Revised 18 Aug. 2007, Gen. 274

DESCENDANTS OF SOCRATES RENALDO GRAVES AND ASENETH ------ OF VT, NY, OH & IL

GENERATION 1

Socrates Renaldo Graves (1) was born about 1812 in VT. He married Aseneth ‑‑‑‑‑‑, perhaps about 1832. She was born about 1817 in NY. The family was in the 1850 census for Antioch, Lake Co., IL, page 80, enumerated 28 Oct. 1850. Socrates and his two oldest sons, Ezra and Franklin, were listed as farmers. The first 3 children were born in NY, the next 2 in OH, and the last 3 in IL.

The large gap between the fifth child and the sixth is suspicious. Perhaps a first wife died and Aseneth was his second wife, or perhaps there were several children who died in that period.

They were in the 1860 census for Subdivision 17, Sangamon Co., IL, when he was a wagon maker, son Ezra was a blacksmith, and son Franklin was also a wagon maker. He had probably died by 1870, since his wife was head of the household in the 1870 census for Cartwright Twp., Sangamon Co., IL, with children Franklin, Harrison, Ira, and Alice living with her.

It seems likely that Socrates was descended either from Thomas Graves of Hartford, CT & Hatfield, MA (gen. 168) or from John Graves of Concord, MA (gen. 166), but no connection to either family has yet been found. (R‑2)

Children - Graves

2. Ezra W. Graves, b.c. 1833. There was an Ezra Graves in the 1880 census in Black Creek, Outagamie Co., WI, living in the household of John G. and Flora Shaw. He was listed as age 52 (b.c. 1828), born in NY, both parents born in NY. With him was Elizabeth Graves, age 70, born NY. This is probably not the correct Ezra Graves.

3. Franklin W. Graves, b.c. 1834-38. In the 1880 census for Tallula, Menard Co., IL, he was living in the household of Ira and Mary R. Cranmer, both from PA, and was age 45, single, wagon maker.

4. Mahitable Graves, b.c. 1835-39. It has been thought that this might be the Mehitable (or Mahetable) that married Milton Walters. However, that does not seem possible, since Mehitable Graves was living in her parents’ household in Sangamon Co., IL, when the census was taken Sept. 21, 1860. Mahetable Walters, wife of Milton Walters, was in the 1860 census for Adam Twp., Parke Co., IN, when it was taken June 7, 1860, and her oldest child was 4. The wife of this Milton Walters may be Mehitable McGraw, marriage on Oct. 22, 1853 in Sangamon Co., IL, record located at County Court Records, Springfield, IL (according to ancestry.com).

5. Harrison N. Graves, b.c. 1837-41.

6. Oren E. Graves, b.c. 1838-44. He might have been the one listed in the 1880 census in Beloit, Mitchell Co., KS, age 40, farm laborer, born in OH, both parents born in NY, with wife Malinda, age 44, born in IN, both parents born in OH. No children were listed.

7. Laura S. Graves, b.c. 1847.

8. Arminda Graves, b.c. 1848.

+9. Socrates Renaldo Graves, b. 15 April 1850, m. Eva Chapman, 7 Oct. 1872.

10. Ira W. Graves, b.c. 1851.

11. Alice Graves, b.c. 1854.

12. A. Graves (daughter), b.c. 1854. Probably a twin. Not in 1870 census.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF SOCRATES R. GRAVES (1) AND ASENETH ------

Socrates Renaldo Graves (9) was born 15 April 1850 in Antioch, Lake Co., IL. He married Eva (or Ann) Chapman on 7 Oct. 1872 in Scott, IL. They moved to Montana. (R‑1, R‑2)

Children - Graves

+13. Durward Chester Graves, b. 12 April 1872, m. Adella Hess, d. 12 April 1946.

14. Ned Graves, b.c. 1877.

15. Anna Sybil (or Syble) Graves, b.c. 1878, bur. Eureka, CA.

16. Bayard ("Bay") Wilhelm Graves, b.c. 1881, m. Mable Hess.

17. Eva Dakota Graves, b.c. 1888.

GENERATION 3

CHILDREN OF SOCRATES R. GRAVES (9) AND EVA CHAPMAN

Durward Chester Graves (13), called Chester, was born 12 April 1872 in Butte, MT, and died 12 April 1946 in Oakland, CA. He married Adella Hess. She was born 27 July 1883 in Old Pioneer, MT, near Gold Creek, and died 3 Feb. 1952 in Rodeo, CA. They moved from Montana to California just after 1900. After the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, where Chester was a streetcar conductor, the family moved across the bay to Oakland. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

18. Irma Vivian Graves, b. 27 June 1899 (Gibsonville, MT?), m. Manuel Louis Cardoza, 17 March 1915, d. 3 April 1925 (Richmond, CA?).

19. Durward Chester Graves, b. 10 Nov. 1900 (Pony, MT, m. Doris Peterman, Oct. 1935, d. 22 Oct. 1968 (San Francisco, CA).

20. Eva M. Graves, b. 20 March 19‑‑, m. Alfredus Freitas, 1961. Bur. Fairfield, CA.

21. Mabel Graves, b. 22 March 1904 (San Francisco, CA), m. Joseph Nunes, 9 Oct. 1920, d. 1981 (Greenbrae, CA).

22. Edward N. Graves, d. Italy.

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