Revised 29 Aug. 2004, Gen. 245

 

DESCENDANTS OF RANSOM M. GRAVES OF MS

 

 

GENERATION 1

 

Ransom M. Graves (1) was born about 1800, possibly in SC, and was buried in Speed Cem., Lincoln Co., MS.  He was in MS by 1824, was a farmer, and had slaves.  He probably had a first wife whose name is unknown.  He next married Martha Annie Edwards.  She was born about 1819 in MS, and died by 5 July 1858.  They were listed in the 1850 census for Lawrence Co., MS, dwelling 432, page 427.

He married third Sarah Ann O'Neal on 4 July 1858 in Copiah Co., MS.  She was born about 1835 in MS.  One child, Harry O'Neal, born about 1858, may have been from a previous marriage of Sarah Ann.

It has been believed that Ransom M. Graves was connected with the family of James Graves and Mary Copeland of VA and GA (genealogy 150), but it is also possible that he was a son of Jeremiah Alexander Graves (probable father of James W. Graves, genealogy 48).  A Jeremiah Graves (probably Jeremiah Alexander Graves), born about 1770-1780, and a Ransom Graves (probably Ransom M. Graves), born about 1790-1800, were living next to each other in the 1830 census for Copiah Co., MS, page 133.

Information from R‑5 states that Ransom may also have had a daughter Lavisia Graves, born about 1832 in MS, probably in Copiah Co., who married Jessie Loftin.  They lived in Lawrence Co., MS in 1850, and Ransom Graves was also living there in 1850 as the only Graves family in that county.  Lavisia also had a son named Ransom, which is additional evidence that he was her father.  Since the adult female in Ransom’s household in the 1830 census was 15-20 (born about 1810-1820), and his household included 2 males under 5 and 2 females under 5, it seems likely that Ransom had another marriage before his marriage to Martha Annie Edwards, and that he had other children in addition to Lavisia.  Ransom was also in the 1840 census for Copiah Co., MS, page 427, listed as R. H. or R. M. Graves.  (R‑2)

Children - Graves, by first wife

  2.  son, b.c. 1825-1830.

  3.  daughter, b.c. 1825-1830.  May have either died or married by 1840, since only 1 daughter, age 10-15 was in the 1840 census.

  4.  son, b.c. 1825-1830.  May have died by 1840, since only 1 son, age 10-15 was listed in the 1840 census.

+5.  Louisa Graves, b.c. 1829, m. Jesse Loftin.

Children - Graves, by Martha A. Edwards

+6.  Mary Jane Graves, b. 18 April 1836, m. Isaac Smith, 19 Jan. 1854, d. 2 April 1920.

+7.  Augustus Edwards Graves, b. March 1839, m. Nancy Jane (Bailey) Ford, 18 June 1870.

  8.  Amantha Graves, b.c. 1841.

  9.  Ophelia Graves, b.c. 1843.

+10.  Columbus S. Graves, b. 4 Jan. 1844, m. Rozella G. Moore, 18 July 1871, d. 6 March 1900.

  11.  Martha F. Graves, b.c. 1847.

  12.  Elizabeth C. Graves, b.c. 1848.

  13.  Sillis (or Silas?) A. Graves

Children - Graves, by Sarah A. O'Neal

  14.  Alonzo Graves, b.c. 1860, m. Eunice Windham, 19 Aug. 1898 (Carrollton, MS).  He may have died by 1920, and she may be the one listed in the 1920 census for Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, as Callie Graves, 62, with son Henry, 16, and nephew Howard, 17.

  15.  Henry W. Graves, b.c. 1863.

  16.  Albert Graves, b.c. 1865, m. Caldonia Vance.

  17.  Charles Graves, b.c. 1867.

 

 

GENERATION 2

 

CHILDREN OF RANSOM M. GRAVES (1)

Louisa (or Lavisa or Lavisia) Graves (5) was born about 1829 in MS, probably Copiah Co.  She married Jesse (or Jessie) Loftin.  He was born about 1825 in MS.  They were in the 1850 census for Lawrence Co., MS, dwelling 154, page 408  He was a farmer.  All their children were born in MS.  None of the family members could be found in the 1860, 1870 or 1880 censuses.  (R‑5)

Children - Loftin

  18.  John Loftin, b.c. 1842.

  19.  Elizabeth Loftin, b.c. 1843.

  20.  Ann Loftin, b.c. 1844.  This is probably Martha Ann, ancestor of R‑5.

  21.  Sarah Loftin, b.c. 1845.

  22.  Ransom Loftin, b.c. 1846.

  23.  Lucinda Loftin, b.c. 1847.

+24.  Louisa Loftin, b.c. 1855, m. William Austin Powell, 17 Nov. 1871, d. Feb. 1937.

