Private SAMUEL ALEXANDER GRAVES, Co. G, 86th Illinois

Samuel Alexander Graves was born on September 19, 1844 in Fleming County, Kentucky, one of at least ten children known to have been born to Charles W. Graves, who was born in Virginia c. December 19, 1814, the son of John Graves, and Ann (Fitzgerald) Graves, who is believed to have been born in Kentucky about January 6, 1812, the daughter of James Fitzgerald and Fannie Blue Hughes. Charles and Ann were married in 1835 in Fleming County, Kentucky. An online record of Charles and Ann has them with the following children;
1. John James Graves, born c. December 11, 1835/6; This is almost certainly the John J. Graves, who was also a member of Co. G of the 86th Illinois; John died on February 21, 1871; See his Find A Grave site for more information about him and his family.

2. Frances Ellen Graves, born c. April 29, 1837/38 in Kentucky; A Frances E. Graves was married to a P. D. Moobery on November 28, 1858 in Tazewell County, Illinois.

3. William W. Graves, born c. October 11, 1839, served as a Corporal in Co. D of the 65th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry and died on June 10, 1862 at ___________, ___________, while in the service of his country; His mortal remains were laid in the Deacon Street Cemetery in Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois.

4. Mary Jane Graves, born c. March 6, 1841 in Kentucky; A Mary Jane Graves was married to a Samuel Smith on January 5, 1860 in Tazewell County, Illinois; Mary Jane (Graves) Smith is believed to have died on April 16, 1874.

5. Highland Crow Graves, born October 5, 1842 in Kentucky; served as a Private in Co. D of the 65th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry with his brother, William W. Graves and later was promoted to Sergeant Major, serving in the Headquarters of the 65th Illinois; Highland was married to Matilda Kipp Parker on February 22, 1866 in Tazewell County, Illinois; Highland died on Oct. 17, 1916 in Ashton, Fremont County, Idaho and his mortal remains were laid in the Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska; See his Find A Grave site for more information about him and his family.

6. Samuel Alexander Graves, born September 19, 1844 in Fleming County, Kentucky; See his biography below.

7. Sarah E. Graves, born c. April 22, 1846 in Kentucky; A Sarah E. Graves was married to a James E. Jewitt on June 3, 1869 in Tazewell County, Illinois.

8. Charles E. Graves, born c. November 6, 1847/8; Charles is almost certainly the Imartes C. Graves, who was the son of C. W. & M. I. Graves, who was was born c. November 6, 1848 and who died on August 27, 1872 at the age of 23 years, 9 months and 21 days and whose mortal remains were laid in the Deacon Street Cemetery in Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois.

9. Analissa (Ann Eliza) Graves, born c. December 7, 1850 in Illinois; A Eliza Graves was married to a Howard Tarman on December 12, 1872 in Tazewell County, Illinois and a Hannah A. Graves was married to a Charles L. Waltmire on March 6, 1884 in Tazewell County, Illinois.

10. Thomas H. Graves, born c. June 5, 1852/3 in Illinois; Thomas was married to Salina "Jennie" Bartlett on March 16, 1881 in Tazewell County, Illinois.

In the late 1840's the Graves family came north to Illinois, where they settled in what was to become Morton Township in Tazewell County, They are found there at the time of the 1850 census;
Charles W Graves M 37 Virginia
Ann Graves F 38 Kentucky
John Graves M 14 Kentucky
Francis E Graves F 13 Kentucky
William W Graves M 10 Kentucky
Mary Jane Graves F 9 Kentucky
Harlan C Graves M 7 Kentucky
Samuel E Graves M 6 Kentucky
Sarah E Graves F 4 Kentucky
Charles E Graves M 2 Kentucky

At the time of the 1860 census, Charles, Ann and their family are found in Morton Township, Tazewell County, Illinois;
Charles Graves M 44 Va
Ann Graves F 48 Ky
William Graves M 20 Ky
Hiland Graves M 17 Ky
Samuel Graves M 15 Ky
Sarah Graves F 14 Ky
Charles E Graves M 12 Ky
Analissa Graves F 9 Ky
Thomas Graves M 7 Ky

Ann (Fitzgerald) Graves died about October 23, 1861 in Tazewell County, Illinois. Charles was married 2nd to Malissa I. __________ in 1863. Malissa was born c. February 13, 1839/40 in either Illinois or Missouri. Two children were born to Charles W. Graves and Melissa (__________) Graves. They were;
11. William Graves, born c. 1864/65 in Illinois.

