Graves Collection

Location – Missouri Mines Historic Site at Flat River, MO in St. Joe State Park.

Collection made by Fayette P. Graves of New York who came to work as a bookkeeper for St. Joseph Lead Co. mines in the 1860’s. He later became General Supt. Of Doe Run Lead Co. In his travels he amassed a valuable and unique collection of minerals and gems, as well as weapons of ancient and medieval nations, coins, stamps, and autobiographies of famous people. His collection, some say, could only be duplicated by that of the Smithsonian.

At the museum in Flat River is his collection of minerals and precious stones, some 923 in number. Among them is part of a meteorite. [It should be noted that a portion of the Collection of Fayette P. Graves was displayed at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904.]

Biographical Sketch of Fayette P. Graves
as published in Goodspeed's History of Southeast Missouri, 1888

Fayette P. Graves, one of the enterprising spirits that developed the resources of the Doe Run Lead Mines, was born in Rochester, N.Y., January 17, 1848, and is the only child now living born to the union of William H. and Julia (Parsons) Graves, who died when Fayette P. Graves was quite a little child. The latter, after death of his parents, was sent to Hillsdale, Mich., by his uncle, and while there attened the high schools until the age of sixteen. He then went to Massachusetts and when eighteen years of age had his first experience in lead mining at Southampton in that State. He also, during his stay in that State, attended the Williston Seminary at Easthampton, walking to and from the mines a distance of eight miles daily, but before completing the entire course, left school and came to Missouri, where he was engaged in the employ of the St Joe Lead Company, in 1868, at what is now known as Bonne Terre. After working in the mills for about two years, he then took a position in the office where he remained from 1870 to 1887 as cashier. He then moved to Doe Run, Mo., having resigned his position with the St. Joe Lead Company, and connected himself with Doe Run Lead Company, where he still remains as assistant superintendent, secretary and one of the stockholders in the firm. In 1871, while at Bonne Terre, he married Miss Mary E. Woodside, and to them were born five children, three now living: John B, Gertrude and Fayette P. Mr. Graves is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the A.O.U.W. He and wife are also members of the Congregational Church at Bonne Terre, Mo. He affiliates with the Republican party in his political views. During his entire stay at Bonne Terre, Mr. Graves was sick but thirty days, and in the nineteen years of business at that place lost but four months of time.

FABULOUS MINERAL AND GEM COLLECTION OF FAYETTE P. GRAVES, DOE RUN, MISSOURI.
Fayette P. Graves	View of portion of Graves Collection