Allen C. Graves, 81, Died Here Tuesday

Allen was born in Germantown, Nebraska on June 26, 1891 to Emery C. and Jeanettie (Payne) Graves.

On June 25, 1917, this 26-year old blue-eyed, black-haired farmer, of medium height and build, walked into the World War I draft office. He explained that he had a wife and two children.

In 1930, the family were living in West Oak precinct, Lancaster County, Nebraska. Allen was a farmer, but not a veteran. Anna, his wife, and all their children were Nebraska born. Their daughters were: Jeanette (14), LaVerne (13), Eunice (11). Also living with them was Emory C. Graves, 63, a widower born in Illinois.

In 1940, Allen, 48, was living with Emory, 73, out on the farm, and his wife, Anna, 43, was living at 2941 Pue Street in Lincoln. Allen only had an 8th grade education, but Anna had completed 1st year college. Anna was living with their daughters: LaVerne, 23,an instructor in public schools, and Eunice, 21, the proprietor of a private garage. Anna said she had income from other sources, and was married. Allen also told the census-taker he was married.

Later, when World War II broke out, all men of a certain age had to register. The clerk noted that Allen had black hair streaked with gray, blue eyes, was 5'8" tall, weighing 165 lbs. with a ruddy complexion. Allen was farming near Raymond, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He said Anna, living at 2939 Q Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, would always know his address.

Allen C. Graves, a resident of Blair for the past 18 years, died Tuesday at the Good Shepherd Home. He had lived at the Home for six years.

Mr. Graves was a retired farmer who lived much of his life at Raymond, Nebraska.

He is survived by his wife, Anna and by LaVerne Graves, both of the Good Shepherd Home. Mrs. Jeanette Faust of Blair is a daughter as is Eunice Boldebuck, of Lincoln. There are three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A sister, Mrs. Cora E. Dedman, resides at Pueblo, Colorado.

Funeral services are being held today in Lincoln, Nebraska, and interment will be made in Lincoln Memorial Park in Lincoln.

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National Archives; obituary printed in the Tuesday, January 23, 1973 Enterprise, Blair, Nebraska and courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska; kind assistance of FindaGrave volunteer MB; Note: Germantown is one of the towns that changed its name during World War I. "With the entry of the United States into World War I, anti-German sentiment was rampant. German-language newspapers were closed and German-language Lutheran church services were ended. Sauerkraut was dubbed "liberty cabbage", and dachshunds "liberty hounds". In this environment, the Germantown city council decided that the name had to be changed; and they resolved to rename the town after the first local soldier to die during the war."--Wikipedia

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