Ninth Generation

2110. Mahala Pearl GRAVES was born on 24 September 1821 in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN.¹²⁷² She appeared in the census in 1900 in Rock Bluffs, Cass Co., NE. Graves, Mahala, mother, W, F, Sept 1821, 78, W, 12, 10, TN, TN, TN, land lady
She appeared in the census in 1910 in Rock Bluffs, Cass Co., NE. Page 149 A, line 3, dwelling 63, family 63
Graves, Mahala P., head, F, W, 87, wd, 9, 6, TN, TN, TN, own income
Mahala died of Pluro Pneumonia and face cancer on 27 August 1919 at the age of 97 in Peru, Nemaha Co., NE.¹²⁷³ Obituary, Plattsmouth Weekly Journal, September 1, 1919
DEATH OF AN AGED CASS COUNTY LADY
From Thursday's daily. - Last evening at the home of J.D. Graves, at Peru, Nebraska, occurred the death of Mrs. Mahala P. Graves or "Grandma" Graves, as she was better known to the old neighbors and friends in Cass County. This venerable lady whose years of life lacked but two brief years of a full century, is one of the last of the pioneers who assisted in making this community what it is today, as she with her husband came here at a very early day and by hard work and perseverance made a home for the family along the bluffs of the mighty Missouri near the old town of Rock Bluffs, and the old homestead still stands as a monument to the worthy pioneer couple the last of whom has now answered the summons of the Master to her last long rest.
In the past few years Mrs. Graves has been failing in health and has made her home with her son, J.D. Graves at Peru, and just a short time ago enjoyed the privilege of having the children gather with her in what destined to be the last reunion of the family upon earth.
Mrs Mahala P. Graves was born in Knox County, East Tennessee, September 24, 1821, and was married in that state to William W. Graves on October 2, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Graves removed from Tennessee to Iowa in 1852, pre-empting a quarter section of land three miles east of Glenwood. Here the family resided until 1864, when they moved to the new state of Nebraska, and settled near the then flourishing town of Rock Bluffs. Here they saw the community in which they lived pass from a flourishing community of several hundred population to a mere collection of empty stores, as monuments of past granduer; the country which at the time of their coming was but scarcely known aside from the few settlements along the river grow into one of the greatest agricultural empires of the world. It was given this venerable lady to see three times the nation take up the gage of battle and two of these conflicts were the greatest that the world has ever known, the great strive of state against nation and of the greatest republic of the world against the greatest empire of the world.
It is wonderful to contemplate the changes that this worthy lady has seen develop during her years of life and fitting that as the peace long prayed for came to the world her spirit should pass on giving her the peace and calm that comes at the close of her life. The Grave s family resided at Rock Bluffs up until a few years ago and there on October 6, 1895, the husband and father was called home to rest. Since the death of the husband, Mrs Graves has resided with the children. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Graves as follows: A.J. Graves. deceased; J.D. Graves, Peru, Neb., Mrs Harriett Miller, Glenwood, Ia., A.N. Graves, Murra y, Neb., C.M. Graves and E.L. Graves, North Yakima, Washington, Mary E. Burnett, Rock Bluffs ; A.S. Graves, Brooklyn, N.Y., Charles L. Graves, Union, Nebraska, Mrs. Ellen O. Lacy, Omaha , deceased, one child died in infancy and Orlena Graves died in Cass County in 1865, aged 19 years. Funeral announcement of this venerable pioneer will be made later.
She was buried on 29 August 1919 in Rock Bluffs, Cass Co., NE.¹²⁷³ Conley's have a picture of Mahala Pearl Graves and on the back it says she is the mother of 11 children, 7 now living, 57 grandchildren, 40 now living, 37 great grandchildren, 36 now living, 3 great great grandchildren, 2 now living. (picture was taken in 1915)

Mahala Pearl GRAVES and William Willard GRAVES were married on 3 October 1837 in Knox Co., TN.^150,495,1274 Rev. Wm. Carroll Graves. They^150,495,1274 appeared in the census in 1880 in Rock Bluffs, Cass Co., NE.¹²⁷⁵ William W. GRAVES Self M M W 61 TN Occ: Brick Mason Fa: SC Mo: TN
Mehala GRAVES Wife F M W 58 TN Occ: Keeping House Fa: TN Mo: TN
Charles GRAVES Son M S W 18 IA Occ: At School Fa: TN Mo: TN
Julian GRAVES Son M S W 28 IA Occ: At School Fa: TN Mo: TN Mr. and Mrs. Graves removed from Tennessee to Iowa in 1852, pre-empting a quarter section of land three miles east of Glenwood. Here the family resided until 1864, when they moved to the new state of Nebraska, and settled near the then flourishing town of Rock Bluffs. William Willard GRAVES¹²⁷⁶, son of David GRAVES and Mary HOLLOWAY, was born on 19 July 1818 in Knox Co., TN.¹²⁷² He appeared in the census in 1850 in Knox Co., TN.¹²⁷⁶ In 1850 he was an a brick mason in Knox Co., TN.¹²⁷⁴ In 1880 William was an a brick mason in Rock Bluffs, Cass Co., NE.¹²⁷⁵ He died on 6 April 1895 at the age of 76 in Rock Bluffs, Cass Co., NE.¹²⁷² OBITUARY
WILLIAM WILLARD GRAVES

