Alexander Graves of NC & GA

Rev. 11 Aug. 2016, Gen. 74

DESCENDANTS OF ALEXANDER GRAVES OF NC & GA

GENERATION 1

Alexander Graves (1) was born 26 Jan. 1806 in Granville Co., NC, died 11 Aug. 1875 in Acworth, Cobb Co., GA, and was buried in Liberty Hill Cem., Acworth, Cobb Co., GA[1]. He first married Sarah Philips Bailey on 29 Nov. (or Oct.) 1828 in Henry Co., GA. She was a widow, and a member of the Phillips family in the community. This is the earliest record found for Alexander. There were no children by this marriage. Alexander was listed as "Gravitt" in the 1830 census of Henry Co., GA.

He secondly married Anna (or Ann) Craft on 13 Dec. 1832 in Henry Co., GA. She was born 15 (or 16 [2]) July 1808 in GA, according to the 1850 Henry Co. census, died 25 Dec. 1857, and was buried in Liberty Hill Cem., Acworth, Paulding Co., GA.

After Anna's death in 1857, Alexander married Ellender Harrison on 25 Jan. 1859 in Paulding Co., GA. She was born 15 April 1803 in SC, died 12 June 1883, and was also buried in Liberty Hill Cem., Acworth.

Alexander Graves signed an oath in 1866 in Cartersville, GA to uphold the Constitution.

It is believed that his father could have been William S. Graves, because there is an 1834 tax receipt for payment of taxes in Henry Co. by Alexander and William S. Graves signed by both of them. Also, Alexander named his first son William S., and that William S. named his first son William Alexander.

The descendants believe that Alexander had a sister who married a Davidson. They have a letter written to Alexander on 2 April 1872 from Fares City, AR from John C. Davidson, addressed to Alexander Graves as "Dear Uncle".

Four people named Alexander Graves born in NC between 1800 and 1812 have been found. It is possible that a Graves female (or a male) married an Alexander, and these Alexander Graveses could all be cousins. In fact William Graves, born 1752, a descendant of Capt. Thomas Graves, had a daughter, Mary ("Polly") Graves, who married Edmund Alexander.

It has been believed by some family members that Alexander Graves was descended from Capt. Thomas Graves of VA (gen. 169). If this were so, it seemed most likely to be through Ralph Graves who married Unity White, and the Graves family of Granville Co., NC, and Giles Co., TN, some of whom went to Arkansas. The name Alexander is very common in that part of the family, and there is even one occurrence of Avery as a middle name. However, DNA testing has shown that Alexander Graves of this genealogy was definitely not descended from Capt. Thomas Graves of genealogy 169, but may have been descended from Francis Graves of genealogy 220.

Many of the submitted genealogies online show William Graves and Anne Neal of gen. 169 as the parents of Alexander Graves. However, as mentioned above, that is definitely incorrect. Genealogy 169 shows that the Alexander Graves of that genealogy was born earlier (in 1800) and had a different set of children.

One of the daughters listed below married John Tanner.

Alexander and Ellender were in the 1860 and 1870 censuses for Paulding Co., GA. All their children, except the first 3, were living with them in 1860. Children George, Nancy and Thomas were still living with them in 1870. He was a tanner in 1860 and a farmer in 1870. (R‑1, R‑2, R‑4, R‑6)

Children - Graves, by Anna Craft

2. William S. Graves, b.c. 1833.

3. S. L. Graves (dau.), b.c. 1835.

4. M. A. Graves (dau.), b.c. 1837.

+5. John T. Graves, b. 13 July 1839, m. Caroline Elizabeth McEver, 1860, d. 20 June 1903.

+6. George Lawrence Graves, b. 1 April 1840, m. Mary Jane Tanner, 17 Dec. 1869, d. 31 May 1906.

7. Nancy A. Graves, b.c. 1842.

8. J. Hazeltine (or Hasseltine) Graves, b.c. 1844. He may have died before 1870, perhaps in the Civil War, since he has not been found in any censuses after 1860.

