William F. Grafried, one of the prominent farmers of Houston County was born in 1844, to the marriage of George and Mary (Wenz) Grafried. His parents were natives of Baden, Germany, where they raised a family of four children–two boys and two girls. By occupation the father is a farmer, wine being the chief product. He is one of the leading citizens of his village, having held the positions of treasurer and surveyor. Both are zealous workers in the Lutheran Church. The parents still live in their native land, the father being eighty-six, and his wife eighty. William’s ancestors as far back as they can be traced are Germans. Having received a common school education he left home in 1866 to try his fortune in the New World. After working on the farm and getting some use of our language, he attended the English schools. In 1874 he married Mary Bower, by whom he had three children, two of whom are still living. He and his wife also hold to the teachings of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Grafriedowns a large tract of land and a good saw-mill, and is recognized as one of Houston County’s enterprising citizens.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

Source: Goodspeed, Weston A, and John Wooldridge. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston Counties. Nashville: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1886.