Taylor County, TX - Obituary - Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Graves **************************************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************************************** The Abilene Reporter News January 4, 1916 The following article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram concerning the death of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Graves will be of interest to Abilene readers. Mrs. Graves having long been a resident of Abilene and active in church circles. Her daughter, Mrs. Jinks McGee is a resident of Abilene. Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Graves, 72, whose death occurred Monday at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. And Mrs. F.N. Graves, 909 Fifth Avenue, was one of the sturdy Texas pioneer women now so rapidly passing away. She was the daughter of Rev. J.H. ÒUncle JimmieÓ Collard, the Indian fighting Methodist circuit rider, who as a friend and companion of General Sam Houston, was a prominent figure in the Texas Revolution, and later one of ScottÕs aides in the Mexican war. One of his brothers, Major Rusk Collard, was a gallant Confederate officer, whose life paid the forfeit of his patriotism; another, Judge William E. Collard, was for many yeas judge of the district court of appeals at Austin, and another, Rev. J.H. Collard, Jr., was quite a celebrated evangelist throughout the Southern and Middlewestern states for many years until his death forced the retirement. Mrs. Graves was born in Coryell county when that was far frontier and had many vivid recollections of Indian raids, big game hunting and other frontier experiences. Of a deeply religious as well as militant pioneer stock she in her younger days was a most active church worker, but for the past decade had been a practical invalid. All her life was spent in the territory contiguous to Fort Worth and she will be well remembered and her death mourned by many friends in Waco, Abilene and other cities where she has lived and where her good work won for her a reputation and character envied by many. Mrs. Graves is survived by her aged husband, R.N. Graves; four sons Ð J.H. Graves of Sweetwater, J.H. Graves of Walnut Springs, Rusk R. Graves of Fort Worth, Felix Graves of Callahan County; 4 daughters Ð Mrs. F.N. Graves of Fort Worth, with whom she made her home, Mrs. K.M. Watson of Fort Worth, Mrs. Jinks McGee of Abilene, Mrs. Alle Ercoka of Dallas; 3 brothers Ð Rev. J.K. Collard of San Antonio, John Collard of California, G. Watt Collard of Oklahoma; 3 sisters Ð Ms. J.C.Bailey of Mangum, Oklahoma; Mrs. Annie Dinkins of Calexico, California, and Mrs. J.W. Baker of Castle Dale, Utah. Funeral conducted by Rev. Hoyt M. Dobbs, pastor of the First Methodist church at the home of F.N. Graves, 909 Fifth Avenue, Tuesday. Interment was in Mount Olive cemetery.