff attended the public 
schools and Sioux Falls College, also spending one term in the 
University of South Dakota at Vermillion. After reaching man,s estate 
he continued work in cooperation with his father until the time of his 
marriage and subsequently cultivated rented land for a few years. The 
father then divided a portion of his farm holdings among his four sons 
Neil Graff receiving his present home place of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 35, Brandon township. He also operates another tract 
and cultivates altogether about three hundred acres of land. General 
farming has claimed his time and energies throughout his business 
career and he is widely recognized as one of the substantial and 
representative young agriculturists of his community. 

	In 1907 Mr. Graff was joined in wedlock to Miss Ella Mork, her 
father being H. O. Mork, a native of Norway and one of the pioneer 
settlers of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. He now lives retired in 
Sioux Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Graff have three children: Oral R., Harlan N. 
and Bernie H. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. 
Graff has supported the men and measures of the republican party, being 
firmly convinced that its principles are most conducive to good 
government. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the 
Norwegian Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. In the 
community where his entire life has been spent he has won an extensive 
circle of friends who have been attracted by his genuine personal worth 
and commendable qualities of character.