Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


PROFESSOR ALBERT R. J. GRAEPP.� While Fresno has advanced 
with phenomenal strides in civic and commercial growth she has also kept 
pace in the cultivation of the arts and is most fortunate in numbering among 
her citizens Prof. Albert R. J. Graepp, teacher of music, whose studio 
is at his residence, 2747 Mariposa Street. Professor Graepp is a native of 
Germany, the country of renowned musicians whose names are recorded in 
the annals of fame, and was born June 11, 1859, in Pomerania, Northern 
Germany. Possessed of a naturally beautiful voice he sang alto in school 
before he could read, and at the age of eight years began studying the violin 
and pipe organ, also learning thoroughly the construction of the latter instru- 
ment. In his youth he attended the higher citizens' school, and in 1876, at 
the age of seventeen, crossed the water to America, finishing his education 
in this country. For two years he was a student at St. Jerome College, 
Kitchener, Ontario, where he continued his musical education. He next 
attended Thiel College at Greenville, Mercer County, Pa., and while there 
instructed the college band. He graduated from that institution with the 
degree of bachelor of arts, in 1882, afterwards locating in Philadelphia, Pa., 
where he took a course in theology and philology at the Evangelical Lutheran 
Theological Seminary, at that time located at Franklin Square, but later 
removed to Mount Airy. This institution was affiliated with the University 
of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1885 with the degree of master of arts. 
He next took up missionary work in the churches of New Jersey and was 
afterward instructor of music in Ivy Hall Seminary, a school for girls, at 
Bridgeton. N. J., teaching piano and violin and instructing students from 
other academies who came to him. He then accepted a call to take charge of 
the musical department and assist in teaching the German language in his 
Alma Mater, Thiel University. Accepting the position he remained at the 
university until 1893, while there doing most excellent work in the musical 
department, among other things organizing a college band and college or- 
chestra. Afterwards he located near Halifax, Nova Scotia, and engaged in 
missionary work. 

In 1897 he accepted a position as instructor of music in Sacred Heart 
College at Prairie du Chien, Wis. For five years he devoted his energies to 
building up the musical department of the college, doing a grand work. 
In the meantime organizing a band and teaching singing. In 1904 he received 
and accepted a call from Laramie, Wyo., to take charge of the choir and or- 
chestra work in the musical department of the University of Wyoming. Pro- 
fessor Graepp came to Fresno, Cal., March 8, 1906, where he is a very success- 
ful teacher of the piano, violin, and languages, standing at the head of his 
profession. He was also the founder of the Philharmonic Conservatory and 
the Italian Band of Fresno, is organist of the Emanuel Lutheran Church. 
and has had charge of the repair work and tuning of the pipe organ in St. 
John's Catholic Church, at Fresno. He is an expert in the construction of 
pipe organs and has repaired and rebuilt many. 

Professor Graepp was twice married, his first wife being, in maidenhood. 
Miss Leonora Snyder, who is now deceased. His second wife, who is still 
living, was Mrs. Anna R. Coleman of Wisconsin, a widow with three chil- 
dren by her former husband, Charles Coleman, namely: Edna, Clarence, and 
Arthur. By his last union Mr. Graepp became the father of two children : 
Clara, who died at the age of three vears, and Albert Frederick, a sophomore 
at California Concordia College, at Oakland.