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Below is a family biography included in The History of Spencer County, Indiana published by Goodspeed, Bros. & Co. in 1885.  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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JOHN J. HAAFF, a prominent citizen of Grass Township, is a native of Siberian Germany, and was born April 18, 1827, the fourth in a family of six children, born to George J. and Mary E. (Kuntzman) Haaff. John was raised in his native country on a farm, where he remained and assisted his parents until twenty-two years of age. He received a good education in his native country, and in 1848 started for America, landing in New York, and first located in Rochester, N. Y., where he remained two years, when he came to this State and county, and has ever since here resided. In July, 1852, he wedded Christina Ritter, and they are the parents of twelve children, nine yet living, Mary E. (Mrs. Phillip Maas), George A., (who married Mecca Shrode,) George Henry, Samuel, Christina, John J., Anna, Frederick and Crissie. While in New York, Mr. Haaff followed cabinet-making, and upon coming to this State worked at the carpenter and joiner’s trade, but since 1854 has turned his attention principally to farming, and now owns 500 acres of good land, under improvement. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity at Grandview, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife belong to the Lutheran Church, and are respected by all who know them.

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This family biography is one of 344 biographies included in The History of Spencer County, Indiana portion of the book: History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties Indiana published in 1885 by Goodspeed, Bros. & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Spencer County, Indiana History and Genealogy

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

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