www.FranzosenbuschHeritageProject.org                     Home

Graue, F.

The F. Graues of Hanover, Germany, arrived in the U.S. in 1833.  After a year in Albany, New York, they moved farther west to claim land lying in both the future York and Addison townships and comprising a sizable portion of northern Elmhurst.  In 1838 another son, Frederick moved to Brush Hill (Fullersburg/Hinsdale).

After a fire destroyed the saw mill in 1847, (the saw mill of King and Torode), he began erecting the Graue Mill.  The new mill was completed in 1852. It was flourishing by 1858 and continued in operation iuntil the 1920's.

Fred Graue's mill was one of the few authenticated "Underground Railway" stations in Illinois.  It was managed by John S. Coe and Miller Graue who hid the runaway slaves in the mill's cellar. The old Southwest Highway, now Ogden Avenue, became the established route between Chicago, the mill and the boats to freedom. Abraham Lincoln, while in office as the State Legislator, stopped at Graue's mill for a visit while passing through to Chicago.

See the Graue Mill web site for more on the Graue Mill.

Last Modified:  021/23/2002