 

Mary Jane Graves (6) was born 18 April 1836 in MS, died 2 April 1920 in Wesson, MS, and was buried in Wesson, Copiah Co., MS.  She married Isaac Smith, son of Lott Smith and Elizabeth Loving, on 19 Jan. 1854 in Lawrence, MS.  He was born 3 Jan. 1833 in Monticello, Lawrence Co., MS, died 2 Sept. 1901 in Copiah Co., MS, and was buried in Lott Smith Cem., Wesson, Copiah Co., MS.  He served in the military as an artillery man in the Civil War.  He was living on June 14, 1880 in Montgomery Precinct, Lincoln Co., MS.

In addition to their natural children listed below, they had one adopted daughter, Phoebe Johnson, adopted before 1860 in Lincoln Co., MS.  Phoebe was born in 1858 in SC, and died 20 Oct. 1926 in Jackson, MS.  She married Isaac Darrell Smith, son of Denman Smith and Elizabeth Smith, about 1888 in Brookhaven, MS.  Isaac was born 18 Aug. 1861 in MS, and died 25 Dec. 1938 in Little Bahala, Lincoln Co., MS.  They had 2 children: Denman Smith, born 6 April 1889 in MS, died 20 Sept. 1892 in Brookhaven, MS, and George Kirby Smith.  (R‑6)

Children - Smith

+25.  Henderson Augustus Smith, b. 27 Oct. 1854, m. Mollie S. Towns, 6 June 1882.

  26.  Leonidas Pascal Smith, b. 7 Oct. 1856.

  27.  Martha Ann Smith, b. 24 Sept. 1858.

+28.  Isaac Beauregard Smith, b. 9 July 1861, m. Phoebe ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

  29.  Vinelphe Zuline Smith, b. 7 Sept. 1863.

  30.  Warren Everet Smith, b. 19 Nov. 1865.

  31.  Thomas William Smith, b. 16 June 1867.

  32.  Columbus Commodore (“Lum”) Smith, b. 24 Jan. 1870.  He was also known as Christopher Columbus Smith.

  33.  Lenora Smith, b. 20 Feb. 1872.

+34.  Addye Elizabeth Smith, b. 12 Feb. 1873, m. John Benjamin Dorsett, 4 Oct. 1904, d. 2 May 1950.

+35.  Carrie Beatrice Smith, b. 5 July 1875, m. Henry Floyd Middleton, d. 1931.

+36.  Elian Olian Smith, b. 15 April 1880, m. Rosa Belle White, 28 April 1900, d. 14 Dec. 1917.

+37.  Put Darden Smith, b. 6 May 1882, m. Florence Amelia Dungan, 29 June 1910, d. 18 Dec. 1917.

 

Augustus (or Augusta) Edwards Graves (7) was born in March 1839 in MS.  He married Mrs. Nancy J. (Bailey) Ford on 18 June 1870.  Her maiden name was Bailey, and she had previously been married to a Mr. Ford.  She was born in Jan. 1845 in MS.  They were listed in the 1900 census for Lincoln Co., MS, living next door to Norris Graves.  All their children were born in MS.  (R‑1, R‑2)

Children - Graves

+38.  Amanda Graves, b.c. 1868, m. Bee G. McGehee.

  39.  John Graves, b. Feb. 1871, never married, d. 13 March 1914 (Hattiesburg, MS).

+40.  Junie Elizabeth Graves, b. 21 Dec. 1872, m. Rudolph W. Planchard, d. 13 Jan. ‑‑‑‑.

+41.  Norris Adolphus Graves, b. 1 Oct. 1874, m(1) Lucretia Viola Lea, c. 1897, m(2) Laura Thornhill Causey, d. 11 Sept. 1944.

