Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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


LODELL T. GRAVES, 
 
although a resident of Los Angeles for a period of less than two years, has 
taken a prominence in its business circles that is worthy of mention. Mr. Graves 
came to the Golden State in September, 1887, and located in Los Angeles, where 
he was prominently connected with the Southern California Investment Company. In 
January, 1888, he took up his residence in Monrovia, and established the real 
estate, loan and insurance business, known as "The Syndicate," of which he is 
the general manager, having an office on Myrtle avenue. He is a man of thorough 
business capabilities, and came here with the best references from some of the 
leading bankers and capitalists of the monied circles of the East. He dealt 
largely in real estate upon his own account throughout Los Angeles and the 
adjoining counties besides conducting a large commission business for his 
patrons. His agency in the insurance business comprises some of the most 
substantial fire, life and accident insurance companies of the country. Besides 
his real-estate interests in Monrovia he is largely interested in property in 
various sections of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, and is thoroughly 
identified with the growth and prosperity of Southern California. He is a 
stock�holder and a director of the South Riverside Land and Water Company, and 
also a stock�holder in the Granite Bank of Monrovia. Mr. Graves was born in 
Lakin, Illinois, in 1858. His father, the Rev. A. P. Graves, D. D., of New York, 
is a well-known minister of the Baptist Church, who has for the past twenty-five 
years been traveling throughout the United States in the interests of that 
denomination as an evangelist. His mother, Elvira L. (Bonney) Graves, died when 
he was two and a half years old. Mr. Graves was reared to farm life in Dodge 
County, Minnesota, receiving a good education, completing his studies in the 
Upper Iowa University, graduating in the commercial department of that 
institution when twenty years of age. He then located at Emmetsburg, Iowa, and 
was for the next three years engaged in banking in that city. In 1882 he took up 
his residence in Huron, Dakota, and established the banking-house of Ormsby, 
Graves & Co. He was conducting the affairs of that bank as cashier for about 
three years. In 1885 he was one of the original incorporators and directors of 
the well-known American Investment Company, of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and was the 
general manager of the branch office of that company at Huron, which he 
conducted until 1887, when he came to Los Angeles County. He is a consistent 
member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Monrovia, and also a 
member and Noble Grand of Monrovia Lodge, No. 330, I. O. O. F. Politically he is 
a Republican. In 1883. Mr. Graves was united in marriage with Miss Libbie 
Taylor, a native of Iowa. They have one child Roy.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 482
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler