Goodspeed's Biography of Benjamin F. Graves, Grant Co, AR

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Submitted by: Jackie Dill <JJDILL1@aol.com>
        Date: 27 Jul 2003

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Benjamin F. Graves, known throughout Merry Green Township as a
farmer and stock raiser of prominence, was born January 20, 1847, in
Saline County, Ark., and is the son of J. R. Graves, who came to
Arkansas when a young man and located in what is now Saline County,
having lived in adjoining counties ever since.  He has been married
three times; his present wife was formerly Miss Sophronia Baggett,
and she is highly esteemed and beloved by her step-children, who
speak in the most exalted terms of her.  B. F. Graves remained with
his father until he grew to maturity, receiving all the advantages
of education that could be obtained at that time, and on January 9,
1870, he married Miss Georgia A. Ward, of Grant County.  Mrs.
Graves, a daughter of Thomas and Martha Ward, formerly of South
Carolina, was reared and educated in Saline County.  After his
marriage Mr. Graves moved to Simpson Township and remained there
until 1888.  He then sold out and bought where he now resides, here
having 160 acres of land with about ninety-five cleared and
cultivated.  A good frame house and other buildings are among the
improvements he has made, and quite recently has built a large
addition.  Mr. and Mrs. Graves are the parents of seven children,
and have adopted two orphans whom they are carefully educating with
their own little ones.  Their names are: L. Augustus, Martha S.,
Sophia D., Aphens T., John T., George and Benjamin.  The names of
the orphans are Alta Bell Ward and Martha Castilla.  Mr. and Mrs.
Graves and three of the children are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Sheridan, and he belongs to the Agricultural
Wheel, in which he is steward.