  42.  Malisa Graves, b.c. 1879.

  43.  Annie Graves, b. July 1880.

  44.  Jennie Graves, b. June 1885.

 

Columbus S. Graves (10) was born 4 Jan. 1844, and died 6 March 1900, probably in Batesville, Panola Co., MS.  He married Rozella G. Moore, daughter of Thomas Moore and Lydia Margaret Thetford, on 18 July 1871 in Copiah Co., MS.  She was born 15 June 1851 in Claiborne Co., MS, and died 27 Dec. 1929 in Panola Co., MS.  They were both buried in Magnolia Cem., Batesville, Panola Co., MS.  All their children were probably born in Panola Co., MS.  (R‑3)

Children - Graves

+45.  Thomas Augustus Graves, b. 8 Sept. 1872, m. Katie Wise, Feb. 1894, d. 24 Aug. 1939.

+46.  Ella Graves, b. 31 Oct. 1874, m. Samuel J. Hillhouse, 12 Jan. 1896, d. 3 April 1905.

  47.  Alice Catherine Graves, b. 11 Oct. 1877, m. J. R. Summer, 1 May 1904, d. 9 Feb. 1931.

  48.  Patrick Henry Graves, b. 18 Aug. 1879, d. 14 Jan. 1902.

  49.  Mary Stokes Graves, b. 7 July 1881, m. T. P. Moore, 27 April 1906, d. 15 March 1911.

  50.  Lizzie Leigh Graves, b. 11 June 1883, d. 5 Sept. 1886.

+51.  Charles Frederick Graves, b. 21 Oct. 1885, m. Robbie Elizabeth Whitten, 27 Dec. 1919, d. June 1950.

+52.  Percy V. Graves, b. 19 March 1888, m. Emma Goff Flint, 3 Dec. 1919, d. 5 Aug. 1961.

  53.  Vetta Perkins Graves, b. 29 July 1890, m. James Fletcher, 24 Dec. 1912, d. 27 Feb. 1951.

  54.  Robert Boyd Graves, b. 7 Aug. 1892, d. 8 Oct. 1894.

 

 

GENERATION 3

 

CHILDREN OF LOUISA GRAVES (5) AND JESSE LOFTIN

Louisa Loftin (24) was born about 1855, probably in MS, died in Feb. 1937, and was buried in Holly Grove Cem., Braxton, Simpson Co., MS[1].  She married William Austin Powell on 17 Nov. 1871.  He was born 14 Dec. 1842, died 17 Feb. 1912 in Crystal Springs, Copiah Co., MS, and was buried in County Line Cem., Braxton, Rankin Co., MS[2].  (R‑7)

Children - Powell

+55.  Theo Doshia Powell, b. 20 June 1874, m(1) ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Whittington, m(2) ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Berry, m(3) Edward Philip Brassell, d. 21 May 1956.

+56.  William Henry Powell, b.c. 1876, m. Lou Ella Berry.

  57.  Lillie Ester Powell, b.c. 1882.

  58.  Ollie Mae Powell, b.c. 1889, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Allbritton.

  59.  Beulah Powell, b.c. 1891.

  60.  Charlie Columbus Powell

  61.  J. B. Powell

 

CHILDREN OF MARY J. GRAVES (6) AND ISAAC SMITH

Henderson Augustus Smith (25) was born 27 Oct. 1854.  He married Mollie S. Towns on 6 June 1882.  She was born 7 Oct. 1856 (or 27 Aug. 1859).  (R‑6)

Children - Smith

  62.  Mamie Smith, d. 11 July 1968.

+63.  Towns L. Smith, b. 12 April 1883, m(1) ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Wilson, m(2) Adalaide Grover.

  64.  Kirby Smith, b. 1887.

  65.  Zella Smith, b. 1889, d. Feb. 1958.

 

Isaac Beauregard Smith (28) was born 9 July 1861.  He married Phoebe ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  (R‑6)

Children - Smith

  66.  George Smith, b. 1892.

  67.  Katie Smith, b. 1895.

  68.  child, b. 1897.

  69.  Roy Smith, b. 1900.

 

Addye Elizabeth Smith (34) was born 12 Feb. 1873 in Montgomery, MS, and died 2 May 1950 in Hattiesburg, Forrest Co., MS.  She graduated in 1893 from Blue Mountain College, MS.  She married John Benjamin Dorsett, son of ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Dorsett andAldora Ledbetter, on 4 Oct. 1904 in MS.  He was born 12 Dec. 1871 in Scott Co., MS, and died 12 Jan. 1923 in Wiggins, MS.  (R‑6)

Children - Dorsett

+70.  John Benjamin Dorsett, b. 5 Sept. 1905, m. Juanita ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1958.

  71.  Paul Vernon Dorsett, b. 25 Dec. 1906 (Wiggins, MS), d. 1 May 1952 (Wiggins, MS).

+72.  Elizabeth Virginia Dorsett, b. 25 Sept. 1909, m. Milton Lane, d. 29 Nov. 2001.

+73.  Russell Ledbetter Dorsett, b. 15 Jan. 1911, m. Sara Davis, d. 27 May 1957.

  74.  Alice Dorsett, stillborn 4 May 1912.

  75.  James Bennett Dorsett, b. 25 Nov. 1913 (Wiggins, MS), d. 27 March 1914 (Wiggins, MS).

+76.  Mary Aldora Dorsett, b. 13 Sept. 1918, m. Marvin Luther White, 20 March 1942, d. 8 May 1998.

 

Carrie Beatrice Smith (35) was born 5 July 1875 in MS, and died in 1931.  She married Henry Floyd Middleton.  He was born in 1870 and died in 1955.  (R‑6)

Children - Middleton

  77.  Lucille Middleton

+78.  J. Boyce Middleton, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

+79.  Jack Middleton, m. Lela Alred.

  80.  Berton Middleton

  81.  Ike D. Middleton

  82.  James C. Middleton

  83.  Elizabeth Middleton

+84.  Hermon Floyd Middleton, m. Erline Clayton.

  85.  Little Brown Middleton, b. 13 May 1896, d. 14 May 1896.

+86.  Mittie Mae Middleton, b. 1 May 1897, m(1) Fredrick Lamar Furr, 30 April 1922, m(2) Frank Webb, 1940, m(3) F. E. Webb, 1941, d. 30 Nov. 1990.

+87.  Elizabeth Middleton, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Furlough.

  88.  Henry Bennett Middleton, b. 8 July 1902, d. 19 May 1903.

  89.  John Quitman Middleton, b. 26 Aug. 1909, d. 9 Sept. 1911.

  90.  Dorothy Amelia Middleton, b. 1916, d. 30 Dec. 1916.

 

 

Elian Olian Smith (36) was born 15 April 1880 in Brookhaven, Lincoln Co., MS, and died 14 Dec. 1917 in Fredericksburg, TX.  He married Rosa Belle White on 28 April 1900 in Lincoln Co., MS.  She was living in 1962 at 804 West Main St., Fredericksburg, TX.  He was a superintendent with Texaco Oil Co.  (R‑6)

Children - Smith

  91.  Mary M. Smith, b. 26 Feb. 1901, d. 19 Dec. 1903.

 

Put Darden Smith (37) was born 6 May 1882 in Brookhaven, Lincoln Co., MS, and died 18 Dec. 1917 in Harris Co., TX.  He worked for Galena Signal Oil Co. in Galena Park, TX.  He married Florence Amelia Dungan, daughter of William Percy Dungan and Margaret Jane Foster, on 29 June 1910 in Copiah Co., MS.  She was born 7 Sept. 1876 in Conn, MS, and died 13 Aug. 1953 in Houston, TX.  They were both buried in Port Arthur, TX.  (R‑6)

Children - Smith

+92.  Doris Gladys Smith, b. 6 Feb. 1911, m. Chester Arlon Jeane, 22 June 1937.

  93.  Hubert Arnold Smith, died at 3 months of age.

+94.  Phillip Darden Smith, b. 7 June 1915, m. Bea ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. Dec. 1986.

 

CHILDREN OF AUGUSTUS E. GRAVES (7) AND NANCY J. FORD

Amanda ("Annie") Graves (38) was born about 1868.  She married Bee G. McGehee.  (R‑2)

Children - McGehee

  95.  Ervin McGehee

  96.  Elba McGehee

  97.  Robert McGehee

  98.  Ruesel (or Russell?) McGehee

  99.  Annie Bell McGehee

 

Junie Elizabeth Graves (40) was born 21 Dec. 1872, died 13 Jan. ----, and was buried in Lot Smith Cem., Lincoln Co., MS.  She married Rudolph W. Planchard.  (R‑2)

Children - Planchard

  100.  Mary Helen Planchard

  101.  George Planchard

  102.  child

  103.  Rudolph W. Planchard, Jr.

 

Norris Adolphus Graves (41) was born 1 Oct. 1874 in Lincoln Co., MS, died 11 Sept. 1944 in Bogalusa, Washington Parish, LA, and was buried in Smith's Cem., Wesson, MS.  He first married Lucretia Viola Lea, daughter of Thaddeus Allrasaw Lea and Permelia Foster, about 1897.  She was born 11 Oct. 1873 in MS.  They were listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses for Beat 2, Lincoln Co., MS.  All their children were born in MS.

