John W. Graves

BIGGS, GRAVES, WHITTEN

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/27/2004 at 11:11:15

J. W. Graves, who is successfully operating his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Scott township, was born in Stark county, Illinois, in 1870, a son of Joseph S. Graves, who was born in Ohio but after the Civil war removed to Illinois, settling in Stark county, where he owned two good farms. He passed away on the 27th of January, 1914, at the advanced age of eighty years. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Mary J. Whitten, who was likewise a native of the Buckeye state and. who is still living on the old homestead at the age of sixty-seven years. The father was a republican in politics and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. Three of their nine children are deceased and two brothers of our subject are also living in this county, M. R. and T. P., both residents of Lincoln township.

J. W. Graves passed his boyhood days upon the homestead and devoted much of his time during the winter months to study in the public schools. He also attended Abingdon Normal College for one winter. Following his marriage he began farming on one of his father's places and from the first year was rewarded by abundant crops. In February, 1904, he removed with his family to this county and purchased one hundred acres on section 36, Walnut township. After living there for five years he traded his place for his present farm of a quarter section of fine land on section 17, Scott township. He immediately took up his residence there and has since built a fine large house. The other buildings upon the place are commodious and well adapted for their purpose. He carries on general farming and as he uses the most improved machinery and scientific methods in the cultivation of his land he is meeting with gratifying success as an agriculturist.

Mr. Graves was married in Illinois to Miss Nannie Biggs, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Biggs, the former of whom died many years ago while the latter is still living in Marshalltown, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have three children, Edith, Earl and Mary.

The parents are members of the Christian church and not only attend its services but contribute to its support. The republican party has a stanch supporter in Mr. Graves and he is now serving his second term as township trustee.

He was for two terms school director and is still much interested in everything relating to the welfare of the public-school system. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the lodge at Winterset. In the eleven years that he has lived in this county he has become well known and all who have been brought in contact with him hold him in high respect.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915"