John W. Graves (1954)

GRAVES, WHITTEN, BIGGS, HAINES, HAM, BEST

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/21/2007 at 10:46:41

Copied from Obituary Scrapbook - Winterset Public Library - Winterset, Iowa

JOHN W. GRAVES DIED SATURDAY

Death Came Christmas Day to 50-Year Resident of County

John W. Graves, a prominent Madison county farmer for half a century, died at his home in Scott township on Christmas day. He was 84 years of age.

Mr. Graves was a native of Illinois, where he was born in Stark county July 5, 1870, a son of Joseph and Mary Jane Whitten Graves. He attended rural school there and Abbington academy at Bloomington, Illinois.

He was married at Toulon, Illinois to Nannie M. Biggs, on February 26, 1896. They farmed near Duncan, Illinois for eight years, then moved to Iowa and farmed near Truro for five years. In 1909 they moved to the present home in Scott township.

After moving to Madison county, he attended the Oak Run church in Ohio township, later transferring to Zaion Federated church in Scott township, where he was active as long as his health permitted. He was a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America chapter at Duncan, Illinois, continuing his membership there until his death.

Surviving are his wife; three children, Mrs. Edith Haines of Peru, J. Earl Graves of Winterset and Mrs. Mary Ham of Winterset; seven grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; three brothers, Theodore and Elva Graves of Princeville, Illinois, and Marion Graves of Winterset; and a sister, Mrs. Alice Best of Toulon, Illinois.

Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Richards Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Charles Bellus. Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.