Degraf (Katharinenstadt)

Christoph Degraf, a physician (Arzt), and his wife Dorothea settled in the Volga German colony of Katharinenstadt on 3 July 1767. They are recorded there on the 1767 census in Household No. 121.

Christoph Degraf, a locksmith (Schlosser), his wife Dorothea née Müller, and children (Johanna Dorothea, age 6; Johann Joseph, age 4; Johannes, age ¼) are recorded on the 1776 Katharinenstadt Grundbuch [Land Register] in Household No. 19 along with a note that one of the children (either Johanna Dorothea or Johannes) died 9 July 1777.

Neither Christoph Degraf nor either of his sons have been located on the 1798 census of the Volga German colonies.

Joseph Degraf (age 23 in 1816), presumed grandson of Christoph Degraf, is recorded on the 1834 census of Stahl am Karaman in Household No. 76 along with a note that he relocated to the colony of Schwed in 1817.

Joseph Degraf (age 44) from Stahl am Karaman is recorded on the 1834 census of Schwed in Household No. 3.

Joseph Degraf is recorded on the 1850 census of Schwed in Household No. 5.

The death of Joseph Degraf in 1853 is recorded on the 1857 census of Schwed in Household No. 7. The parish register of Schwed records that Joseph Degraf had been born 14 September 1790 in Stahl am Karaman and died 3 January 1854 in Schwed.

The 1767 census records that Christoph Degraf came from the German region of Sulzfeld. The 1776 Katharinenstadt Land Register records that Christoph Degraf came from the German village of Saalfeld and that his wife came from the village of Lamberg.