+9. James Jefferson Graves, b. June 1846, m. Mary Denton, c. 1873, d. 1911.

+10. Thomas M. Graves, b.c. 1848, m. Elizabeth ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF ALEXANDER GRAVES (1) AND ANNA CRAFT

John T. Graves (5) was born 13 July 1839[3] in Henry Co., GA, died 20 June 1903, and was buried in Crossroads Baptist Church Cem. (located on GA Hwy. 92, between Dallas and Acworth, in Crossroads Community). He married Caroline Elizabeth McEver in 1860 in Cobb Co., GA. She was born 12 April 1837 in Cobb Co., GA, and died 24 June 1908 in Paulding Co., GA. They lived in Acworth, Paulding Co., GA, where at least their first 3 children were born. They were in the 1870, 1880 and 1900 censuses for Paulding Co., GA. In the 1880 census he was incorrectly listed as George. (R‑3, R‑4)

Children - Graves

+11. Margaret Ann Graves, b. 9 Dec. 1861, m. William J. Garrison, c. 1879, d. 16 June 1919.

+12. John J. Graves, b. 14 July 1864, m. Sarah E. Kennedy, 20 Feb. 1887, d. 21 June 1940.

+13. William A. Graves, b. 8 Aug. 1866, m(1) Elma Elizabeth Harrison, 13 Oct. 1888, m(2) Minnie Elizabeth Garrison, 1 June 1895, d. 20 Oct. 1939.

+14. Sarah Hasseltine Graves, b. 19 Sept. 1868, m. Joseph Johnson Brawner, 28 Aug. 1886, d. 16 Sept. 1909.

15. Mary J. Graves, b.c. 1871.

George Lawrence Graves (6) was born 1 April 1840 in GA, and died 31 May 1906 in Gwinnett Co., GA. He settled in Gwinnett Co., GA in 1876. He entered the Civil War, after enlisting in the Confederate Army in Richmond, VA, on 21 Aug. 1861. He served in Co. A, 18th Regt. for 3 years in Virginia, and went home as soon as his time was up.

He married Mary Jane Tanner, daughter of Joseph Tanner and Elizabeth Bruner (?), on 17 Dec. 1869 in Walton Co., GA. She was born 2 Sept. 1842 in Walton Co., GA, and died 10 (or 14[4]) Dec. 1909 in Gwinnett Co., GA. They were both buried in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cem., Tucker, GA. (R‑2, R‑4)

Children - Graves

+16. Annie Graves, b. 17 Jan. 1874, m. Charles E. Leavell, 21 Jan. 1900, d. 13 Nov. 1907.

+17. Joseph E. Graves, b. 17 Feb. 1877, m. Mittie C. Langford, 18 Feb. 1904, d. 13 July 1954.

+18. John Thomas Graves, b. 11 Feb. 1882, m. Jennie Evelyn Cofer, 23 Aug. 1903, d. 1 Aug. 1960.

+19. George William Graves, b. 13 June 1888, m. Hattie Lee Ola Purcell, 4 Oct. 1908, d. 18 Feb. 1978.

James Jefferson Graves (9) was born in June 1846 in GA, and died in 1911[5] in OK. He married Mary Denton about 1873. She was born 20 Dec. 1850 in TN, and died 7 May 1901. They were in the 1900 census for Brinton Twp., Pottawatomie Co., OK, with their son Franklin living almost next door. All 3 of their children were living in 1900, all born in GA. James was a farmer.

Luper Family Tree on Ancestry.com shows the parents of Franklin Abraham Graves as Phillip Graves and Margaret ‑‑‑‑‑‑. However, that is clearly wrong. The 1880 census for Phillip Graves lists the family as mulatto, with both him and Margaret born in VA, whereas the 1900 census for Franklin lists his father as born in GA and mother born in TN. (R‑5)

Children - Graves

+20. Franklin Abraham Graves, b. 14 Feb. 1874, m. Sarah Luella Miller, 12 Dec. 1897.