12. Franklin "Frank" Graves, born c. July 6, 1870 in Tazewell County, Illinois; died on September 8, 1874 in Tazewell County, Illinois at the age of 4 years, 2 months and 2 days and his mortal remains were laid in the Deacon Street Cemetery in Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois.

At the time of the 1870 census, Charles and Malissa are found in __________ County, Illinois;
Charles Graves M 54 Virginia
Melissa Graves F 40 Illinois
Thomas Graves M 17 Illinois
Eliza Graves F 18 Illinois
William Graves M 5 Illinois
Frank Graves M 0 Illinois
Mary Flynn F 14 Indiana
William Overlender M 21 Baden
Mary Loomis F 18 Indiana

At the time of the 1880 census, Charles, Melissa and their family are found in Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois, where he is farming;
Self Charles Graves M 65 Virginia
Wife Malissa Graves F 49 Missouri
Son Thomas Graves M 26 Illinois
Son William Graves M 14 Illinois

Shortly after this census was taken, Charles and Malissa moved west to Nebraska, where they took up residence in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Charles W. Graves died there on Aug. 19, 1885, while Malissa died on April 30, 1891. Their mortal remains were laid to rest in the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.

Now to continue with the biography of Samuel A. Graves;
In the 1860's, Samuel A. Graves was residing in Morton, Illinois in Tazewell County. On February 1, 1864, Samuel A. Graves, Edward T. Burns and Samuel L. Wilson, all of Tazewell County, went into Peoria, where a Captain Allan was Recruiting for the thinned ranks of the 86th Illinois, which at that time was in winter camp at Lee & Gordons Mill just south of the Chickamauga Battlefield near Chattanooga. As they were from Tazewell County and as Co. G of the 86th was recruited from Tazewell County and they undoubtedly had friends or possibly even family in Co. G, they were assigned as Recruits for Co. G of the 86th Illinois.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name GRAVES, SAMUEL A
Rank PVT Company G Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence MORTON, TAZEWELL CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 6 Hair DARK
Eyes GRAY Complexion FAIR Marital Status N/A Occupation FARMER
Nativity FLEMING CO, KY

Service Record
Joined When FEB 1, 1864 Joined Where PEORIA, IL
Joined By Whom CPT ALLAN Period 3 YRS
Muster In FEB 1, 1864 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks TRANS TO CO C 34 ILL INF MAY 18, 1865

Privates Graves, Burns and Wilson most likely joined Co. G before the 86th left their camp at Lee & Gordon's Mills. Samuel A. Graves served faithfully for the last 15 months of the war, which was included the darkest and hardest period during the war for the 86th Illinois. During his short time in the service, Samuel was witness to and a participant in a number of skirmishes and battles, some of the bloodiest battles in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia; Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averasborough, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina and was there with General Sherman on his infamous "March to the Sea."
At his time of enlistment, Samuel, like the other two, signed on for three years of service, so when the war came to a close in the spring of 1865, Samuel and all of the other late war Recruits in the 86th were transferred to the 34th Illinois for further service. The Recruits of Co. G were transferred to Co. C of the 34th about May 18, 1865 and they joined them by the 2nd of June, 1865.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name GRAVES, SAMUEL A
Rank PVT Company C Unit 34 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence MORTON, TAZEWELL CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 6 Hair DARK
Eyes GRAY Complexion FAIR Marital Status N/A Occupation FARMER
Nativity FLEMING CO, KY

Service Record
Joined When JAN 26, 1864 Joined Where SPRINGFIELD, IL
Joined By Whom CPT KEYS Period 3 YRS
Muster In JAN 26, 1864 Muster In Where SPRINGFIELD, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUL 12, 1865
Muster Out Where LOUISVILLE, KY Muster Out By Whom CPT PAPST
Remarks TRANS FROM 86 ILL INF JUN 2, 1865

