Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Grau, Charles W. 1864 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 21, 2006, 4:31 pm

Author: Jackson Morrow

CHARLES W. GRAU.

    That life is the most useful and desirable that results in the greatest good
to the greatest number and, though all do not reach the heights to which they
aspire, yet in some measure each can win success and make life a blessing to his
fellow men; and it is not necessary for one to occupy eminent public positions
to do so, for in the humbler walks of life there remains much good to be
accomplished and many opportunities for one to exercise one's talents and
influence which in some way will touch the lives of those with whom we come in
contact, making them better or brighter. In the list of Howard county's
successful citizens, the subject of this review has long occupied a prominent
place. In his career there is much that is commendable and his life forcibly
illustrates what a life of energy can accomplish when his plans are wisely laid
and his actions governed by right principles, noble aims and high ideals.

    Charles W. Grau was born in Darke county, Ohio, September 13, 1864, the son
of John A. and Rosa (Kaufman) Grau. Grandfather Grau lived in Germany where he
died. His widow subsequently came to America, first to Ohio, later to Indiana,
where she spent the balance of her days, dying at the age of seventy-seven
years, having been born in 1800. She was a church member and an exceptionally
good woman.

    The father of our subject came to America from Germany when a young man,
after having served in the army of his native land, and settled in Darke county,
Ohio. Being a wagon maker by trade, he followed this in connection with farming,
buying a farm of timbered land, which he cleared and improved and on which he
remained until 1875, when he sold out and came to Indiana, settling in Howard
county, Howard township, buying a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which
was partly improved. He subsequently improved this land and lived there for
exactly eight years, having died on the same day of the month he came there, at
the age of sixty years. In his youth he was a Lutheran, but later in life was a
member of the Evangelical church, as was also his wife. The former had received
a good education in his native land, and he spoke the English language
exceedingly well. He was a large man physically, having been very strong. He was
known to every one as a man of high moral principle and pure character. His
first wife was also a native of Germany, who came to America when a girl, having
made her home in Ohio, in which state she married Mr. Grau. By this union she
became the mother of three children who lived to reach maturity. She died early
in life and Mr. Grau was again married, his second wife being Rosa Kaufman in
her maidenhood, and she was the mother of our subject. Nine children were born
to this union, seven of whom are living in 1908, and all have families. The
mother of the subject was a member of the Evangelical church. She was called to
her rest at the age of seventy-two years.

    Charles W. Grau first attended the district schools of Ohio, and afterward
the public schools of Howard county, Indiana. He left school in his eighteenth
year and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then
worked his mother's farm on the shares until he was twenty-six years old. He
then purchased forty acres, but continued to manage his mother's farm for three
years. He then moved on a farm belonging to his father-in-law, where he has
since resided working it and the forty acres of his own. He bought eighty acres
of his mother-in-law which joined his own, making him a farm of one hundred and
twenty acres of very productive soil. The home farm where he resides being well
improved and well drained, the soil being in a high state of productiveness and
well fenced with modern wire. He feeds most of the corn that the place produces
to cattle and hogs. He has a comfortable and substantial dwelling and good out
buildings and his farm indicates that he is an excellent manager and a man of
thrift and good judgment.

    Mr. Grau was united in marriage May 25, 1890, to Mary E. Fisher, daughter of
Isaac and Catherine (Strome) Fisher. Her people came to Indiana in 1874,
settling on the farm owned by Mr. Grau. Mrs. Grau's father died at the age of
seventy-two years. His widow is living in 1908 at the age of seventy-six years.
She has been a useful woman and believes in the higher ideals of life. She makes
her home with our subject, who delights in administering to her declining age.

    Mr. and Mrs. Grau are the parents of nine children, their birth having
occurred in the following order: Ozvoe Clay, who was born March 27, 1891; Merle,
born April 20, 1892; May, born May 8, 1894; Albert and Alberta (twins), born
February 20, 1898; Gladys, born April 4, 1900; Miriam, born April 17; 1902;
Theodore Charles, born July 3, 1904; the last child is an infant, born June 4,
1908.

    Both Mr. and Mrs. Grau are members of the Evangelical church, to which faith
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, father and mother of Mrs. Grau, also subscribed. In
politics our subject is a loyal Republican. He has hosts of friends in Howard
and adjoining townships owing to his honesty in business and his upright social
private life, and he is much admired by all who know him for his wholesome
living as well as for his industrial success.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)

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