William Green Graves
Among the enterprising and successful farmers and business men of Middlefork
township, Macon county, William Green Graves holds a high rank. In everything
he has undertaken he has shown ability, intelligence and progressiveness
of a high order, and has so far made every day of his activity count to his
advantage and advancement. In his farming operations he has been and is eminently
successful, and for the short period of his experience as a merchant he is
able to show good returns both as a man of business and in the favorable
impression he made on the business world around him and the scene of his
enterprise.
Mr. Graves was born in the township in which he now lives on April 3,
1864. He is a son of William R. and Permelia (Reynolds) Graves, a brief account
of whose lives will be found in a sketch of his brother, Robert M. Graves,
elsewhere in this work. William G. Graves obtained his education in the district
schools of Macon county, working on his father's farm while attending them,
and preparing himself by both study and experience in practical industry
for the battle of life that was before him. He remained at home with his
parents until 1892, when he and his brother, Hiram N. Graves, a sketch of
whom appears on another page, formed a partnership and bought a general store
at Woodville, in which was then located the postoffice at that place, and
during the next five years they conducted a flourishing and profitable business
under the firm name of Graves Brothers. They handled general merchandise
and had a considerable trade, meeting the requirements of the locality in
the extent and variety of their stock and making a friend of every patron
by the upright and square manner in which they dealt with all comers.
In December 1897, after Mr. Graves has sold his interest in the store
at Woodville to his brother and lived for some months on the Hogan farm,
which he rented for one year, he and his brother-in-law, John W. Tooley,
bought out the other heirs of the William R. Graves estate and on 400 acres
of the land belonging to the prior to their purchase Mr. Graves settled down
to farming as a permanent occupation, determined to give his whole attention
to the management, development, and improvement of his property and the
operations properly growing out of it. Since that time he has been continuously
and extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits and raising live-stock for
the markets on a large scale. He has been very enterprising and far-seeing,
has applied intelligence and energy to his work, and has had his eyes open
and his faculties ready to take advantage of any opportunity he might find
to improve his condition and accelerate his progress. Studious of his business
and looking to all its details with sleepless vigilance, he has made it
prosperous in a high degree, and risen to the first rank among the farmers
of Macon county.
Mr. Graves has also taken an active and intelligent interest in local
public affairs and lent himself willingly, zealously, and effectively to
all undertakings for the improvement of the township and county and promoting
the lasting welfare of their people. He served wisely and efficiently as
school director, and in many other ways has given the people the benefit
of his intelligence, progressiveness and breadth of view. In politics he
is an active working Democrat, with good judgment as an adviser and indomitable
energy as a worker in behalf of his party, and his services to it are highly
appreciated by both its leaders and its rank and file.
On March 5, 1895, Mr. Graves was united in marriage with Miss Eva Haley,
a daughter of James and Sarah (Wedding) Hales, prominent residents of Randolph
county in this state. The four children born of this union are all living
and all still at home with their parents. They are Hettie, Opal, William
G., Jr., and J. T. and are now seeking to acquire good educations and prepare
themselves to take their parents' places in the general esteem and good will
of the people and carry the family name to farther conquests in business
life and keep up the excellent reputation it has socially and in every other
way. The family home is one of the pleasant and popular resorts for elevated
social enjoyment in the township, and is a center of refined and gracious
hospitality. Wherever they are known Mr. and Mrs. Graves are held in highest
esteem.
|
