Edmund D. Graves (abt. 1814 - 1887)

Born about 1814 in North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Amy Clark — married 23 Oct 1833 in Jackson, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 1887 at about age 73 in Nodaway County Missouri

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Biography

This profile is part of the Graves Name Study.

Our descent from James and Sarah Graves continues through their son Edmund D. Graves, who was born February 4, 1814 in North Carolina. He married October 13, 1833 in Jackson County Ohio Amy Clark. The marriage records of Jackson County show:

"State of Ohio, Jackson County ss: I do hereby certify that I did solemnize the a marriage contract Edmund Graves & Amy Clark, of a lawful age on the 23 Oct 1833 given under my hand the 30th Nov 1833 Henry Graves J.P."

Amy was a daughter of James Clark, who was one of the early settlers of Vinton County. She was born in 1813. She and Edmund had four children, Sarah, Jane, John and Albert, before she died October 2, 1840. Her tombstone at Salt Springs Cemetery lists her age as twenty-seven years, one month, and twenty-three days. Edmund married a second time around 1845 to Jane Jordan, a daughter of Charles and Irabella Jordan. She was born around 1826 in Ohio. They were the parents of three additional children, Charles, Irabella, and Martha. The 1850 Federal Census of Ohio found the family living in Harrison Township of Vinton County, nearby Edmund’s mother Sarah.

Edmund and his family moved from Vinton County to Stark County Illinois in 1854 and were pioneer settlers there. On this move they were accompanied by Edmund’s son in law, William Dixon, who had by then married his daughter Sarah Graves. A large number of Graves and other related families also moved to Stark County around this time. The 1860 Federal Census found Sarah and her husband William living with Edmund’s family. In an 1865 Illinois Census Edmund stated he owned livestock worth $687 and farm produce worth $1,200. In 1869 William and Sarah moved on to western Iowa, but Edmund remained in Stark County, where the 1870 Census found his family. In that record he stated he was a farmer, and owned real estate worth $7,500 and personal property worth $800. The 1880 Census showed them still living in Essex Township in Stark County, at which time Edmund listed his occupation as an “auctioneer”. Around 1885 Edmund and Jane moved with their son John Graves to Nodaway County Missouri. Edmund died there July 28th, 1887.and was buried at the Ohio Cemetery at Burlington Junction.

Information on Edmund is contained in the 1901 “Biographical History of Nodaway & Atchison County Missouri” in a sketch on their son John Graves. This states:

“John Graves was born in Vinton County Ohio, March 4, 1841, a son of Edmund and Amy (Clark) Graves. Edmund Graves was a son of James and Sarah Graves. James Graves was descended from English ancestors and was a native of Virginia. His wife also was born in the old dominion. They located early in that part of Jackson County Ohio, now included in Vinton County, and there lived their allotted days and passed away, and there also Edmund Graves grew up and married a daughter of James Clark, one of the early settlers in what is now Vinton County. Edmund and Amy (Clark) Graves had four children; Sarah, the wife of William Dickson of Davis County Iowa; Jane, who married Warren Chaffee and lives in Pottawatomie County Kansas; John and Albert, who is deceased. The mother, who was a model woman of goodness and a devout Methodist, died in Vinton County Ohio, when scarcely past middle age. The father married again and by his second marriage had three children; Eunice, who lives in Fort Worth Texas; Belle, who married J.W. Hall and also lives in the lone star state; and Charles, a well known resident of Nodaway County Missouri. Edmund Graves died in Missouri at the age of sixty nine years. Politically he was a Democrat. He was a devout and consistent member of the Methodist Church, a good neighbor, and a useful citizen. Edmund Graves was a pioneer in Stark County, Illinois, where he located with his family in 1854. John passed his childhood in Vinton County Ohio, and was thirteen years old when he was taken to Stark County Illinois, where he finished his education in the public schools and learned to do all kinds of farm work. He has vivid recollections to trips to Peoria, thirty miles away, where the grain raised on the Stark County farm was taken to market, and he also dressed pork there at two dollars a hundred weight. . . . Mr. Graves farmed in Stark County Illinois until 1885 when he sold his farm there and came to Nodaway County.”

Sources

• Census Records; 1901 Biographical History of Nodaway County Mo.