Person:Jonathan Graves (6)

Jonathan Webb Graves biography

By great-great granddaughter Tammy L. Hensel

Jonathan Webb Graves, son of Alvin Chauncey Graves and Elizabeth "Betsy" Webb was born September 28, 1830. He was 6th among 11 children. The family moved to Missouri when he was still a young child. At age 16 he learned the print business.

He married Sarah Caroline Inman (1839-1924), daughter of William Ritchie Inman and Minerva Adeline Kellogg, on 18 September 1855. When the American Civil War broke out. Missouri was very divided, and that division reached into the Graves family, with some of the brothers fighting for the Confederacy and others for the Union. Jonathan opted for the former, enlisting in the Third Missouri Cavalry of the Confederate Army in 1860. He soon became a lieutenant, eventually achieving the rank of Major. At the battle of Pea Ridge (March 7–8, 1862), northeast of Fayetteville, Arkansas, he fought against his brother, Major Alvin Chauncey Graves, Jr. (who was killed January 8, 1863 at the Second Battle of Springfield, Missouri).

In A History of Young County, author Carrie Crouch records: "In one engagement a number of troops from Illinois were captured and Lt. Graves with sixteen men, was sent to exchange the prisoners at Federal headquarters. A Federal detachment under Captain Charles Foster joined the escort when it reached northern lines. Near Lexington, Missouri, the combined forces were met by Charles Quantrell and his band of guerrillas, who demanded the northern prisoners and Captain Foster. Lt. Graves stepped forward, called Quantrell by name and told him that never would the prisoners be turned over to him, never except over dead bodies. After the war the Federal government began a search for the brave lieutenant to present him with a medal, but it was 25 years later when he was located in the printing office of the Graham Leader."

Apparently, Jonathan's family received the mistaken word that he had been killed in action, possibly at Pea Ridge. Another brother, George, who had stayed in Missouri to look after his mother and brothers' families, married Jonathan's wife Sarah, who believed herself to be a widow with two small children. They had one son together, James Webb Graves. George then joined the Union side, serving as an officer in the 16th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry.

When Jonathan returned alive after the war, George and Sarah's marriage was probably annulled. There is no actual record of the marriage or annulment, but it was Missouri in 1862, a time of chaos and disorder. Record keeping was not at it's best, so we rely on oral history for proof of the marriage.

Soon after Jonathan's return from the war, he and Sarah moved to Cleburne, Texas, where he worked as editor for the Cleburne Chronicle Newspaper. George remained in Missouri and married again. James Webb Graves was raised by his grandparents, but later joined his mother and uncle in Texas.

in 1876, Jonathan founded the Graham Leader newspaper in Graham, Young County, which is still in operation (in 2024) and one of the longest running newspapers in Texas.

Jonathan and Sarah had 11 children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. He died April 3, 1911 and is buried Oak Grove Cemetery in Graham.

Sources: Family recordsand oral history.

 Genealogy of the Graves family in America by John Card Graves  (Buffalo [New York]: Baker, Jones, 1896-[1944?]

A History of Young County, by Carrie Crouch. (Austin, Texas: Texas State Historical Association, 1956)

1870 United States Federal Census

1880 United States Federal Census

1900 United States Federal Census

1910 United States Federal Census

3rd Missouri Cavalry (CSA) (Civil War)|Graves, Jonathan]]

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Memorial #46999663

Graves Family Associate Website Genealogies https://graves-fa.org

Portal to Texas History - The Graham Leader https://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/GANC/

Portal to Texas History - The Graham Leader archived copies https://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/GANC/browse/

1.   Graves, John Card. Genealogy of the Graves family in America. (Buffalo [New York]: Baker, Jones, 1896-[1944?]).
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Find A Grave.

   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46999663
   Birth: Sep. 29, 1830
   Indiana, USA
   Death: Apr. 3, 1911
   Graham
   Young County
   Texas, USA
   
   Jonathan W. Graves moved to Missouri as a child and began work as a printer at 16 years. Graves married in 1855 to Sarah Caroline Inman, a 16 year old girl of Springfield, Missouri. This union had 11 children. J.W. Graves was born in Indiana and fought in the Civil War. He was an officer in the Cavalry under the service of Marmaduke & Price in the Trans-Mississippi Department. In 1868, J.W. Graves established the Cleburne Chronicle at Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas and moved to Graham, Texas in 1876. Graves founder and was the first editor of The Graham Leader issuing its first paper on 16 August 1876. The Graham Leader continues to be the oldest newspaper in Northwest Texas. The newspaper has missed only one issue in its history. Graves was a Methodist and a member of the Masonic Order reaching the level of Royal Arch Mason. He was worshipful master of the Graham Lodge as well as a charter member.
   
   3rd Missouri, Cavalry, Company A.
   Confederate Soldier of America
   
   J.W. Graves with 50 men of his regiment under a flag of truce during the Civil War saved the lives of 16 men of the 1st Iowa Cavalry from certain death at the hands of guerrillas. J.W. Graves received a fascinating award for his meritorious service to the Union Army for mercy beyond the call of duty even though he was serving as a Confederate Soldier.
   
   Family links:
   Spouse:
   Sarah Caroline Inman Graves (1839 - 1924)
   
   Children:
   Jesse Rena Graves McCloud (1887 - 1954)*
   
   *Point here for explanation
   
   Burial:
   Oak Grove Cemetery
   Graham
   Young County
   Texas, USA

3.   Crouch, Carrie Johnson. A history of Young County, Texas. (Austin, Texas: Texas State Historical Association, 1956).