GRAGG BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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GRAGG, Robert M. - b: 1826 Howard Co, MO
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 721
residence: Walker Twp

Rev. Robert M. Gragg was born in Howard County, Missouri, July 18, 1826, the 
seventh in a family of ten children. His father. Malcom Gragg was a native of 
Tennessee, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Broadhust. 
They were married in Tennessee. In or about 1833 they came to Missouri and 
located in Pettis County, where they lived some three years, moving in 1836 to 
Rives (now Henry) County, and settling on Deepwater, on what is now known as 
the "Stone Farm." He entered that tract of land and lived there some time, when, 
in company with his brother, Robert Gragg, he entered all of the timber land on 
what is known as Camp Branch. They both built houses on the creek and remained 
there until their deaths. Rebecca Gragg died in 1857, and Malcom Gragg in the 
year 1862. Robert M. is therefore among the earliest settlers of Henry County. At 
the time his father settled there, only three families lived on the south side of 
Grand River for miles in either direction. He received comparatively little 
education, having attended school but four months, and his teacher was Miss 
Catherine Robards, the present wife of Dr. Toucey, of Bates County. Just after 
this term of school, young Robert was accidentally shot by a schoolmate, and for 
many months his life hung in the scales that seemed about evenly balanced. but 
his youthful vigor carried him safely through the danger. On the 22d of February, 
in his twentieth year, he was married to Miss Catharine Cook, of Johnson County, 
and for several years he farmed in connection with his father. In 1855, he moved 
on his present farm, receiving eighty acres from his father. He entered two 
hundred acres more soon after, and until 1876, handled stock quite extensively. 
When about sixteen years old, Mr. Gragg united with the church, and until 1850, 
he was attached to the United Brethren, when he joined the Methodist Protestant 
Church. In 1846 he was licensed to preach in the United Brethren Church, and 
continued as a local preacher until 1855, when he was ordained a regular 
minister of the gospel in the Methodist Protestant, and for over thirty years he 
has told the story of the Cross. His whole time was devoted to the cause of the 
church until 1863. He was placed upon the Warrensburg circuit several times, and 
much of his time was devoted to evangelical work. He was the only preacher in 
this section of the state who filled regular appointments during the war. Mr. 
Gragg has had a family of twelve children, of whom two died in infancy, and two 
promising young men, Jasper Marion and Christopher C. died in the summer of 
1876, within five days of each other. Those living are: Rebecca M., John W., 
Elizabeth J., Burton H., Sarah A., and Mary B. Of his brothers who are now living: 
William R., and Henry H. Three sisters are still living: Susan Short, Mary Ann 
Poage and Ellender Crabtree.

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