Julius K. Graves1837-1898

GRAVES, ROBINSON

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 5/2/2015 at 22:20:02

J.K. GRAVES, capitalist, Dubuque; is a native of Keene, N.H., and was born Sept. 29, 1837, and is a son of Caleb S. and Eliza Graves; his early education was gained at the common schools of his native town; at the age of 17, he left home and began life for himself; securing a situation in a bank as clerk and correspondent, he gave the day to his duties and attended evening schools, and, by his diligent study, made rapid progress.

In 1855, he came West to Iowa and settled in Dubuque, accepting the position of cashier in the banking house of M. Mobley & Co., which, in 1858, was succeeded by the firm of J.K. Graves & Co., which did a very successful business until it was merged into a branch of the State Bank of Iowa, of which he was Vice President and General Manager; he was also a member of the Board of Control of the State Bank of Iowa; the National State Bank succeeding this branch, he was one of the principal organizers of it, and, for a time, its Vice President; he was also prominent in organizing the Commercial National Bank, of which he was a large stockholder and Director; he has been identified with the Key City Gas Works since 1859, and, in 1866, he built the works, which supply the city with light, and of which he is President, Director, and a large stockholder.

In 1868, Mr. Graves took an active part in the organization and construction of the Dubuque Street Railway, of which he been President the greater portion of the time. During the early days of the rebellion, he was appointed by Gov. Kirkwood, of Iowa, Post Quartermaster at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, with rank of Colonel, having at one time nearly six thousand men in Camp.

In 1866, he was elected on the Republican ticket Mayor of Dubuque by a large majority over his Democratic opponent in a city strongly Democratic; in 1876, Mr. Graves was elected representative of the State Legislature; in 1870, he was induced to turn his attention to the construction of a new railroad from Dubuque to Chicago, which road is now in successful operation sixty miles down the river to Clinton; he is President of the Chicago, Clinton & Dubuque Railway Company, the Chicago, Dubuque & Minnesota Railway Company, and the Iowa Pacific, and he has been earnest and active in every enterprise tending to develop the interests of Dubuque and vicinity. He was appointed Special Commissioner by the Interior Department, and twice visited Mexico on the duties of his mission.

In politics he is a Republican, and an earnest advocate of its principles. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity for a number of years.

He was united in marriage Sept. 12, 1860, to Miss Lucy C. Robinson of Salem, Mass.; they have five children- Luin K., J.K., Jr., Sybil, Sara, and Marjorie. Mr. Graves has one of the most pleasant, attractive homes in Dubuque; it is situated on the Bluff, commanding the finest view on the Mississippi from St. Paul to St. Louis. ["The History of Dubuque County" and contributed by member 47601076]