Untitled Surnames: Bates, Arnold, Ray, Taft, McFall, Coates, Roddick, Singe, Lathrop, Dietzman, Culver, Shipton

From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 116-117

BENJAMIN A. GRAVES, a venerable farmer of Harrison township, Grant county, whose years command the respect his character deserves, was born in Mercer county, Penn., Dec. 11, 1823, a son of Roswell and Mary A. (BATES) GRAVES.

Roswell GRAVES was born in New Haven, Conn., and his wife in Virginia. They were married in Mercer county, Penn., where Mrs. GRAVES' father, Christian BATES, was living. Roswell GRAVES was educated by his parents, Roswell and Lucy (ARNOLD) GRAVES, of New Haven, Conn. (the latter a sister of Benedict Arnold), and was a teacher in early life. He lived in Pennsylvania, following farming and teaching, until 1852, when he came to Grant county, Wis., and took charge of the County Poor Farm. He acted in this capacity for some ten years, and then moved to Crawford county, Wis., where he bought a farm, and spent his remaining years in its cultivation. He and his wife died some years ago. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and frequently filled the pulpit as a local preacher. He held a number of local offices, and was justice of the peace for many years. Mr. and Mrs. GRAVES reared a numerous family, all born in Mercer county, Penn.: Elizabeth, their eldest daughter, was married in her native county to Alanson TAFT, and they came West, settling in Crawford county, Wis., where she died, leaving a family who still reside in that section of Wisconsin; Benjamin A. is the eldest son; the others were named Lucy, Joab, Rhoda, Roswell, Almira, Alanson, John and Mary.

Mr. GRAVES received a district school education in Mercer county, Penn. In 1842 he married Miss Lurancy RAY, of Kinsman, Ohio, the daughter of George and Lucinda RAY, of Vermont, who moved to Ohio at an early day, and from there to Wisconsin by wagon. They settled in Grant county, and after a few years journeyed still farther West, to Fayette county, Iowa, where they died, full of years and honor. Mrs. GRAVES was born in Cattaraugus county, N.Y., in 1828, and was quite young when taken by her parents into Ohio, where he education was mostly obtained. She was an ambitious and capable girl, and taught winter school several years after coming to Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. GRAVES moved to this State soon after their marriage, and after one or two changes made the locating in Harrison township, which has proved so desirable that they occupy it to this day. He bought 107 acres of George McFALL. At the time of purchase this farm was but little improved, but Mr. and Mrs. GRAVES have converted it into one of the most desirable tracts in Grant county.

Mr. GRAVES enlisted in Company K, 44th Wis. V.I., and served under Gen. Thomas in the Army of the Tennessee. He was discharged in August, 1865, and came home to his wife and the eight children he had left on the farm. He has continued his residence on this place to the present time, and here he and his worthy wife are enjoying a full share of the comforts of life in their declining years. They are the parents of ten children, of whom Joab and Lorenzo died in childhood. George was born in Ohio in 1843, married Miss Harriet COATES, of Grant county, and is now a resident of Fennimore. Roswell, born in Grant county in 1848, married Miss Sarah COATES, a sister of the wife of his brother George, and settled on his farm in Ellenboro township, where he died in April, 1900, leaving a wife and three children, Jesse, Benjamin R. (both the engineers on the Western railroad) and Dove. Mary A., born in Grant county in 1850, married William RODDICK, and settled on a farm in Ellenboro, where he died in 1887, leaving her with two children, Mabel and Millie; she died in April, 1900, and her children live in the old home. Arnold GRAVES was born in Grant county in 1852, married Rosella SINGE, and now resides on his farm in Harrison township; they have one daughter, Glenny. Martha, born in Grant county in 1854, married Cassius LATHROP, of Crawford county, where they now live; they have four children, Lester, Fern, Flossie, and Loren. Lucy, born in 1858, is now the wife of Jacob DIETZMAN, of Crawford county, and the mother of six children, Ethel, Orra, Elva, Laverne, Claude and Clyde. Lurinda, born in February, 1862, is the wife of Timothy CULVER, a Harrison township farmer, and has two children, Lela and Leda. Hattie, the youngest daughter, was born in September, 1864, was educated in the Platteville Normal, and for several years was a successful teacher of Grant county; she married Jasper SHIPTON, of Grant county, and located in Wapello, Iowa, where he kept a hotel; both died in April, 1900 - a melancholy instance of the frequent coming of the dread archer, four deaths occurring in the family within a short time.

Mr. GRAVES has always been a Republican. He was treasurer of the school district for four years, and a constable in the town of Harrison a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. GRAVES are among the old-time prominent families of Wisconsin, and are well known and highly respected. Their many acts of charity and kindness have been felt in many homes in this community, and they are widely respected and beloved.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck