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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Michael Grabert, a retired farmer and merchant of Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in Wurtenberg, Germany, December 9, 1841. His father died before the birth of George, and his mother afterward married Frederick Rupp. He attended school in his native land and after finishing his education worked on a farm for a time, after which he engaged in the teaming business, following this occupation eight years, four of which were spent driving a hack. He came to America in 1866, his mother and stepfather coming the next year. He settled in Posey county and worked for a man by the name of Eterhardt Schenk on a farm in Black township, two and a half miles from Mt. Vernon. At that time the section now comprising the northern part of the town was all woods. In the spring of 1867 he began farming for himself on the old Campbell place near Mt. Vernon. He was a renter until 1869 when he bought a farm of forty acres southwest of town. Here he lived about eleven years, in which time he increased his acreage to 200. In 1881 he sold out and removed to Mt. Vernon where he engaged in a grocery and saloon business on Store street. He sold the store in 1897 and retired from active business life. Two years later he bought a home adjoining Mt. Vernon. It contains twelve and one-half acres of land which has on it one of the most beautiful houses in or about town. The lawns are large and well kept, and it has all the modern improvements, including cement walks. While living on the farm Mr. Grabert was road supervisor of Black township. He was the owner of 1,500 acres of land in Black township, Posey county, 160 in Point township and a section in Carson county, Panhandle of Texas. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Grabert was married the first time in the fall of 1867, to Magdalena Friends, daughter of John Friends and wife, natives of Germany, who came to America and located in Posey county. By this marriage there was one child, Mary, who married Charlie Grabert, and died in October, 1912. Magdalena Grabert died in 1876, and our subject was married again the same year to Margaret Kaufmann, who lived less than a year after her marriage, dying in the fall of 1876. Mr. Grabert was married for the third time in October, 1877, when he took as his wife Louisa Susik, daughter of Frederick Susik and wife, natives of Germany. Her father died in his native country and she came to America with her mother when about six or seven years of age. She was educated in the schools of Posey county. Mr. and Mrs. Grabert had eight children, all boys, one of whom died at birth, and two others, Otto and George, died in childhood. The living are: Andrew G., Charlie, Otto, Fred and William. Charlie and Otto are living in Evansville, the former engaged in the saloon business. Andrew G. is a paperhanger and painter in Mt. Vernon. Fred is working for the Electric Light Company, and William is attending school at Mt. Vernon.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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