21. Addie Graves, b. Dec. 1875.

22. William A. Graves, b. June 1876 (or 1877[6]), m. Addie ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1907. She was born about 1891 in OK. They were in the 1910 census for Tecumseh City, Pottawatomie Co., OK, when her 1 child was not living.

Thomas M. Graves (10) was born about 1848 in GA. He married Elizabeth ‑‑‑‑‑‑. She was born about 1846 in TN. They were in the 1880 census for Paulding Co., GA. They haven’t been found in the 1900 census. All their children were born in GA.

Children - Graves

23. William A. Graves, b.c. 1871.

24. James A. Graves, b.c. 1873.

25. Minney A. Graves, b.c. 1875.

26. Charles T. Graves, b.c. 1879.

GENERATION 3

CHILDREN OF JOHN T. GRAVES (5)

Margaret Ann Graves (11) was born 9 Dec. 1861 in Paulding Co., GA, and died 16 June 1919 in Taylorsville, Bartow Co., GA. She married William J. Garrison, about 1879. He was born 20 Feb. 1858 in GA, and died 6 Dec. 1925. They were in the 1900 census for Euharlee, Bartow Co., GA, when 6 of their 8 children were still living. All their children were born in GA. (R‑6)

Children - Garrison

27. Carrie H. Garrison, b.c. 1880, d. before 1900 census.

28. Nancy E. (or Lizzie E.) Garrison, b. Aug. 1882.

29. John Douglas Garrison, b. 22 Nov. 1884 (Paulding Co., GA), d. 28 April 1945 (Taylorsville, Bartow Co., GA).

30. Hattie J. Garrison, b. Oct. 1887.

31. child, d. before 1900 census.

32. Mary O. Garrison, b. Sept. 1892.

33. Samuel Garrison, b. July 1895.

34. Lillie May Garrison, b. 8 May 1898, d. 14 June 1907.

35. Annie Zeta Garrison, b. 22 Sept. 1902, d. 1 Sept. 1922.

John J. Graves (12) was born 14 July 1864 and died 21 June 1940, both in Paulding Co., GA, and was buried in Liberty Hill Cem., Acworth, Cobb Co., GA. His name was given as John T. Graves, Jr., by some, but the 1900-1930 census records list him as John J. Graves. He married Sarah E. Kennedy on 20 Feb. 1887 in Paulding Co., GA. She was born in 1871 in Paulding Co., GA, and died 21 March 1959 in Bartow Co., GA. They lived in Paulding Co., GA, but had a mailing address of Acworth. They were in the 1900-1930 censuses for Paulding Co., GA. All their children were born in GA, except for Lelia born in AL. (R‑3, R‑6)

Children - Graves

+36. Nesbert J. Graves, b. 2 Oct. 1888, m. Fannie Ledonia Cravens, c. 1909, d. 6 Nov. 1938.

37. Lelia Mae Graves, b. 25 May 1891 (Fort Payne, DeKalb Co., AL), d. 15 Feb. 1974 (Cartersville, Bartow Co., GA).

38. Georgie Graves, b.c. 1895.

39. Addie Lou Graves, b. Nov. 1897.

+40. Arthur William Graves, b. 25 Aug. 1900, m. Angeline ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 11 Sept. 1990.

41. Auther Graves, b.c. 1902.

+42. Raymond Floyd Graves, b. 28 Sept. 1904, m. Mary Clemmon ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 11 April 1977.

