Barbour County AlArchives Biographies.....Barzillai Graves March 12 1802 - September 21 1867
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 12, 2004, 10:28 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   GEN. BARZILLAI GRAVES, one of the most highly respected and best beloved of
the early citizens of Alabama, was born in Caswell county, N. C., March 12,
1802, and died September 21, 1867. He belonged to a family all of whom stood
high in the estimation of their fellow-citizens in his native state. He was one
of six brothers, all of whom preceded him to the tomb. He received his education
at the university of North Carolina, located at Chapel Hill, and afterward
studied law in the school of Judge Henderson, located, it is believed, at
Hillsborough, Orange county, this state. Immediately after being admitted to the
bar, he was made solicitor of the judicial circuit, and continued to practice
law until his removal to Newton county, Ga., about 1832. His habits were those
of a student and he was greatly devoted to learning and general politics. While
Gen. Graves was not an exceptionally brilliant man, yet he was well informed,
supremely honest in his modes of thought, cautious in his argument,
self-reliant, courteous and dignified, earnest, calm and logical. He was not so
much a literary man as he was a scholarly gentleman. His reading was not so
extensive as it was deep and thorough. While his perceptions were not so quick
as is sometimes the case in others, yet they were extremely and surprisingly
accurate, and as may be inferred, from what has already been stated, his
reasoning powers were more highly developed than were the faculties of his
imagination; or, in other words, his emotional nature was in subordination to,
his intellectual nature, which resulted in a kind of character more and more
demanded by modern conditions of life-a model worthy of the most careful study,
respect and admiration. His judgment of men and things was rarely equaled and
still more rarely excelled. Owing, however, to his patrician family, education
and associations, his manners were somewhat senatorial and severe-too much so
for popular controversies. While in the usual acceptation he was not an orator,
which is implied in the subordination of his emotional nature, yet he was an
effective speaker and a most troublesome antagonist in debate. He was a great
admirer of the forensic abilities of Daniel Webster, and was very fond of
reading to his young friends extracts from that great statesman's speeches in
jury trials, and of pointing out their complete finish and great power. He was a
most earnest Union man and a warm admirer and fast friend of Gen. Andrew
Jackson. He was present at the second nullification meeting ever held in
Georgia, probably in 1832. The occasion was one of great excitement and one
which proved the quality of his courage to a most eminent degree. Col. Thomas F.
Foster, then a member of congress from Georgia, Mirabeau B. Lamar, brother of
Associate Justice Lamar, John J. Floyd, a man of subtlety, learning and
tenacity, and Rev. Alexander Means, M. D., LL. D., all took part in the debate,
and all were in favor of nullification. The multitude was carried away with
their eloquence and went wild with enthusiasm. Gen. Graves stood alone in favor
of the Union and in defense of Andrew Jackson, and, like President Jackson, he
stood calmly, bravely, grandly defying the storm of fierce partisan passion that
assailed him. He was denounced as a "Federalist" and false to his section, but
the most vehement threats of personal violence failed to silence him. And he
bore himself through this most trying ordeal with propriety, dignity and
courage, conscious of the correctness of his position, which has been
overwhelmingly justified by subsequent events. Gen. Graves was married July 13,
1837, to Miss Sarah M. Goneke, of Athens, Ga., with whom he lived until his
death in the most happy relations. Shortly after his marriage he was appointed
one of the trustees of the university of Georgia, and in that position zealously
and faithfully served the cause of education. About this time he removed to
southwest Georgia and for six or seven years devoted himself to the pursuit of
agriculture. Twice he represented his senatorial district in the state
legislature with his usual zeal and accustomed ability. In 1844 he was a
district elector on the Polk and Dallas ticket, and after the presidential
election of that year he was frequently mentioned in democratic newspapers and
in private conversation as a most eminently proper person for governor of the
state; but he by this time came to regard all official honors with indifference,
and it was understood that he was averse to the excitements and labors of
political life. His name, therefore, was not submitted. About this time a more
absorbing theme than any connected with earthly honors took possession of his
mind and heart, and that was the salvation of his soul. While he had always been
a gentleman, exemplary in his speech and manners toward believers and
unbelievers, yet he had not always been a believer himself in the gospel of
Christ. He had been a quiet, not an obtrusive and noisy, skeptic. A change now
came over his thoughts and convictions, the result being a thorough conversion
in faith and practice. He formed a connection with the Baptist church, and to
the day of his death he remained a bright and shining example of Christian zeal
and charity. In the fall of 1851 he removed to Tuskegee, Macon county, Ala., for
the purpose of educating his four children, all of whom survived him, but only
three of whom are at present living. His health, never robust, had now become
considerably impaired, but still in his worldly affairs he continued industrious
and successful. Through all the troubled and exciting years immediately
preceding and during the great Civil war; he remained, as he ever had been, one
of the most active, earnest and zealous of southern democrats. Thus he lived
until the day of his death, respected and beloved by all. During the month of
September, 1867, he returned from his plantation, in Butler county, to his home
near Tuskegee, in better than usual health, as he thought; but a chill came upon
him which was soon followed by a high fever, which all too quickly terminated in
his death. His widow survived him until 1880, and the three children who still
remain are Rev. W. W. Graves, a Baptist minister, located at Bristol, Tex.;
Capt. E. L. Graves and Sallie, wife of L. J. Threadgill. Capt. E. L. Graves was
born May 11, 1845, in Randolph county, Ga., and in 1862, at the earnest
solicitation of his father, who desired to prevent him from entering the
southern army, he became a student in the university of Alabama; but setting
aside paternal authority, he joined company B, Col. Swanson's regiment, as a
private soldier. He was soon promoted to first sergeant, and he subsequently
became captain of his company. His term of service was principally with the army
of Lee in Virginia. He participated in the battle of the Wilderness, of
Winchester and of Gaines's Mill, in which latter he was in charge of a corps of
sharpshooters, and while on picket duty was struck by a minie ball in the ankle,
which so disabled him that he was compelled to retire from active service. From
that time to the surrender he acted as enrolling officer at Montgomery, Ala. For
some time after the war he was engaged in educational work at Brooklyn, Conecuh
county, whence he removed to Barbour county, where he has since resided as a
successful planter. In the meantime he has taught school at Fort Deposit,
Lowndes county, and while there he organized a military company of which he
became captain. He takes an active interest in political matters, and is now
serving as a justice of the peace. He is master of Ebenezer lodge, No. 210, F. &
A. M., and is a deacon in the Baptist church. He was married in. Barbour county,
in April, 1867, to Miss Carrie Hamilton, daughter of Joel Hamilton, and to this
marriage has been born one son, E. H. Graves, now pursuing his literary studies
with a view of entering the legal profession.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama"


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