My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Webster County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Joshua H. Graves, dealer in hardware, agricultural implements and groceries, and son of Ira and Mary (Wilson) Graves, was born in Franklin County, Mass., January 12, 1835. His father was born in 1781, and died in Michigan in 1868, while on a visit in that State. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother was born in the latter part of the last century, and died in Pennsylvania at more than eighty-five years of age. She began going to school in 1800. The paternal grandfather, Ira Graves, was born on the New England coast, and died in New Hampshire at an advanced age. Joshua H. Graves was the third of nine children born to his parents, four of whom are living. At the early age of seven years he was put to work in a cutlery factory in Massachusetts, and there remained for about three years. At the age of ten years he was bound out to a farmer for five years, but he only served about one-half of that time, when he returned to the factory mentioned above. Here he remained until fifteen years of age, and then with his parents moved to Pennsylvania, where he worked on a farm until May 16, 1861. He then enlisted in Company C, of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, and in August of the same year he was transferred to the (Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania) United States troops. He was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., was at the battle of Antietam, and in all was in twenty-two engagements. He was honorably discharged, as sergeant, February 15, 1864, and came to Marshfield in 1868, where he has since resided. He assisted in building the court-house of Webster County. Mr. Graves then engaged in the furniture business, which he continued until 1883, and has since been occupied in his present business. He was married in May, 1867, to Miss Hannah S. Hogle, a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., born in 1844, and the daughter of John Hogle. Two children, Myrtle, born in 1871, and Clara, born in 1882, were the result of Mr. and Mrs. Graves’ marriage. Mr. Graves is a Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for J. C. Fremont. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is an excellent citizen. Mrs. Graves is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 110 biographies included in The History of Webster County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Webster County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Webster County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.