He secondly married Laura Thornhill Causey.  They had no children.  (R‑1, R‑2)

Children - Graves, by Lucretia V. Lea

  104.  Rosalie Graves, b. Oct. 1898, m. Henry Floyd Middleton.  Her 1992 address: 721 Ave. G, Bogalusa, LA 70427.

  105.  infant, b.c. 1899.

+106.  Elmer A. Graves, b. 27 Sept. 1900, m(1) Addie Richards, m(2) Athelee Thomas, d. 12 April 1954.

+107.  John Birchie Graves, b.c. 1903, m. Rena Kingery, d. 2 July 1968.

+108.  Troy Norris Graves, b. 13 Nov. 1904, m. Zella Mae Thomas, 18 Dec. 1926, d. 30 Aug. 1984.

+109.  Mamie (or Mayme) Graves, b.c. 1908, m. Ernest Crumpton.

  110.  Fannie Graves, b.c. 1910.

  111.  Alma Mae Graves, b.c. 1910, m. Lewis (or Louis) Walker.  No children.

  112.  Child, d. by 4 May 1910.  (Could this be the same as #105?)

+113.  Lillian Louise Graves, b.c. 1912, m. David Brooks.

  114.  Mary Graves, b.c. 1915, died young.

 

CHILDREN OF COLUMBUS S. GRAVES (10) AND ROZELLA G. MOORE

Thomas Augustus Graves (45) was born 8 Sept. 1872, probably in Panola Co., MS, and died 24 Aug. 1939.  He married Katie Wise in Feb. 1894.  She was born in Nov. 1872 in MS.  (R‑3)

Children - Graves

  115.  John Hill (?) Graves, b. June 1895 (MS).

 

Ella Graves (46) was born 31 Oct. 1874, and died 3 April 1905, both probably in Panola Co., MS.  She married Samuel J. Hillhouse on 12 Jan. 1896.  He was born 30 June 1866 in Kemper Co., MS, and died 14 Dec. 1932.  They were both buried in Magnolia Cem., Batesville, Panola Co., MS.  (R‑3)

Children - Hillhouse

+116.  Mary Bea Hillhouse, b. 15 July 1898, m. Martin Green Deaton, d. 18 July 1996.

  117.  Maurine Hillhouse, b.c. 1902.

 

Charles Frederick Graves (51) was born 21 Oct. 1885, probably in Panola Co., MS, and died in June 1950.  He married Robbie Elizabeth Whitten, daughter of Robert Whitten and Ella Johnson, on 27 Dec. 1919 in Florence, AL.  She was born 4 March 1891 and died 17 Nov. 1966.  They were both buried in Magnolia Cem., Batesville, Panola Co., MS.  (R‑3)

Children - Graves

  118.  Rosella Virginia Graves, b. 29 April 1921, m. Wilfred Daugherty.

+119.  Charles Frederick Graves, Jr., b. 20 Dec. 1922, m. Edith Spears Nickle, d.c. 1997.

  120.  Robert Whitten Graves, b. 26 June 1925, m. Mary Alice Faulkner, d. 1 Sept. 1967.

  121.  Sara Pauline Graves, b. 9 May 1930, m. Taylor McElroy.

 

Percy V. Graves (52) was born 19 March 1888, probably in Panola Co., MS, and died 5 Aug. 1961.  He married Emma Goff Flint, daughter of Calvin Flint and Mary Gage, on 3 Dec. 1919 in Batesville, Panola Co., MS.  She was born 12 June 1896 and died 19 Nov. 1980.  They and their 3 sons were all buried in Magnolia Cem., Batesville.  (R‑3, R‑4)

Children - Graves

  122.  Percy V. Graves, Jr., b. 12 July 1921, d. 11 March 1998.  Cemetery marker shows Pvt., U.S. Army, World War II.

  123.  Edward (or Edwin) Flint Graves, b. 9 July 1929, d. 29 Sept. 1929.

  124.  Billy Gage Graves, b. 16 Dec. 1932, d. 19 May 1953.

 

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[1] Simpson Co., MS borders both Copiah Co. and Lawrence Co., where her parents lived.

[2] Although Braxton is in Simpson Co., perhaps the cemetery is across the county line in Rankin Co., MS.