Jacob Graves

Jacob Graves, from in Vinton county, O., in 1834, is the son of John and Amy (Wilkinson) Graves. John Graves was born in Ohio, of North Carolina settlers. His wife was daughter of Jacob and Amy (Brady) Wilkinson, also North Carolina settlers of Ohio. The Graves family resided in Ohio until 1861, when they came to Essex, and purchased a farm of 160 acres, ,but some time prior to this John purchased lands here for his sons. Mrs. Amy Graves died here in 1878. Of their children, Mrs. Annie Ratcliff has since died; Joseph S., Jacob, Mrs. Amy Bamber, of West Jersey, Mrs. Alma Whitten. of West Jersey, are all residents of Stark. In 1881 Mr. Graves sold the homestead, and has since made his home among his children. A member of the Christian church since childhood, he has opposed secret societies. He was a Whig and Abolitionist, and since 1856 a Republican. Jacob Graves was raised and educated in his native county. At the age of twenty-two years he married Miss Sidlay A., daughter of George and Mary (Bouyer) Barnett, of Ohio, natives of Pennsylvania, and whose parents came from Germany. George Barnett and wife moved to Guernsey county from Pennsylvania, and thence to Vinton county, where the wife died in 1855, leaving twelve children, of whom Mrs. Graves was the youngest. The father died there in 1876. Jacob and Mrs. Graves resided eight years in Ohio after marriage. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the One-hundred-and-forty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served round Richmond, City Point, and Petersburg until expiration of term, when he returned, and in a few days set out with his family for Illinois, entered on improving his farm, and raised it from the wilderness to be one of the finest tracts in Essex. Of their eleven children, Mrs. Mary A. Pautz, is in Kansas; Mrs. Lucinda A. Shebel, Elba V., Smiley R., Stanley S., Lyman S., Julia E., Clinton E., Elton O., Emery R., and Jennie E., all residents of Essex. The father of this Large family holds a Grand Army membership. As assessor of Essex for six years, the board of equalization has never changed one of his figures; as supervisor, his associates never negatived one of his propositions, and in all political and social connections his precision and adherence to truth have brought him into the esteem of every one.