James M. Graves (1821 - 1904)

Born 21 Jun 1821 in Tennessee

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Gibbs) Graves — married about 1847 (to 1895) in Tennessee

Descendants

Died 23 Dec 1904 at age 83 in Knox, Tennessee

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Biography

Name James Graves Gender Male Marriage Date 15 Apr 1847 Marriage Place Knox, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Nancy Gibbs

• Graveston Baptist Church Cemetery James M. Graves Birth: May 21, 1821 Knox County Tennessee, USA Death: Dec. 23, 1904 Knox County Tennessee, USA

The following story as told by Sarah Ann Graves Salling, 5th child of James and Nancy Gibbs Graves to her grandaughter, Ruby Zachary Corum: James and Nancy lived at the old Graves home on Tazewell Pike about 2.5 miles northeast of Gibbs High School, Corryton, TN. During the Civil War, Nancy stayed at the homeplace while her husband, James, son Linville and Crothers fought in the war. The story is that Nancy would barricade the doors and windows at night for protection from the soldiers. The food such as meal, flour, meat, and whatever else they had was hidden under a loosened board in the kitchen floor. This was a frightening experience for Nancy as well as her children because behind the home was a dense wooded area that separated her home from that of her father's, David Gibbs, on Emory Road, beside the present Clapp's Chapel Church, Corryton, TN. In these woods, the enemy camped many nights and as a child Sarah Ann would remember how the children would peep through the cracks to see the campfires. She also remembers the soldiers coming and begging for food and taking it if you had it. There was always pity for these young, tired men and Nancy would share her food with them, hoping that someone was also doing the same for her own. There were times when James and the others would be able to slip back by their home to see the family. The gun that James Graves carried during the war is still in my family's possession. My grandmother also remembers a young wounded soldier coming to the house and how her mother cleaned and dressed his wounds and hid him in the smoke house until he was strong enough to move on. After the war, James and his father, John, ran a small General Store at the homeplace. This store was later operated by Sarah Ann's husband, Joseph Arley Salling. http://www.gravesfa.org/gen105.htm

Sources

Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002

• 1850 Federal Census taken 11/14/1850, for Knox Co., TN:

James Graves, age 28, male, farmer, b. TN; Nancy Graves, age 29, female, b. TN; Linville Graves, age 1, male, b. TN; Elizabeth J. Graves, age 5/12, female, b. TN.

1870 Federal Census taken 8/26/1870, for Knox Co., TN, Church Grove P.O.: James Graves, age 49, male, white, b. TN; Nancy Graves, age 51, female, white, b. TN; Mary M. Graves, age 18, female, white, b. TN; William Graves, age 16, male, white, b. TN; Sarah Graves, age 14, female, white, b. TN; Adeline Graves, age 12, female, white, b. TN; Catherine Graves, age 8, female, white, b. TN.

1880 Federal Census for Knox Co., TN, taken 6/16/1880: James Graves, age 62, b. TN; Nancy Graves, age 60, b. NC; William Graves, age 25, b. TN; Sarah Graves, daughter, age 24, b. TN; Almedia Graves, daughter, age 21, b. TN.