GRAVES, T. J.

GRAVES, PERKINS, WILMORTH

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/19/2014 at 03:40:41

Biography ~ T. J. Graves

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 660-61:

T. J. GRAVES, dealer in hardware and groceries, Pleasanton, Iowa, is a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, born March 10, 1830, a son of H. and REBECCA ANN (PERKINS) GRAVES, the former a native of Fauquier County, Virginia, and the latter of Maryland. He was the eldest of a family of nine children – T. J., MELVINA, ELIZABETH, JOHN W., JAMES W., JOSEPH H., MELISSA, GEORGE W., and ELLEN. In 1837 the family moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, and there our subject was reared. His educational advantages were limited, as he was early obliged to work, and learned the trade of a blacksmith. When seventeen years of age he started in life for himself, and located in Clinton, Vermillion County, Indiana, where he lived until the spring of 1850, when he moved to Edgar County, Illinois, and thence a year later to Red Rock, Marion County, Iowa. In 1856 he went to Missouri, and lived in Mercer County, fifteen miles south of Pleasanton, a year, and from there moved to Hamilton Township, Decatur County, Iowa, where he was living at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. November 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fifth Kansas Cavalry, and served three years, participating in many hard-fought engagements, among others those at Helena and Pine Bluffs, Arkansas. In addition to his duties as a soldier he acted as regimental gunsmith, receiving extra pay for such services. He was discharged at Leavenworth, Kansas, December 8, 1864, and returned to his home. In 1865 he bought some wild land, which he improved, and two years later sold and bought another tract of wild land. In 1874 he sold this farm and moved to Pleasanton, where he has a pleasant residence property, and also owns his store building. He carries a good stock of both hardware and groceries, and is one of the prominent business men of the place. Mr. GRAVES married January 19, 1850, in Clinton, Indiana, to MARY ELLEN WILMORTH, daughter of SAMUEL WILLMORHT. They have had nine children – REBECCA, LEVENCHE, FRANCIS M., JANE, LOUIS, WILLIAM, IRONISTON, HENRY and ELLEN. In politics Mr. GRAVES affiliates with the Democratic party.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014