Rev. 16 Aug. 2010, Gen. 41

DESCENDANTS OF PHINEAS C. GRAVES OF NJ AND PA

GENERATION 1

Phineas C. Graves (1) was born about 1819, probably in NY (but possibly in CT). He first married Katherine (or Catherine) Makintosh. She was born about 1822 in NJ, and probably died about 1850-1860. He married second Susan M. Parker. She was born about 1837 in NJ.

(His name was given by R‑1 as Aphenous and he was said to have been born in England, neither of which is supported by the census records. Katherine was said to have been born in Scotland, but that doesn’t seem to be correct either.)

The 1850 census for Philadelphia, Middle Ward, Philadelphia Co., PA, page 11, lists Phineas Greaves, 30, Blacksmith, NY, Catherine, 28, NJ, Benjamin F., 7, Lydia E., 4, and John H., 1, all the children born in Philadelphia. The 1860 census for Hoboken, Ward 3, Hudson Co., NJ, page 476, lists Phineas C. Graves, 41, iron railing mfg., CT, Susan M. Parker, 22, NJ, Benjamin F. Graves, 14, NJ, Lydia E. Graves, 12, NJ, and John H. Graves, 10, PA. The 1870 census for Jersey City, Ward 4, Hudson Co., NJ, page 323, lists Phineas Graves, 53, railroad builder, NY, Susan, 33, NJ, Lydia, 24, NJ, Ella, 10, NJ, and Mary, 8/12, NJ. (R‑1)

Children - Graves, by Katherine Macintosh

+2. Benjamin F. Graves, b. 27 June 1844, m. Jennie shortsleeve, 8 Sept. 1877, d. April 1922.

3. Lydia E. Graves, b.c. 1846.

+4. John Henry Graves, b. 9 July 1849, m. Alida Mae Holcomb, 15 Sept. 1878, d. 25 Aug. 1925.

Children - Graves, by Susan M. Parker

5. Ella Graves, b.c. 1860.

6. Mary Graves, b.c. 1869.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF PHINEAS C. GRAVES (1)

Benjamin F. Graves (2) was born 27 June 1844 in New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., NJ, and died in April 1922 in Niverville, Columbia Co., NY. According to the 1910 and 1920 census data, his father was born in NY and his mother in NJ. He married Jennie Shortsleeve on 8 (or 7) Sept. 1877 in West Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., NY. No legal or church record of their marriage has been found. Jennie was born 5 Sept. 1850 in Ontario, Canada, and died 19 Nov. 1936 in Rensselaer, Rensselaer Co., NY. She was supposedly Native American.

They have not been located in the 1880 census. He served in the Civil War in the "5 New Jersey Infantry vols., Company A, re-enlisted company E, 5 Reg., N.J. Vols." He was wounded at Williamsburg, VA, and was discharged in Aug. 1865. They and their immediate descendants lived in the Schodack/Watervliet/East Greenbush areas of NY. It is believed that there were Graves relatives in the Pittsfield, MA area. All their children were born in Rensselaer Co., NY, Colonel and George in East Schodack, Lena in Sand Lake, and John in East Poestenkill. Benjamin moved from Trenton, Mercer Co., NJ to East Schodack, Rensselaer Co., NY in 1868, then to Niverville, NY in 1895.

Benjamin F. Graves may have been a brother to Oliver Graves, who lived in East Schodack in 1868 and married Elizabeth White in 1866. (R‑2)

Children - Graves

+7. Colonel Porter Graves, b. 25 Feb. 1879, m(1) Carrie M. Schermerhorn, m(2) Mabel ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1940's.

8. Lena Elizabeth Graves, b. 19 Sept. 1881, m. Lester Rate, 17 Nov. 1918.

9. John H. Graves, b. 18 Feb. 1884, m. Ada Schermerhorn. Married in a joint ceremony with Colonel and Carrie. John and Ada divorced.

10. George F. Graves, b. 19 June 1887 (or 1880).

John Henry Graves (4) was born 9 July 1849 in Pittsburgh, PA (or possibly in Jersey City, NJ, or in Philadelphia, PA according to Civil War records), died 25 Aug. 1925 in St. Maries, ID, and was buried in Old Soldiers' Graveyard. He served in K Company & Band, 13th U.S. Regimentary Infantry in the Civil War. He married Alida Mae Holcomb, daughter of Charles Edward Holcomb and Evelena Lewis, on 15 Sept. 1878 in Waldon, MO. She was born 28 Aug. 1863 in Iowa City, IA, died 19 Aug. 1927, and was buried at Olympia, WA.

They were in the 1880 census for Leavenworth, Weavenworth Co., KS, ED 155, page 238C, dwelling 99, with John, 30, laborer, b. NJ, Alida, 17, b. IA, and Ella, 3/12, b. KS. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

11. Mable Ann Graves, b. 4 March 1880 (Leavenworth, KS), d. 1887.

12. Edward Franklin Graves, b. 8 Sept. 1882 (Elwood, KS), m. Mary Jane Laduson (?), d. Oct. 1961 (McKenna, WA).

13. Nellie Graves, b. 9 March 1883, died young.

14. Lillian Alice Graves, b. 25 Aug. 1885 (St. Joseph, MO), m(1) Eugene Benedict, m(2) Leo Moss, 1910.

15. Ross Graves, b. 6 Oct. 1890 (Kansas City, MO), d. 28 July 1972 (Everett, WA).

16. Ethel Graves, b. 21 Feb. 1893 (St. Joseph, MO), m(1) Joe Strong, (Vale, OR), m(2) Harry Bundle, 1922 (St. Maries, ID).

+17. Earl Lynn Graves, b. 21 Sept. 1900, m. Millie Sizemore, 20 Sept. 1920.

GENERATION 3

CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN F. GRAVES (2) AND JENNIE SHORTSLEEVE

Colonel Porter Graves (7) was born 25 Feb. 1879 in East Schodack, NY (or possibly in Nassau, Rensselaer Co.), and died in the late 1940's in Lake Worth, FL. Colonel was his first name, not a military title. He first married Carrie M. Schermerhorn. She was born in 1883 and died in childbirth in 1913. He married second Mabel ‑‑‑‑‑‑. There were no children by the second marriage. They moved to Lake Worth, FL. He was a barber and machinist by trade. (R‑2)

Children - Graves

18. Colonel Porter Graves, Jr., b. 1902, d. 1924.

19. Edna Graves, b. 1904.

20. Eula Graves, b. 1906.

+21. Lena Graves, b. 1908, m. Henry E. Donnelly, d. 1992.

22. George Graves, b. 1909.

23. C. Anson Graves, b. 1911, d. 1958.

24. Sally Graves, b. 1913. Twin.

25. Cecilia Graves, b. 1913. Twin. Died in childbirth.

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