John Gragg was born in Cocke County, Tennessee 14 February 1810; died in Clay County, Missouri 28 July 1881, and is buried there in Barry Cemetery.An obituary quoted by George Gragg for John's sister Mahala states that she "was one of twenty-one children." John first married in Clay County, Missouri 16 January 1838 (Book A, #591), Elizabeth Ford.They had five known children.
In 1819 when John was nine years old, the Gragg family moved from Tennessee to Missouri Territory settling in the area that became Ray County.They moved to the newly organized Clay County in 1824.John's father died in 1824, and his half-brother Benjamin was appointed his guardian.During the years 1829 through 1839, John received six Clay County Land Grants, totaling 400 acres.He was a farmer, and lived in Clay County's Gallatin Township.
Little is known of Malinda.From George Gragg's research ". .it has been said that this couple had two daughters. . . " The 1850 Census records show that John's Mother, Betsy, lived with them - as did his sister Mahala.Mahala, who never married, continued to make her home with this family--probably until her brother John died in 1881. Mahala was born 3 February 1814; died 19 February 1885, and is buried in Barry Cemetery in Clay County, Missouri.It is she who mentioned her niece, Mrs. Mode Dresslaer, in her Will.