43. Sallie Louise Graves, b. 10 Oct. 1908, d. 21 March 1912 (Acworth, Cobb Co., GA).

William A. Graves (13) was born 8 Aug. 1866 in Paulding Co., GA, and died 20 Oct. 1939 in Acworth, Cobb Co., GA. He first married Elma Elizabeth Harrison on 13 Oct. (or Dec.?) 1888. She was born 9 Oct. 1869 in GA, and died 19 Oct. (or 18 Nov.) 1893 in Dallas, Paulding Co., GA. He secondly married Minnie Elizabeth Garrison on 1 June 1895. She was born 10 April 1873 in GA, and died 1 Dec. 1946. They were in the 1900 census for Paulding Co., GA, living next to his parents and his brother John. All their children were born in Paulding Co., GA. (R‑4, R‑6)

Children - Graves, by Elma E. Harrison

+44. Minnie Elizabeth Graves, b. 30 Sept. 1889, m. Jessie Matterson Dawson, 25 Dec. 1910, d. 19 Aug. 1935.

45. Robert L. Graves, b. July 1891.

46. Janie Graves, b. Nov. 1893.

Children - Graves, by Minnie E. Garrison

47. Maggie Mae Graves, b. 26 Sept. 1897, d. 17 Jan. 1923 (Paulding Co., GA).

48. Milton Graves, b. 22 Jan. 1902, d. 31 Aug. 1907 (GA).

49. James Wesley Graves, b. 23 Sept. 1904.

50. Lulu Irene Graves, b. 5 Aug. 1907, d. 3 March 1941.

51. Lewis Graves, b. 6 Nov. 1909.

52. Lemma Graves, b. 6 Nov. 1909.

Sarah (“Sally”) Hasseltine Graves (14) was born 19 Sept. 1868 in Atlanta, DeKalb Co., GA, and died 16 Sept. 1909 in Dallas, Paulding Co., GA. She married Joseph Johnson Brawner, son of Jesse Johnson Brawner and Mary Ann Quarles, on 28 Aug. (or Oct.) 1886. He was born 1 Feb. 1865 in Paulding Co., GA, and died 16 Dec. 1953 in Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA. (R‑7, R‑9)

Children - Brawner

+53. John Johnson Brawner, b. 15 Aug. 1887, m. Grace Marie Collier, 19 Jan. 1921, d. 12 March 1952.

+54. James Oscar Brawner, b. 14 Jan. 1890, m. Lilly V. Chitwood, d. 11 Aug. 1973.

+55. Addie Jane Brawner, b. 4 May 1892, m. Zollie Norman Parris, d. 12 June 1973.

+56. Mary Ethel Brawner, b. 29 April 1897, m. Thomas Young Neill, 24 Dec. 1915, d. 7 Nov. 1981.

+57. Carrie Lou Brawner, b. 25 May 1900 (Paulding Co., GA), m. John Franklin Neill, d. 30 March 1990 (Mableton, Cobb Co., GA).

+58. Roy Esthmer Brawner, b. 10 Nov. 1908, m. Ola ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1932, d. 30 May 1937.

CHILDREN OF GEORGE L. GRAVES (6) AND MARY J. TANNER

Annie Graves (16) was born 17 Jan. 1874 in Norcross, GA, and died 13 Nov. 1907. She married Charles E. Leavell (or Level) on 21 Jan. 1900. (R‑2, R‑4)

Children - Leavell

59. Paul Leavell, b. 21 Aug. 1901, d. 28 Oct. 1928.

60. Mary Lou Leavell, b. 25 Oct. 1902, d. 24 Dec. 1923.

Joseph E. Graves (17) was born 17 Feb. 1877 in Norcross, GA, and died 13 July 1954 in Gwinnett Co., Ga. He married Mittie C. Langford (or Lankford?) on 18 Feb. 1904. She was born 28 July 1878 and died 9 Feb. 1932. (R‑2, R‑4)

Children - Graves

61. Allie (or Alley) Graves, b. 24 Dec. 1904.

62. Joseph M. Graves, b. 17 June 1918, m. Grace Strickland.

John Thomas Graves (18) was born 11 Feb. (or Dec.[7]) 1882 and died 1 (or 27) Aug. 1960, both in Gwinnett Co., Ga. He married Jennie Evelyn Cofer (or Crawford2) on 23 Aug. 1903. She was born 22 March 1883, and died 2 April 1975 in Gwinnett Co., Ga. They both lived in Gwinnett Co. all their lives and were buried in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cem., Tucker, DeKalb Co., Ga. All their children were born in Gwinnett Co. (R‑2)

Children - Graves

+63. George DeWitt Graves, b. 23 Aug. 1904, m(1) Clara Burnett Thomas, 21 Nov. 1925, m(2) Ruby Denmark, 1945, m(3) Blanche Hollingsworth, m(4) Johnnie Mae (Haney) Pennington, April 1962, d. 1 Jan. 1984.

