Henry Jacob Grapner, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. (2025 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Henry Jacob Grapner, located in row 9 of St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
Henry Jacob Grapner
1870-1950
Henry Jacob Grapner was born 11 December 1870, the son of John (1822-1900) and Magdalene “Lena” (Maurer) (c1834-1906) Grabner, according to the church records of St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township. Henry was confirmed at St. Paul in 1885. Their surname was spelled Graebner and Grabner in the old church records. Although Henry changed the spelling of his surname, his parents retained the Grabner spelling.
Henry’s parents, both born in Germany, married at St. Paul Liberty, on 17 January 1852, married by Rev. J.G. Gackenheimer. [1] Henry’s father John immigrated to America in 1847.
The John Grabner family lived in Section 11 of Liberty Township, about 1½ miles east of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where John owned property and farmed. The family attended church at St. Paul Liberty and three of their children are buried in St. Paul’s cemetery. Henry’s two infant brothers, John Anton Grabner and Fredrick Wilhelm Grabner, are buried next to each other in row 4 of St. Paul Liberty’s cemetery.
Henry Grapner/Grabner was enumerated with his family in the 1870 census, as Henry J Grabner, age 5 months. The John Grabner household in 1870: John, 47, and Magdaline, 38, George 17, Paulina, 15, Louisa, 13, Mary, 9, and Margaret, 6. The parents were born in Prussia and all the children were born in Ohio, per the census. [2]
By 1880 most of Henry’s siblings had left home and Henry, 10, and his brother George, 27, were the only children living with their parents at their Liberty Township home. [3]
At some point between 1880 and 1900, Henry changed the spelling of his name from Grabner to Grapner.
Henry Grepner [sic], 29, single, was enumerated in 1900 as a boarder, occupation farm laborer, in the William C. Allmandinger household in Black Creek Township. The Allmandinger household in 1900: Willliam C, 32; Barbara S, 22; Richard E, 1; Walter, L, 3 months; and Henry Grapner, 29. [4]
In 1910 Henry Grapner, 39, single, lived by himself on what was called Weinman Pike, Liberty Township, where he worked doing odd jobs. [5]
In 1920 Henry, 49, single, was a boarder in the household of Henry, 26, and Larena, 20, Alt and their son Ralph, 1. Henry worked as a farm laborer. [6]
In 1930 Henry, 62, single, lived alone again, very close to the Henry Alt family. Henry’s occupation was farm laborer and he owned his home but did not own a radio set. [7]
In 1940 Henry, 67, single, was a lodger in the home of Charles and Catherine Sealscott. No occupation was given for Henry. [8]
By 1950, Henry Grapner, 79, never married, was a patient and unable to work, residing at the Mercer County Home. That census was enumerated on 17 April 1950 and Henry died 2 days later, on 19 April 1950. [9]
Henry Grapner
Rockford, Apr. 20—Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Ketcham funeral home for Henry Grapner, 79, retired Liberty-tp farmer who died Wednesday in the Mercer-co home. He had lived at the home for three years.
Nephews and nieces survive. The Rev. Grant Shealy will officiate. Burial will be in Deitsch cemetery. [10]
Henry Jacob Grabner was the last surviving child of John and Magdalene/Lena (Maurer) Grabner.
Henry Jacob Grapner’s siblings:
George (1853-1941), married Alberdenia Andres
Paulina (1854-1929), married John Bausser; married William Andress; married Jacob Bollenbacher
Luisa/Louisa (1856-1930), married Lawrence Schlegel
Maria/Mary (c1858-1901) [11]
Fredrick William (1861-1864)
John Anton (1866-1868)
Carolina Margaret ”Maggie” (c1866-1907), married Theodore A McCabe [12]
[1] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer County Marriage Book C, p.161, John Grabner & Magdalena Moner [sic], 17 Jan 1852; Ancestry.com. And marriage records of St. Paul Liberty Lutheran Church, Mercer County, Ohio.
[2] 1870 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p.145B, dwelling 52, family 47, John Grabner; Ancestry.com.
[3] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 188, p.480D, dwelling 162, family 170, John Grabner; Ancestry.com.
[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 74, p.10, dwelling & family 200, William Almandinger [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 119, dwelling 307, family 265, p.14A, Henry Grapner; Acestry.com.
[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 140, p.1A, dwelling & family1, Henry Alt; Ancestry.com.
[7] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 20, p.6A, dwelling & family 136, Henry Grapner; Ancestry.com.
[8] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 54-22, p. 1B, household 14, Charles Srolscott [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[9] 1950 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Jefferson, ED 54-31, p. 6. dwelling 42, Henry Grapner; Ancestry.com.
[10] Henry Jacob Grapner, Find a Grave memorial no. 29071160, St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio; Find a Grave.com.
[11] I am not sure of Mary’s birth date. Maria Grabner was born 9 Nov 1858 per St. Paul Liberty’s Familienbuch; Mary was 9 years old in the 1870 census; Mary was born May 1860 per 1900 census; Find a Grave.com indicates she was born about 1866.
[12] I am not sure if Maggie’s birth date is correct. According to her tombstone she was born in 1866, the same year as her brother John Anton.
