My Genealogy Hound

Nathaniel Lee Graves, a Tennesseean by birth, has been a resident of this county since four years of age. He was born in Giles County, Tenn., in 1836, being a son of Alexander and Ann (Graves) Graves, natives of Granville County, N. C, and Henry County, Va., respectively, representatives of two distinct families. Alexander Graves came to Arkansas in 1840, and located in Phillips County, where he was engaged in farming until his death in 1863, his wife following one year later. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are still living. The principal of this sketch was first married in March, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Boone, a daughter of O. C. Boone, a lineal descendant of the noted Daniel Boone. She died in 1876, leaving two sons: Alexander W. and Nathaniel J. Mr. Graves was married to his second wife, Florence Carson, a native of Natchez, Miss., April 1, 1878. Mr. Graves owns a fine farm of 2,560 acres of land situated thirteen miles west of Helena, of which 1,300 acres are under cultivation. His principal crop is cotton, and he grows of this product from five to seven hundred bales per annum. He also raises considerable stock, having on hand at the present time about seventy head of horses, 125 head of cattle and 300 sheep. On his plantation there are fifty colored families and eight white families of laborers engaged in the operation of this immense plantation. Mr. Graves also owns and operates his own steam cotton-gin. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor and of the United Workman. He and wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Mr. Graves is one of the most influential men in the county, and takes an active interest in all public enterprises.