William W. Graves, deceased was born in Knox County, East Tennessee, July 19, 1818, was married to Mahala P. Graves, October 2nd. 1837, she being born in the same county and state , September 22, 1821. They, with six children, moved by wagon to Mills County, Ia., in the autumn of 1852. They arrived at Elmwood December 2nd, 1852. From Elmwood they moved to Missouri September, 1858, thence to Plattsmouth in the spring of 1863. He resided in Nebraska since that date until the time of his death--April 6, 1895. The deceased has always been esteemed a worthy citizen wherever he has lived. He and his wife joined the Baptist Church in 1844, lived in that faith until they came west. Churches being scarce in those days, they did not attach themselves to any church until 1872, when he joined the Christian Church in which he has lived a faithful life ever since and died in the triumphs of a living faith. He called the ten living children to his bed instantly before he departed, and gave them good advi ce. After living a married life fifty-eight years, he dies leaving his wife and ten children- two preceded him to the better world. The following are the names, residence and ages of the children: Mrs. Harriett E. Miller, Glenwood Ia. Born in Tennessee November 22, 1838; Alex H . Graves, Rock Bluffs, Neb. Born in Tennessee November 26, 1840; Infant son, Born and died i n 1842; Calvin M. Graves, Plattsmouth, Neb. Born in Kentucky August 7, 1844; Orlena I. Graves died December 19, 1865. Born in Tennessee August 2, 1846; Elbert L.Graves, Rock Bluffs, Neb. Born in Tennessee June 22, 1848; Andrew J. Graves, Plattsmouth, Neb. Born in Tennessee July 19, 1850; Julian D. Graves, Alvin Tex. Born in Iowa December 5, 1852; Mary E. Byers, Rock B luffs, Neb. Born in Iowa August 15, 1855; Alvin S. Graves, Cedar Creek, Neb. Born in Iowa September 15, 1858; Elen O. Lacy, Omaha, Neb. Born in Iowa, February 19, 1860; Charles L. Graves , Union, Neb. Born in Iowa November 23, 1861. The funeral of William Graves will be preached at the Rock Bluffs' M.E. Church next Sunday, April 28, at 2:30 o'clock. The wife and children desire to here tender their sincere thanks to the friends that so kindly helped during the illness and burial of our dearly beloved husband and father. MAHALA. GRAVES, HARRIET T E. MILLER, A.H. GRAVES, C.M. GRAVES, C.L. GRAVES, A.J. GRAVES, J.D. GRAVES, MARY BYERS, A.S . GRAVES, E.O. LACY AND C.L. GRAVES.

From the "History of Rock Bluff Township" at the Plattsmouth, Nebraska Museum: "W.W. Graves born in Tennessee 1818, brick mason by vocation in Tennessee & later in Iowa where he came from, to Cass County in 1863. Here he had a saw mill. William Graves was also a farmer. He built a spinning wheel & loom for Mahala. It is on display at the Plattsmouth, Nebraska Museum.
The following notes were taken from biographies in Klickitat and Yakima Counties 1904, under the name of Elbert Lawson Graves. 1854 William Graves moved to Iowa 1855 William Graves moved to Missouri 1858 William Graves moved to Iowa 1860 William Graves moved to Nebraska 1867 William Graves moved to Missouri 1868 or 1869 William Graves moved to Nebraska 1895 William Graves died at Rock Bluff, Nebraska.

1885 Official Atlas of Nebraska, Record Farm and Leading Farmers 1905 Platt book of Cass Co . Nebraska. W.W. Graves owned property at Rock Bluffs on Jackson, Congress and Randolph street between 3rd and 5th street, Thompson's addition.

General index of deeds, Bk 3, Cass County Courthouse, Plattsmouth Nebraska, lists: Wm W. Graves & Wife, Mar 5, 1886, bk 32, pg 627.

General index of deeds, bk 1, 1882-1884, Cass County Courthouse, Plattsmouth, Nebraska lists : W.W. Graves, Nov 27, 1882, bk 6, pg 176. Also lists: W.W. Graves, Mar 27, 1883, bk 6, pg 357.

Mahala Pearl GRAVES and William Willard GRAVES had the following children: