BIOGRAPHY: J. K. Graves
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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Honorable J. K. GRAVES, of Dubuque, was born in Keene, N.H., 
September 29, 1837. He removed to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1854, 
and from thence to Dubuque at the close of 1855, from which period upto 
the Fall of 1858, he occupied a responsible position in a prominent 
banking house. 
 
In 1858 he commenced a banking business on his own account, under 
the firm name of J. K. Graves & Co., and in 1859 took part in the 
organization of the Dubuque branch of the State Bank of Iowa, in which 
the business of his own firm was soon merged, and subsequently he 
became vice-president and general manager of this bank, and was also 
a member of the Board of Control of the State Bank of Iowa. 
 
During the early days of the rebellion he was appointed post 
quartermaster at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, with the rank of colonel, 
having at one time nearly six thousand men in camp. 
 
In 1866 he built and finished the Key City Gas Works, by which the City 
of Dubuque is now lighted, and of which company he is now president 
and director, and also a large stockholder. 
 
In 1867 he was elected Mayor of the City of Dubuque, upon the 
Republican ticket, having a majority of 248 over his Democratic 
opponent, which considering the fact that Dubuque is a strong 
Democratic city, spoke well for Mr. Graves' popularity. 
 
The first (we believe) steam fire engine used in Iowa was purchased by 
the City of Dubuque and named the J. K. Graves, and Mr. Graves, in 
recognition of the compliment, donated his official salary as mayor to the 
fire department. 
 
In 1868 Mr. Graves took a very active part in the organization and 
construction of the Dubuque Street Railway, of which company he was 
and is still the president, and also a director and large stockholder. 
 
Mr. Graves was on of the principal parties in the organization of the 
National State Bank, of which he was cashier and subsequently vice 
president, and which bank succeeded to the business of the Dubuque 
Branch Bank. He was also largely interested in the organization of the 
First National Bank, of which he was also for several years vice-
president. He occupied an important part in the organization of the 
Commercial National Bank, in which he is still a director and stockholder. 
 
Mr. Graves owned and for some years operated the Dubuque Shot 
Tower, but finally disposed of the "Tower" to the St. Louis company, and 
conceived the idea of using a mineral shaft for making shot, and put the 
idea in practical operation, enabling one with an investment of a few 
thousand dollars to manufacture shot in competition with the ordinary 
"tower," where hundreds of thousands were required in the construction. 
 
Mr. Graves has always identified himself with the varied manufacturing 
interests of Dubuque, and aided liberally in promoting her general growth 
and prosperity. 
 
In 1870 Mr. Graves was induced to turn his attention to the construction 
of a new railroad outlet from Dubuque to Chicago, and was elected 
president of the Chicago, Clinton and Dubuque Railroad Company, the 
road of which is now in successful operation from Dubuque to Clinton, 60 
miles along the west bank of the Mississippi River. He was also elected 
president of the Chicago, Dubuque & Minnesota Railroad Company, the 
construction of whose railroad was actively commenced within ten days 
thereafter, and rapidly prosecuted to completion, extending along the 
west bank of the Mississippi from Dubuque to La Crescent, Minnesota, 
with a branch extending up Turkey River from the main line to the west 
boundary of Fayette County to the Iowa Pacific Junction. 
 
Mr. Graves is also president of the Iowa Pacific Railroad company whose 
line extends from the above junction westerly via Fort Dodge to Onawa, 
on the Missouri River, now mostly grated and partly ironed. 
 
Mr. Graves has traveled extensively in this country, including a trip 
across the Plains to New Mexico, as a special commissioner appointed 
by the Department of the Interior to hold council with 6,000 Navajos 
Indians, Union prisoners of war at Fort Sumner, in the Southern part of 
New Mexico. He has also visited Europe and the continent twice. 
 
As an active, enterprising citizen Mr. Graves has taken a deep interest 
and pride in the development, growth and prosperity of Iowa and 
whatever he undertakes is prosecuted with energy and vigor.