Person:Nathaniel Graves (7)

The following biography of Nathaniel Graves was written by his grandson, Daunton Gibbs, noted local historian in Washington Parish, Louisiana, in his booklet "Masonic History Dealing with the Lives of Officers and Members of Lodge 101, Franklinton, LA 1851-1951." Some of the details with respect to Nathaniels' early life and parentage may require further research, but Mr Gibbs' account should nevertheless be of some interest to Graves' descendants. [submitted by: Bevin J. Creel. I have made editorial comments in square brackets.]

Nathaniel Graves was born March 31, 1824 along the Amite River in Amite County, Mississippi. His father was one of three brothers who came from England shortly after 1800. One of the brothers named Tom Graves settled at Jonesville in Simpson County another settled near Pascagoula and Nathaniel's father married a Staines from near Hazlehurst and settled in Amite County. Nathaniel's mother died when he was young. Nathaniel and his brother Tom, the only two children, were raised by their Aunt, Mrs. Punice Smith who lived in present day Walthall County on the south side of where Magees Creek empties into Bogue Chitto River. Nathaniel's brother Tom studied medicine, and as a Physician, settled at Hazlehurst. Nathaniel married Arcada Magee, daughter of Benjamin Magee who lived on the present day Donald Warren place about two miles north of Clifton along the present day Tylertown Highway. Nathaniel and Arcada settled on what is now known as the "Sand Bed George" place about a mile north of Benjamin Magee's place where they lived their entire married lives. Nathaniel and Arcada, through Arcada's father, Benjamin Magee and her grandfather, William Magee I [sic. BJC], became extensive land owners. Included in their holdings was the original section of land settled by William Magee I [sic. BJC] about 1800. The Hayes Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery is located on this section. [...] Nathaniel Graves served on the Washington Parish Police Jury many years. He was known in his community as the "Peacemaker" in that he acted as mediator in disputes arising among his neighbors. He was the only deacon in the old Half-Moon Bluff Baptist Church after it moved from it's first site along the banks of Bogue Chitto River back of the Ferd Magee place to it's second and last location which was about where the present H.E. Foil home now stands. [sic. The location of the first Half Moon Baptist Church was, indeed, on the banks of Bogue Chitto River, but never moved the .5 miles to the east, to the Hugh Foil place. After first Half Moon entirely ceased to exist, a second church also named Half Moon was located on the Foil place many years afterward. The second Half Moon Bluff Baptist Church was NOT a reconstitution of the first church. BJC] About the time of the Civil War, Nathaniel Graves was chiefly responsible for the Half-Moon Bluff Church disbanding and moving to Hayes Creek where it became known as the Hayes Creek Baptist Church. He donated four acres of land for the church and cemetery. The cemetery had been in existence since the time of his grandfather, William Magee I [sic. BJC] Nathanil Graves served as the only deacon in the Hayes Creek Baptist Church for a good many years. Finally Bro. M. J. (Mac) Pittman was elected to serve with him. The building for the church was erected by Nathaniel Graves and his neighbors. It was a frame building. It was equipped with hand hewn benches arranged in four sections. Three sections of the benches were set aside for the use of the white people and the foursth section was reserved for the slaves of which Nathaniel Graves owned a considerable number. After the Civil War ended, Nathaniel reminded the colored people that they were now free and that they should withdraw from the white church and form their own church. All of the colored people agreed to withdraw except one old colored woman named Aunt Mary Henderson. Aunt Mary declared that she had always been with the white people and she preferred to remain with them. Her name was not stricken from the rolls and she died a member of the Hayes Creek Baptist Church. The rest of the colored people withdrew from the white church and formed the Jerusalem Colored Church which today stands just south of the Hayes Creek Baptist Church. This was one of the first colored churches organized in Washington Parish. During the Civil War Nathaniel Graves enlisted in the Home Guard at Franklinton. This was an organization set up to preserve law and order at home since most of the younger men were away in the Confederate Army. Brother Nathaniel Graves was made a Master Mason in Lodge 101 in Franklinton on January 4, 1862. He served the Lodge as Junior Deacon during the year of 1863 and as Tyler during the year of 1867. During Bro. Graves life as a Mason, one regular lodge meeting a month was held and this was on Saturday. Lodge opened at ten oclock in the morning and frequently was in session all day and sometimes was called back to labor at seven oclock at night. Despite the fact that Bro. Graves lived ten miles from Franklinton and it was necessary for him to make the trip by horseback, he was regular in attendance at the Lodge. He attended the last regular meeting of the lodge held before his death. This last regular meeting before his death was on April 1, 1893 and he died on May 4, 1893. He served on many lodge committees throughout his Masonic life. After the death of his wife, Arcada in 1891, Nathaniel Graves left his home north of Franklinton and moved in with his son, Bro. T. J. Graves who lived just north of the Hayes Creek Baptist Church. He died here on May 4, 1893 and was buried in the Hayes Creek Cemetery. Lodge 101 drew up Resolutions of Respect in memory of Bro. Graves. A copy of the resolutions was mailed to his family and another copy was published in the Franklinton New Era.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Tombstone photo, Hays Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Washington Parish, Louisiana, at www.findagrave.com.
2. ↑ Obituary of Nathaniel Graves, in Russ Williams, "Abstracts of Obituaries from the Minutes of the Magee's Creek Baptist Association," 31.

   Nathaniel Graves was one of the oldest and most devoted brothers of the church. He was born March 31st 1864 [sic, 1824]; he died May 4, 1893. He united with the New Zion Baptist Church in August 1864, afterward drew his letter and was one of the six members who constituted old Halfmoon Bluff church on July 7th, 1866, and was ordained a deacon of the same, Oct. 31st, 1868. The church moved its locality and changed its name to that of Hays Creek. In Nov., 1880, the Magee's Creek Association was organized and he was elected Treasurer and served faithfully until his death. He leaves 9 children, besides grandchildren and many relatives and friends to mourn his death. The funeral was conducted by Elds. T. C. Corkern and W. J. Fortenberry. He was laid in the family cemetery.