At most, Samuel and the other Recruits served another 8 weeks with the 34th. On July 12, 1865, the men of the 34th were discharged from the service at Louisville, Kentucky and they were all soon headed home.
Samuel was married Mary Celina Cole in McLean County, Illinois on Jan. 28, 1869. Mary was born on February 9, 1848 in Normal, Pennsylvania, one of five children born to William Peleg Tracy Cole, who was born on November 16, 1819 and who died on March 11, 1891, and Mary (Williams) Cole, who was born on July 6, 1819 and who died on April 18, 1858. Samuel and Mary C. Cole are known to have had two children:

1. Grace Ethel Graves, born August 18, 1873 in Sadorus, Champaign County, Illinois; Grace was married to William Lynn Myers on November 11, 1897; Grace died on September 1, 1961 at York, Nebrska; Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in rural Benedict, Nebraska; See her Find A Grave site for more information about her and her family.

2. Stella A__________ Graves, born April 10, 1875 at Sadorus, Champaign County, Illinois; Stella died on July 22, 1884 at the age of 9; Stella's earthly remains were laid to rest in the Craw Cemetery in Champaign, Illinois.

At the time of the 1880 census, Samuel A. Graves and his family are residing in Colfax Township in Champaign County, Illinois;
S. A. Graves, gender: Male; age: 35; marital status: Married; occupation: Farmer; relationship to head: Self; birthplace: Kentucky; spouse's name: Mary S. Graves; spouse's birthplace: Pennsylvania; father's birthplace: Virginia; mother's birthplace: Kentucky.
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self S. A. Graves M 35 Kentucky
wife Mary S. Graves F 32 Pennsylvania
daughter Grace E. Graves F 7 Illinois
daughter Stella A. Graves F 5 Illinois

In 18__ (the 1880's), Samuel and Mary moved to Benedict, Nebraska. The surviving members of the 86th Illinois, who began holding reunions in Peoria in August of 1887, the 25th Anniversary of their being mustered into service, had Samuel A. Graves in Benedict, Nebraska as late as 1895.
Mary Celina (Cole) Graves died on September 13, 1909 in Peoria, Illinois while she was visiting her sister Rebecca (Cole) Magill back in Peoria. Samuel and Mary's daughter, Grace, Carolyn (Myers) Gaswick's grandmother, went back to Peoria to bring her body home. Samuel's great granddaughter, Carolyn (Myers) Gaswick, states that "My father, who was an infant at the time, was taken along on the trip." Mary Celina (Cole) Graves was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in York, Nebraska in Section J, Lot 55. Carolyn states, "I remember helping put flowers on her grave. I was impressed because her tombstone was larger than those for most for the family."
Not long after Mary's death, Samuel moved on west, where he settled in Long Beach, California. There he met Margaret __________. They were married on __________ __, 19__ at __________, California. Margaret was born in 1860 in Wisconsin and passed away in 1940. She lies buried here near Samuel.
Private Samuel Alexander Graves died on January 7, 1923 in Long Beach, California. Find A Grave contributor Claudine Burnett #47127475, whose email address is [email protected], sent me an abstract of Samuel's obituary from the January 10, 1923 edition of the Long Beach Press. It read, "Died Jan. 7, 1923 at his home, 3042 Elliott. Aged 78. Born in Kentucky, he served in Company G, 86th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War and was a member of the G.A.R. He lived in Long Beach for 12 years. Survived by his widow, Mrs. Margaret Graves; daughter Mrs. Grace Meyes of Nebraska; two sisters and a brother." His mortal remains were laid in the Sunnyside Cemetery in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California.
Carolyn (Myers) Gaswick states that "we don't have a picture of S. A. in his military attire -- wish we did -- just a photo of him and his first wife. He sold the farm to his daughter Grace (my grandmother) and her husband William Lynn Myers. I know it as 'the home place' and grew up across the road."

by Baxter B. Fite III and Carolyn (Myers) Gaswick, a great granddaughter of Samuel Alexander Graves, whose email address is [email protected].

(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Graves family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Samuel A. Graves and the Graves family. Baxter would also love to see copies of any photographs of Samuel A. Graves that may have survived the years, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)