Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 


GEORGE GRAVES, deceased, was a native of Marion county, Kentucky, where 
he was born, July 28, 1813, near the town of Lebanon. His father, William 
Graves, was a planter by occupation, and slave owner, and carried on a large business. 
Of his five children, George was the eldest. 

Our subject left Kentucky in 1846, and located in Nottaway county, near Marysville, 
where he lived four years. In 1850 he came to California, and located near San Leandro, 
in Alameda county, but soon returned to Kentucky for his family, which he brought to 
the " Golden State " across the plains, via Carson river. They lived about four years 
in Alameda county, when they located on the present estate, near Salinas, in 1853, where 
Mr. Graves built up a fine property, reared his family and served the public as an enter- 
prising, upright citizen. His death occurred, April 20, 1889, when he had attained the age 
of seventy-six years, leaving behind him a handsome property as provision for his fam- 
ily. A large circle of friends and relatives mourn his loss. 

Mr. Graves was married in Kentucky, August 15, 1846, to Miss Nancy, a daughter of 
Ignatius Walker, a farmer of Marion county. She was born January 30, 1825, and reared 
in the same neighborhood as her husband. She still survives, and is the mother of eight 
children, namely: Ann Lethea, now Mrs. Jackson Gellitt, of Ventura; Georgiana, now 
Mrs. Robert C. Bemiss, of San Jose; Simion, lives on the farm; Jennie, now Mrs. J. J. 
Conner, of Salinas; Mary, now Mrs. J. J. Kelly, of Salinas; Benjamin and Charles, at home. 

By a former marriage Mr. Graves had four children, namely: Thomas Graves, and Will- 
iam T. Graves; and Lovina, a daughter, who married Ebenezer Harris, but is deceased; 
and another daughter, Rosina, a widow of - Robert Laws, of San Francisco. 

Mr. Graves was a man of great energy and probity, and was highly esteemed by all 
who knew him.