Revised 15 Jan. 1989, Gen. 59
DESCENDANTS OF THADEUS GRAVES AND MATHILDA A. BEEMAN
OF NY AND IA
GENERATION 1
Thadeus Graves (1) was born about 1815, birthplace unknown, but he told his children he grew up in Steuben Co., N.Y. Although he may have been born in N.Y., his son Carlisle stated on the 1900 census that his father was born in Ireland. If he was a son of the Thadeus Graves of Ross Co., Ohio (as discussed below), he was probably born in N.C. He died in 1863 or 1864 (or 1861?) in Allamakee Co., Iowa.
He married Mathilda A. Beeman, daughter of Cyrus Beeman and Avis Bowen, about 1841. She was born 14 March 1824 in New Haven, Addison Co., Vt., died 4 March 1912 in Petosky, Mich., and was buried in Portland Cem., Portland, Mich.
They were living on a farm in Norfolk, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y. in 1850. Their first three sons were born in New York. Since Carlisle was born in St. Lawrence Co., it is assumed the other two were also.
Sometime after 1855 (probably 1859) the family moved to Iowa, possibly with a short stay in Steuben Co., N.Y. By 1860, the family was living in Jefferson Twp., Allamakee Co., Iowa, near Mathilda's father. Myron Oscar was born there in 1862. They had a farm south of Waukon, but Thadeus also worked as a circuit preacher, possibly associated with the Methodist Church. While returning from a circuit-riding trip, he was lost in an early fall blizzard, either in 1863 or 1864.
By 1865, Mathilda and the four boys were living in Ionia, Mich. Later she moved to Ann Arbor with the two youngest, where they went to college. George and Carlisle remained in Ionia Co. After the youngest boys finished college, she returned to Ionia for a few years, then moved to Petoskey, Mich., where Myron was teaching. She lived in Petoskey until her death in 1912.
Mr. R. V. Graves believes that Thadeus Graves was a son of Thadeus Graves/Greaves of Ross Co., Ohio. He bases this belief on several factors. First, both Thadeuses spelled their name with only one 'd', versus two d's most other places. Second, Thadeus's son Carlisle stated in the 1900 census that his father was born in Ireland, and the first village north of Jefferson Twp. was named Londonderry. Third, Thadeus was supposed to have grown up in Steuben Co., N.Y., and over on the state line is Steubenville, Ohio. Fourth, Thadeus named has third son Anson, and Thadeus of Ross Co. apparently had a son named Anson who drowned in Salt Creek, Ross Co., in 1847.
Thadeus of Ross Co. was born about 1790 in N.C., and died after 1840, probably in Ross Co. His wife is unknown. It appears that Thadeus married, and settled first in N.C., probably near where he had grown up. Between 1810 and 1820 he moved to Jefferson Twp., Ross Co., Ohio, living there until after 1840. He and his family appeared in the Ross Co. census records for 1820, 1830 and 1840. His children, according to the census and The County of Ross, by Henry Holcomb Bennett, 1902, p. 291, are:
(1) dau., b. 1810-15, gone before 1840.
(2) Thadeus, b.c. 1815, gone before 1840.
(3) Anson E., b.c. 1816, drowned 1847, age 31.
(4) dau., b. 1815-20.
(5) son, b. 1820-25.
(6) dau., b. 1820-25.
(7) son, b. 1825-30, not in 1840 census (died?).
(8) dau., b. 1825-30, not in 1840 census (died?).
(9) son, b. 1830-35.
(10) dau., b. 1830-35.
(11) dau., b. 1835-40. (R-1)
Children - Graves
+2. George Graves, b.c. 1851, never married, d. after 1898.
+3. Carlisle Beeman Graves, b. 18 Feb. 1854, m. Florence Viola Somers, 21 (or 12) Feb. 1882, d. 25 Jan. 1917.
+4. Anson P. Graves, b. 15 Jan. 1855, m. L. F. Graves, d. 20 Jan. 1878.
+5. Myron Oscar Graves, b. 15 Jan. 1862, m. Grace Sappington Hayes, 8 July 1920, d. 8 Dec. 1930.
