The Graves family: Tracing the roots, looking for all the branches

By Linda Whitmore

Only three families made up the Gibson Wagon Train of 1849. Gibson was the captain; the other families were Glovers and Graves.

Thousands of emigrants crossed the Plains that year – so many, in fact, it was said one could see an endless line of wagons heading westward.

Gold had been discovered in California and nearly all of those who trekked the long, dusty miles were headed for riches in the gold fields.

But the small Gibson Train was made up of farmers heading for free land in Oregon.

John Pinkard Graves, his wife Maria, and two children had set out from Missouri. On route through Nebraska, another child, Sarah, was born.

When they reached Oregon Territory, John and Maria Graves got a donation land claim of 640 acres located on the east side of the hill on which the Mt. Angel Abbey now stands.

It became known as Graves Butte.

In the cabin they built there, seven more children were born; bringing the household number to 12.

Families had to be self-sufficient to survive. No Graves family members took time to write about their lives, but documents give an indication.

There was a government census in 1865 that took inventory of the family’s belongings. The 640 acres of land was valued at $1,500. They had $400 worth of personal property, the document reads, in addition to the sheep, hogs, cattle, wheat, oats, apples and potatoes on their 60 acres under cultivation.

A glimpse of what life was like is recorded in the 1923 obituary of the sixth of these children, Flora Graves Hobart.

“In the log cabin in which she was born, candles and soap were made by hand, wool was carded and spun; stockings and sox were knit by hand; shoes were made over a wooden last with wooden pegs and laced with buckskin.”

Another look at the type of people they were was recorded in the book, A History of Silverton Country, written by Robert Horace Downs.

“The Graves home was distinctly one of old Southern hospitality to all round and Mrs. Graves is still remembered as one of the most gracious of pioneer women.”

Among the Graves sons was Grant, who fathered Wilbur, the father of Edgar Graves, who now lives with his wife, Nellie; on the Abiqua Creek.

The couple and their son have done some geological research on the family and are continuing to look for answers about the other descendants of John and Maria Graves. While they know facts about their lineage, they wonder about the other family members who stayed in the area; the women who married into other pioneer families and changed their names. The branches of the family tree have become widespread and connections have been lost.

But Ed and Nellie Graves know that Grant Graves was born at Graves Butte.

In the late 1880s, the family sold their land, which became part of the Abbey property.

They have heard the log cabin’s foundation still exists – years ago Ed’s late brother saw it.

They think they might know a clue to finding it. The pioneer Graveses had brought with them in their wagon some small locust trees, which they planted on the north side of the house, Edgar said.

They’d like to go look.

“Unfortunately, it’s all fenced,” said Nellie. “We hope to get permission to go there and put a monument.”

Ed and Nellie think it would be important to designate the site.

Because the land became part of the Abbey, the cabin’s remnants were left undisturbed; preserved rather than being plowed up or built on.

When the farm was sold, the Grant Graves family moved to Elk City on the Oregon Coast and worked peeling Cascara bark, which is used in medicinal remedies.

“He could make more money in that than in farming,” said Ed.

In 1907 they came back; buying land in the Lone Pine area near Scotts Mills. Grant Graves converted a hop dryer building into a house. He continued to log as well as operate the small farm.

Grant’s son, Wilbur, joined the logging trade, employed with Silver Falls Lumber Co.

“My father started working in the woods when he was 15,” said Ed.

Wilbur married and had a home on Norway Street in Silverton where Ed was born.

When Ed’s grandmother died, Wilbur and family moved back to run the farm. Ed was 6 years old at the time.

While his father was away working in the woods, Ed’s mother took care of the farm – and Ed helped.

“I started milking cows when I was 8.”

Ed graduated from Silverton High School and became a land surveyor.

His work took him out of the area for many years, but the family returned in 1994.

Today, in their home the couple has the rocking chair that crossed the prairie with Edgar’s great grandparents, John and Maria Graves.

“We’re lucky to have it,” said Nellie.