Tulare County Biographies

JAMES F. GRABER

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


        James F. Graber, proprietor of the Graber Music Company of Visalia, 
California, was born in Springfield, Missouri, March 18, 1867, his parents, 
William and Kate Graber, being among the honored residents of that city.
        The musician, like the poet, is born, not made. James F. Graber was born 
with a liking for music. While attending the public schools of his native city, 
where he received his education, he developed his taste for good music and upon 
leaving school pursued his musical studies systematically. In a comparatively 
short time he became a proficient performer on the cornet and his association 
with some of the leading bands or orchestras took him professionally to all the 
principal cities of the country. He also spent some time in teaching music.
        In the fall of 1909 Mr. Graber came to California, and during his first 
three years in the state was located in Kingsburg. He then came to Visalia, 
where he organized the Boys' Band, of which he is still the instructor. Mr. 
Graber plays all band instruments, but he sticks to the cornet, which was his 
first love, so to speak. July, 1922, he opened his store, now located at No. 204 
East Main street; where he carries a com�plete line of musical instruments, 
sheet music, graphophones�in fact, everything usually found in a first-class 
music store.
        Mr. Graber's wife was before her marriage Miss Lucy Fink. They make 
their home in Visalia. While Mr. Graber takes an interest in public affairs, he 
is not a strict partisan, preferring to vote for the man rather than to sustain 
a party. He encourages and assists every movement for the civic advancement of 
the community. The only fraternal organization to claim his membership is the 
Modern Woodmen of America.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 267