GENERATION 2
CHILDREN OF THADEUS GRAVES (1) AND MATHILDA A. BEEMAN
George Graves (2) was born about 1851. Little is known about his life. He was considering going into the ministry, while in his late teens. Later he lost his right arm above the elbow in a Fourth of July accident at St. Johns, Mich. He never married, but did travel around the country a lot working at various jobs. He was last heard from when the family received a picture postcard in 1898. At that time, he was working in a logging camp in northern Minnesota. (R-1)
Carlisle Beeman Graves (3) was born 18 Feb. 1854 in Potsdam (or Norfolk), St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., died 25 Jan. 1917 on his farm in Ronald Twp., Ionia Co., Mich., and was buried 27 Jan. 1917 in Palo Cem., Palo, Mich. He started working as a farm laborer in Ronald Township, Michigan, north of Ionia, at the age of 17.
He married Florence Viola Somers, daughter of James H. Somers and Caroline P. Johnson, on 21 (or 12) Feb. 1882 in Palo, Ionia Co., Mich. She was born 13 March 1862 in Howard (or South Dansville), Steuben Co., N.Y., died 31 March 1931 on the farm in Ronald Twp., Ionia Co., Mich., and was also buried in Palo Cem.
In 1885 Carlisle bought a 30 acre farm in Ronald Twp., 4 miles south of Palo, Mich., where he lived until his death, after being confined to a chair for his last three years. His widow continued to live on the farm until her death. She had lost the vision in one eye early in life, and was totally blind the last few years before her death. (R-1)
Children - Graves
+6. Wilfred Oscar Graves, b. 1 Aug. 1899, m(1) Cynthia Louise Conroe, 11 Sept. 1926, m(2) (Mrs.) Mary Smith, 1971, m(3) (Mrs.) Edna (Woods) Compton, 16 Sept. 1978, d. 26 Sept. 1985.
Anson P. Graves (4) was born in 1855, probably in St. Lawrence Co., N.Y. He settled on a farm near Portland, Mich., and was starting a factory when he died of pneumonia at age 24 (about 1879). He left a widow, who later remarried and moved away. According to a second inscription on his tombstone, he had a son who died the year before (about 1878?). (R-1)
Children - Graves
7. Gifford Graves; known to have graduated from high school.
8. son, d.c. 1878.
Myron Oscar Graves (5), known as Oscar or M.O., was born 15 Jan. 1862 in Jefferson Twp., Allamakee Co., Iowa, and died 8 Dec. 1930 in Los Angeles, Calif. He married Grace Sappington Hayes of South Dakota on 8 July 1920. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1886, later getting his doctorate in Law in 1892.
After living in Howard and Wyandotte, Mich., where he was principal or superintendent of schools, he moved to Petoskey, Mich., in 1888. Here he was the first Superintendent of City Schools and later Principal of North Michigan Normal, which he helped establish.
He moved to Nevada in 1909, but was in Los Angeles in 1910, where he started practicing law. He was active in many social and political organizations. After his marriage in 1920, they made their home in the Eagle Rock area on the east side of Los Angeles.
From the Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 1930 (Wed.):
FIERY AUTO CRASH KILLS ATTORNEY
M. O. Graves succumbs to injuries caused when car in flames upset
M. O. Graves, 68 year old attorney, was injured fatally yesterday in a spectacular automobile accident at Yosemite Drive and Eagle Boulevard.
Confused by flames which had enveloped his machine mysteriously and with startling suddenness, the elderly lawyer lost control of the car as it sped along the drive. At the intersection of Eagle Rock Boulevard it careened dizzily to one side, then plunged into an open culvert and turned over, catapulting its occupant to the roadway. He died of the injuries shortly afterward in the Pasadena Avenue Receiving Hospital.
Just before he succumbed on the operating table, Graves regained consciouness for a brief spell and told physicians the story of his desperate effort to prevent his death by fire. Without any warning explosion, he said, the car burst suddenly into flames, which licked up the sides and threatened to set his clothing afire. Bewildered by the inferno about him he neglected to jam on the brakes and escape from the blazing car. A moment later it plunged into the open ditch, hurling him mercifully beyond reach of the flames.
