From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Polly Oliver.

Pages 799-800


WILLIAM F. GRAEBE. The remarkable extent to which the wisely 
conservative and reliable characteristics of the German born are 
capable of the retention, and assimilation with the progressive yet 
unfamiliar conditions of an alien country, finds forcible illustration 
in the career of William F Graebe, for many years on of the bulwarks of 
Wheeling, and by occupation a solicitor for the Standard Fire Insurance 
company of Wheeling.  A native of Hessian, Germany, Mr. Graebe passed 
his boyhood days among the surroundings which had witnessed the 
laudable undertakings of his ancestors, and his preliminary education 
was acquired at the little village schoolhouse.  As became a youth of 
the Fatherland, he was reared to habits of thrift and industry, and 
when the problem of self-support presented itself at an early day, he 
courageously applied himself to such tasks as brought in their train to 
the desired remuneration.  To satisfy an ambition destined to stagnate 
in the somewhat worn and less prolific opportunities of Europe; he 
cares to America in 1857, and arrived in Wheeling on July 3rd of the 
same year.  The following day furnished an insight as to the methods 
pursued while demonstrating patriotism in honor the Declaration of 
Independence.  And no more emphatic initiative could have compelled 
attention and assured recollection on the part of a boy whose 
underlying principle was an ardent love for this native land.  In the 
midst of those noise and general jollification, there was born in the 
emigrant heart an allegiance to his adopted land which has survived to 
strife and smoke of battle, the keen competition in marts of trade, and 
in the innumerable demands upon the ability and integrity of those who 
call themselves American citizens. 

Confident that there would always be a demand for the followers of an 
indispensable trade, Mr. Graebe learned to be a shoemaker, and while 
thus employed the years slipped by until the breaking of the Civil War 
when, although not naturalized, he responded to Abraham Lincoln's call 
for 75,000 men.  May 10, 1861, he enlisted for three years in Company 
C, 2nd Reg., VA. Vol. Inf., which was later merged into the 5th Reg., 
W. VA Vol. Cav. He was mustered in June 1, 1861 and served in the 1st 
Brigade, Department of the Ohio, during July and August; in Reynolds' 
Division, Department of West Virginia, until January, 1862; in Milroy's 
Brigade, 3d Division, 1st Corps, Army of West Virginia, up to 
September, 1862; in Moore's Brigade, Cox Division, until February, 
1863; in the 4th Separate Brigade, 2d Division, 8th Army Corps, up to 
June, 1863: in Averill's Brigade until December of the same year: in 
the 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, Department of West Virginia, up to 
February, 1864; and in the 3d Brigade, Calvary Division, until May 
1864.  His first operations where Cheat Mountain Pass, Cheat Mountain 
Summit, and Point Mountain Turnpike from September 12 to the 17th; The 
regiment was engaged at Laurel Fork Creek on August 20 and in December 
was sent to Huntersville.  It was in action at Allegheny Summit, on 
December 13, q1861 and on duty on Cheat Mountain Summit from December, 
1861 to April, 1862: and in action at McDowell (Bull Pasture Mountain), 
May 8; Cross Keys, June 8; Port Republic, June 9 near Cedar Mountain, 
August 10; Freeman's Upper Ford, August 22; Sulphur Springs, August 24 
and 25; Gainesville, August 28; Groventon, August 29; Bull Run, August 
30; on duty at Beverly, West Virginia, from October, 1862 to March 
1863; in action at Beverly, April 24; in Averilla's raid in West 
Virginia, August 25 to 30; White Sulphur Springs, August 26; Rocky Gap 
August 27; Cheat River, September 25; in the Droop Mountain Raid, 
November 1 to 10; at Miller Point, November 5; Droop Mountain, November 
6; in the Salem raid, December 8 to 21; and at Covington, December 20.  
The regiment was changed to the 5th Reg. W.VA. Vol. Cav. on January 6 
1864; it was on duty at Martinsburg until April 1864, and in the battle 
of Floyd Mountain, on May 9. Mr. Graebe was honorably discharged form 
the service of his country on June 14, 1864

Amid the more peaceful surrounding of Wheeling Mr. Garebe retained to 
the pursuit of his trade, and continued to supply the best possible 
footgear for the residents of his town until 1884.  With the hope of 
larger returns and brighter prospects, he embarked in the fire 
insurance business, and his continued success is proof of the wisdom of 
this departure.  April 5 1866, he married Amelia Finsel, a native of 
Wheeling, and from their union four children have resulted, namely; 
George; Howard; Nettie; and Cecil.  Mr. Graebe is affiliated with the 
Grand Army of the Republic, and is prominent in fraternal circles, 
being a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of 
Pythias, of which he is a past officer, and the Improved Order of Red 
Men, of which he has been past great sachem several years.  In all his 
avenue of activity Mr. Graebe has shown common sense and those sterling 
traits which have ever been regarded as the foundation of success, and 
there can be no more fitting tribute to his character than the esteem 
and good will accorded him by all his acquaintances.