64. Ruby Jane Graves, b. 25 May 1907, m. Earl Haller, d. 25 Oct. 1945 (Fulton Co., Ga.). No children.

+65. John Lester Graves, b. 23 Nov. 1909, m. Grace Truman Story, 8 Dec. 1929, d. 20 Nov. 1985.

+66. Bernice Ethel Graves, b. 23 Sept. 1911, m. Robert Faye Cown, 18 Aug. 1929, d. 28 Aug. 1985.

+67. William Dorsey Graves, b. 30 July 1914, m. Sarah Elizabeth Story, 12 Nov. 1932.

+68. Jennie Louette Graves, b. 28 Aug. 1916, m. James Edward Sorrells, 18 Nov. 1934.

+69. Emma Grace Graves, b. 3 April 1919, m. James Chester Duncan, d. 7 July 1989.

+70. Sidney Seldon Graves, b. 25 Feb. 1922, m. Sarah Montine Biggers.

George William Graves (19), called “Will”, was born 13 June 1888 and died 18 Feb. 1978, both in Norcross, Gwinnett Co., GA. He married Hattie Lee Ola Purcell, called Ola, daughter of Jackson McKenny Purcess and Mary Emma Hazelrigg, on 4 Oct. 1908 in Norcross, GA. She was born 20 March 1893 and died 10 Jan. 1980, both in Norcross, Gwinnett Co., GA. They were both buried in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cem., Tucker, GA. The gravestone at the cemetery has her name spelled Pursell, which is what her father changed it to because of a difference of opinion with his family. All their children were born in GA. (R‑2, R‑4)

Children - Graves

+71. Avery Anderson Graves, b. 9 Aug. 1909, m. Ava Myrtle Dickens.

+72. William Lawrence Graves, b. 2 June 1911, m. Fannie Talitha Warbington, d. 2 Feb. 1994.

73. Fred McKenny Graves, b. 4 March 1922.

CHILDREN OF JAMES J. GRAVES (9) AND MARY DENTON

Franklin Abraham Graves (20) was born 14 Feb. 1874 in Paulding Co., GA. He married Sarah Luella Miller, daughter of Elizabeth (“Betty”) Ann Luper and John Kelly Miller, on 12 Dec. 1897. She was born 29 June 1880 (or 1882) in Benton Co., TN, and died 5 May 1957 in Pottawatomie Co., OK. They have not been found in the 1880 census. They were in the 1900 census for Brinton Twp., Pottawatomie Co., OK, when he was a farmer. They were in the 1910 census for Tecumseh City, Pottawatomie Co., OK, when he was a foreman at a street car barn. In 1910, children Anne and Frankie were living with them, and only 2 of their 3 children were still alive. They were in the 1920 census for Forest Twp., Pottawatomie Co., OK, with him listed as Abraham, when her widowed mother was living with them, and he was a foreman for the electric company. All their children were born in OK. (R‑5)

Children - Graves

74. William A. Graves, b. March 1899, d. 1 Feb. 1901 (Cleveland Co., OK).

75. Anna V. Graves, b.c. 1803.

76. Frank (“Frankie”) Graves, b.c. 1905.

77. Bessie I. Graves, b.c. 1912.

+78. John Jefferson Claude Graves, b. 21 Aug. 1917, m. Elinor Kate Todd, 27 June 1936, d. 24 May 1984.

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