Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Graves, Robert B 1832 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 8, 2007, 11:53 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

ROBERT B. GRAVES has been closely identified with the farming and stock-
raising interests of Will County for a quarter of a century, and has been no 
unimportant factor in extending its agriculture, and thus in promoting the 
material prosperity of this part of the country. He owns and is successfully 
managing a fine farm in Plainfield Township, that is well stocked, and is well 
improved in point of cultivation, and supplied with neat and substantial 
buildings. Mr. Graves is a veteran of the late war, in which he did honorable 
service as a brave and patriotic soldier, and in commemoration of that 
eventful period of his life and of his country's history he is now a respected 
member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Bartleson's Post, No. 
6. Our subject's native place is among the beautiful hills of Orange County, 
Vt., in Williamstown, December 18, 1832, being the date of his birth. He comes 
of sterling New England stock, and his father, David Graves, was a native of 
Massachusetts, as was also his father. The latter removed from the old Bay 
State to Vermont in the early years of its settlement and became a pioneer of 
the State. The father of our subject was but a boy when his parents went to 
the Green Mountain State to hew a new home from the wilderness, and he was 
there reared and married, Amelia Persons, a native of that State, becoming his 
wife. He resided in Williamstown until 1845, and then came to Illinois, the 
removal being made with a team to Burlington, and thence by steamer to 
Whitehall, and from there by way of the Champlain and Erie Canal to Buffalo, 
and thence by lakes to Chicago, arriving there in September of that year. He 
located in Cook County, buying two hundred and fifty acres of choice land in 
Shaumburg, which, including improvements, stock and crops, cost him $2,000. He 
soon became prominent in the public life of the town and assisted in its 
organization, and was otherwise useful as a citizen. He lived there ten years 
and then sold his farm advantageously and removed to McHenry County, where he 
bought another farm, where he dwelt until 1867, when he sold that place and 
coming to Plainfield, died in the home of our subject at the good old age of 
eighty-four years. His wife preceded him in death one year, she also having 
attained the venerable age of eighty-four. They reared three children: Daniel, 
who lives at Ashton, Dak.; Robert B.; William E., a resident of Pevely, Mo. 
Robert Graves was a boy of thirteen years when he came to Illinois with his 
parents. He was reared to the life of a farmer and was actively engaged in 
this occupation when the great rebellion broke out. In 1862 he laid aside his 
work to take up arms in defense of his country's honor, leaving his pleasant 
home and many warm friends to go forth to the hardships and struggles of a 
soldier's life. He became a member of the Fifth Independent Battery of 
Illinois Light Artillery, and going South with his company, took part in 
several battles and skirmishes with the enemy. He was an actor in the battle 
of Kingston, in the siege and capture of Knoxville, Tenn., and was at the 
battle at Strawberry Plains. In the winter of 1863-64 he and his comrades were 
in camp in Tennessee and suffered greatly from the rigors of the cold January 
so well remembered by the soldiers. The men were poorly clad, not having drawn 
any clothing since the preceding April. Our subject was protected only by a 
hlouse that was unlined and a thin pair of pantaloons that were nearly through 
at the knees. Fortunately they were in a well-wooded country, and they were 
enabled to keep up good fires. After the fall of Atlanta, Mr. Graves joined 
Thomas' command at Nashville, and during the winter went to Washington, D. C., 
from there to Alexandria, where he embarked for Newbern, N. C., and from there 
marched to Wiser's Forks, and thence to Goldsboro, where he once more came 
under Sherman's command, and was there when Johnston capitulated. From there 
his company was sent to Greensboro, and thence to Charlotte, and from there to 
Chicago, where it was discharged, July 18, 1865, after three years' faithful 
and honorable service. After his military experience Mr. Graves came to Will 
County and rented a farm in Wheatland, and in 1868 bought his present farm, 
which is located one mile southeast of Plainfield Village. There are one 
hundred and four acres of exceptionally fine farming land, that is under high 
cultivation, is provided with all the necessary machinery, with ample 
buildings, and is well stocked with horses and cattle of a high grade, Morgans 
being his favorite in the former, and Holsteins in the latter. Mr. Graves has 
been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Marilla Ketchum, and 
they were united in marriage February 22, 1857. She was born in North Adams, 
Mass., and was a daughter of Levi Ketchum. After a married life of seventeen 
years this devoted wife and mother was removed from the household over which 
she had presided so faithfully, her death occurring June 11, 1874. One son was 
born of her union with our subject—Walter R. Mr. Graves was married to his 
present estimable wife, formerly Marietta King, September 15, 1875. Mrs. 
Graves was born in Erie County, N. Y., a daughter of Alvin J. and Ann King. 
She is a good and true woman, and looks carefully after the interests of her 
family. The home circle is completed by the two children born to her and her 
husband—Alice A. and Robbie K. Mr. Graves is a man of honor, truthfulness and 
strict integrity in all his business and social relations, and is classed 
among our most useful and highly esteemed citizens. He is public-spirited and 
is actively interested in whatever will advance his adopted town, and takes 
part in the administration of its civic affairs, doing his share to advance it 
materially, socially and morally. He is now serving his fourth term as 
Assessor of the township, discharging the duties of his office so ably and 
impartially as to deserve and receive the commendation and confidence of his 
fellow-citizens. He is a man of sincere and liberal religious views, which 
find expression in the Universalist faiths and he and his family are members 
of the society of that denomination in Plainfield. In politics he is a stanch 
Republican.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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