Person:Lewis Graver (1)

Ginny, Rootsweb Carbon County List: "I have notes that his parents, Henrich Graver and Elisabeth Ochs, are buried in Bunkerhill Cemetery, Weissport, Carbon Co., PA, as is his son, Andrew Graver, and Andrew's wife Elisabeth Whitehead Graver. The notes I have on Lewis, is that he lived in Lehighton and attended "the Reformed church, in which he held the office of deacon." His brother Anthony was in records of Weissport's St. Jacobs church. Lewis's sister Eva married Peter Soldt. Peter and Eva are buried in St. Pauls Union Church Cemetery, Big Creek, Palmerton, Carbon Co., PA. For Lewis's brother Peter, who married Anna Maria Klotz, I have "The children were baptized at St. Jacobs of Weissport by Rev. J.E. Freeman; the death records of wife and children are from the records of Rev. Bauers of Lehighton Lutheran." So I guess that's a few possibilities of where he may be buried. Now for Lafayette Graver, I have his name as Edward Lafayette Graver, so you may also need to search for Edward."

"Lewis Graver came to Lehighton when he was just twelve. His father, Heinrich Graver brought his young family to timber the Moravian lands with both Lewis and Andrew in 1825. As a young man, Heinrich Graver’s father (“Andreas Graber” born in 1735) emigrated from Germany to the Montgomery County area and later to Lehigh County." http://culturedcarboncounty.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-lehighton-gravers-alvena-and-adaline.html

"At the time of his death, no one had lived in Lehighton longer than Lewis Graver.

He came here as a boy, with his brother Andrew and his father Heinrich, to timber the Moravian lands at the south end of town when he was twelve. The two brothers would live out their lives here.

Lewis Graver’s 1892 obituary referred to his parents, Henry and Elizabeth, as “farm people.” They were also known as hide tanners. The family’s first homestead “almost opposite” of the first boatyard to be established along the Lehigh Canal in Weissport. It went on to say that this original boatyard got it start with Lewis and Andrew Graver.

As with any research of this kind, there are a few anachronism in the records of Lewis’ life: His 1893 obituary versus information written by noted local historian Ralph Kreamer in 1993 as well as contradictory information from the 1905 "Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley" by Jordan, Green and Ettinger.

Kreamer maintains that Lewis started the Lehighton brickworks in 1834 when he was just twenty. However, according to his obituary, Lewis was still working on the canal until 1841. The 1905 biography states he was born in 1811 while his tombstone maintains that it was 1813.

1834 was the year of a major flood that caused severe damage to the canal. The canal was out of commission long enough to cause Lewis to seek other work. From that point forward the obituary contends that Lewis devoted himself to farming. The 1905 biography notes that Lewis sold off his interest in the boat yard to his brother Andrew at about the time he bought the approximately 200 acres that would become "Graverville."

Brick making seems to be one of a few of Lewis's pursuits at this time. The facts do bear scrutiny that the Graver brick manufactory was the oldest in the county. He was also known to have established a milk route to Mauch Chunk and other markets.

It was soon after the flood that Lewis Graver married his wife, the Leah Lauchnor. They wed on January 3, 1842 when he was twenty-eight and she was twenty-one.

They had a large family of five girls and six boys: Martin, Elizabeth Seiler, twins Adaline Wehr and Alvenia Lentz-Westlake-Weiss, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin, Henry, Lafayette, Edward, Emma Thomas, and Annie Graver." http://culturedcarboncounty.blogspot.com/2014/12/lehighton-gravers-lewis-and-son-henry.html

1. ↑ McGuigan Genealogy, 1997.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Lewis Graver, in Find A Grave.

   Family Members
   Spouse
   Leah Lauchnor Graver
   1820–1908
   
   Children
   Martin B. Graver
   1844–1884
   Mary Elizabeth Graver Seiler
   1846–1927
   Adaline Graver Wehr
   1853–1902
   Alvenia Graver Weiss
   1853–1932
   Thomas Jefferson Graver
   1855–1902
   Henry Albert Graver
   1857–1926
   Lafayette Graver
   1860–1927
   Emma Graver Thomas
   1863–1943
   Edna Graver
   1876–1893

3.   Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley
   1:349, 1905.

   Lewis Graver, father of Henry A. Graver, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1811. His early childhood was spent on a farm, and his educational advantages were limited to a very brief duration. In 1823, when in his twelfth year, his father removed to Lehighton, Carbon county, and their time was fully occupied in clearing the land and tanning hides. Subsequently Lewis was engaged in the construction of the Lehigh Canal, and after the completion of that work he was employed by the same company, the Lehigh Coal Navigation Company, to operate one of their boats. Later in life he and his brother, Andrew Graver, entered into partnership in the building of boats, but after a brief period of time Lewis disposed of his interest to his brother, and then purchased about two hundred acres of land, as above described, where he conducted general farming for about thirty-five years. During this period of time he operated a milk route at Mauch Chunk, subsequently shipped the product of his dairy to other markets, and also established a brick yard which he operated with success for eighteen years. He retired from active pursuits in 1881, his son Henry A. succeeding to the business. Lewis Graver served as assessor of Mahoning township, and councilman of Lehighton. He was a faithful member of the Reformed church, in which he held the ofiice of deacon.
   In 1842 Lewis Graver was united in marriage to Leah Lauchner, who was born in 1820, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and who is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Ten children were born to them, eight of whom grew to maturity, and those living at the present time (1904) are: Mrs. Elizabeth Seiler, Mrs. Alvenia Westlake, Henry A., Lafayette and Mrs. Emma Thomas. Lewis Graver, father of these children, died January 20, 1892.

4.   The Carbon advocate. (Lehighton, Pa.), 09 Jan. 1892. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

   The old Graver home-stead in south Lehighton was the scene of a happy, never-to-be forgotten event last Sunday, the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Graver, highly respected and much esteemed townspeople. It was just fifty years ago on the 3rd day of January that Lewis Graver and Miss Leah Lauchnor were happily wedded by the late Rev. Geahardt, of Lehigh county, and last Sunday the golden event was celebrated midst gayiety and happiness. This aged couple are 79 and 72 years old respectively and still enjoy excellent health.
   ...
   Mr. and Mrs, Lewis Graver were presented with the following anniversary gifts from members of the family only: silver tea service, Miss Alvena Graver; silver fruit dish and cake stand, Mrs. Lewis Wehr; china dinner set, Mrs. T. D. Thomas; plush rocker, Mrs. Samuel Seiler; plush rocker, Henry Graver; chest, Ed. Graver.
   
   The old couple have living six children and thirteen grand children to cheer their declining days, which the Advocate hopes will be full of pleasure, health and happiness.
   
   http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/