After other motorists had taken Graves to the hospital, Dr. W. O. Blanchard summoned a fire department inhalator squad. The operators worked over the stricken man a half-hour without success.
Graves had been a resident and practicing lawyer of Los Angeles for many years. He maintained offices in the California Bldg. and lived at 4703 Vincent Road, where he leaves his widow.
GRAVES. In this city, Myron O. Graves, aged 68 years, beloved husband of Grace S. Graves and loving father of Mrs. J. E. Grab.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 pm from the Little Church of the Flowers, Forrest Lawn Cemetery. E. Claie Overholtzer Co., director.
From WHO'S WHO IN CALIFORNIA, 1928-29.
GRAVES, Myron Oscar, attorney; born Waukon, Allamakee Co., Ia., Jan. 15, 1862; son Thaddeus and Matilda Aurora (Beeman) Graves; A.B., U. of Mich., 1886, M.A., 1888, Ph.D., 1892; married Grace Sappington Hayes, of Custer, S.D. and Gering, Neb., July 8, 1920; one daughter, Helen Octavia. Prin. Howard City (Mich.) schs., 1882-84; supt. city schs., Wyandotte, Mich., 1886-88, and Petoskey, Mich., 1888-90; prin. North Mich. Normal Sch., 1890-1909, and Lincoln High Sch., Panaca, Nev., 1909-10; engaged in law practice, Los Angeles, 1910---. In Mich. was identified with the establishment of the 1st secondary normal sch.; in Calif., has been a leader in development of municapal water and power, in reform of judicial procedure and in reapportionment of legislative dists. Second lieut., Co. G, 21st Regt., Mich. State Militia, 1878-1885. Author Court of Star Chamber: Annexation of Tex.: 1906. Ritual of Knights of Modern Maccabees. Mem. Fed. of State Socs., United Ch. Brotherhood, L.A. Municipal League, Home Defense League, South Hollywood Property Owners League, Knights of Maccabees. Mason. Progressive (active in Progressive movement, Calif., 1912, and in LaFollette campaign, 1924). Presbyn. Clubs: Union League, City (LA); Mich. University (Ann Arbor). Home: 4703 Vincent St. Office: 205 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. (R-1)
Children - Graves
9. Helen Octavia Graves, m. J. E. Grab.
GENERATION 3
CHILDREN OF CARLISLE B. GRAVES (3) AND FLORENCE V. SOMERS
Wilfred Oscar Graves (6) was born 1 Aug. 1899 on his parents' farm in Ronald Township, Ionia Co., Mich., and died 26 Sept. 1985 in Titusville, Fla. He left school in the 9th grade to take over the farm when his father became ill. He became the head of household in 1917. In 1920 (or 1921), he and his mother moved to southern California with several of the Somers (his mother's family). He returned in 1921 (or 1922) to the family farm, and she returned a few months later. While in California, he worked in construction in the Los Angeles area and in the Imperial Valley. Back in Michigan, he was mainly a farmer, although he worked some as a furnace installer and as an electrician, and was even an insurance agent just prior to World War II. During World War II, he went to work in a factory in Lansing, where he worked until his retirement in 1965. After that, he contracted carpenter work (barn and shed construction) in the summers and went to Florida in the winters, until he sold the farm and moved to Titusville, Florida in 1972.
He first married Cynthia Louise Conroe, daughter of William H. Conroe and Martha B. Merritt, on 11 Sept. 1926 in Ionia Co., Mich. She was born 12 Jan. 1904 in Berlin Twp., near Saranac, Ionia Co., died 19 Sept. 1970 at the family farm in Ronald Twp., near Palo, Ionia Co., and was buried 22 Sept. 1970 in Palo Cem., Palo, Mich. All three of the children shown below were born in Ronald Twp., Ionia Co., Mich.
He secondly married Mrs. Mary Smith. She died in 1972. He thirdly married Mrs. Edna (Woods) Compton on 16 Sept. 1978. She died 5 July 1982 in Titusville, Fla. (R-1)
Children - Graves, by Cynthia L. Conroe
+10. Rex Vernon Graves
11. Ardis Arlene Graves, b. 1 Oct. 1929, d. 1 Oct. 1931.
12. Carl Leo Graves
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