Source:"History of Manitowoc County Wisconsin" by Dr. L. Falge, 1911-1912, v.2, p.403-404

Dr. Rudolph Graf, who is successfully engaged in the practice of dentistry at Kiel, is a native of this county, born in Schleswig township, October 7, 1882. His father, Christian Graf, was a native of Germany, and at the age of fourteen came to America with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Graf, locating in Wisconsin. There he engaged in the occupation of farming the remainder of his life. During the Civil war he served in Company H of the Fourteenth Wisconsin Regiment, under the command of Captain Montgomery. He enlisted in 1861 and served for fully three years, at the close of the war returning to Manitowoc county, where again he took up his farming interests. He was a member of the Lutheran church and belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic being a member of the post at Kiel. In early youth he wedded Miss Catherine Sinz, who was born in Sheboygan county, a daughter of Peter and Barbara Sinz. She is now living, having reached the age of sixty-seven, while her husband passed away on March 25, 1907, at the age of sixty-nine years. In their family were five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. The others are William and Arthur, who are engaged in farming; Albert, who is a dairyman near Kiel; and Oscar, who is now in the rural mail delivery service at Kiel.

Rudolph Graf received his early education in the public schools of Kiel being graduated from the high school at that place when he was seventeen years of age. He then entered the normal school at Oshkosh, from which institution he was graduated, and for the following four years he followed the profession of school teaching in Sheboygan, Winnebago and Manitowoc counties. Subsequently he became a student in the dental department of the Marquette University and was graduated from that institution in the year 1909. He then came to Kiel, where he located for practice and has been actively engaged ever since. His superior skill and ability in the practical work of his profession have made him extremely successful, and he now has a well appointed office equipped with all the modern appliances known in the science of dentistry, the practical utility and value of which have been proven. He keeps abreast with the modern ideas in dental practice and his excellent work has secured him a liberal patronage.

Dr. Graf is a valued member of various fraternal orders. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, being past consul of the camp, and to Kiel Lodge, No. 49, Improved Order of Redmen, and is sachem of his council. He has also joined the Independent 0rder of Odd Fellows and is a member of the state alumni of Marquette University and has ever kept in touch with the work which is being done in the dental profession today. He is a man of scholarly attainments and broad intellectuality, who by progressive steps has advanced until he is now one of the leading dentists of this county.

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