SMITH, James

Family/Spouse: PINKHAM, Abigail. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Delilah married GRAVES, John on 3 Feb 1822 in Boston, MA, USA. John (son of GRAVES, Joseph and BADGER, Mary) was born on 27 Sep 1800 in New Market, Rockingham, NH, USA; died on 23 Nov 1880 in Palmer, Hampden, MA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: From Santa Cruz Evening News, 12 Sep 1924 Captain graves Dies At Home During Morning After being confined to his bed for the past week as the result of a gradually ailing physique, Captain S. F. Graves died early this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George G. Byrne, at 320 King Street. Captain Graves, during his residence in this city for more than the past ten years, built up a host of friends who, besides the members of his family survive him, were deeply sorrowed by the news of his passing this morning. The deceased, who was eighty-three years of age when death came, had been a sea captain during the greater part of his active career. In the civil war he served as an ensign in the Union Navy. For the past thirty years he had been in retirement from active service. He came to Santa Cruz from Alameda, being born in Massachusetts, where he spent his youth. Besides his daughter, Mrs. George G. Byrne, with whom he had been residing, Captain Graves leaves his wife, Mrs. S. F. Graves, who resides with another daughter, Mrs. E. P. Bemis of 112 Cleveland avenue in this city. A daughter, Miss Anna Graves of Berkeley, and a son, A. M. Graves of Oakland, also survive. The funeral, which will be held from the undertaking parlors of Wesendorf & Son, will take place on Monday, the hour not yet being decided upon.
• Occupation: Sailor & Artist
• Military: 1863-1865
• Census: 13 Jul 1870, Table Rock, Sierra, CA USA
• Census: 23 Jun 1880, Empire City, Coos, OR, USA
• Residence: 1904, Alameda, Alameda, CA, USA

Notes:

From the Morning Astorian, 2 Nov 1890:

Caught On Fire Out At Sea

The Steamer "Michigan" Arrives in Port with a Hot Cargo

A Lively Race for the River

Considerable excitement was created in this city early yesterday morning when a dispatch was received from Ft Canby announcing that the steam schooner Michigan was coming in on fire. E. A. Noyes, agent of the Union Pacific Company which owns the vessel, at once dispatched tug boats to meet the incoming steamer. The boats picked the distressed vessel up at the mouth of the river, but Captain S. F. Graves, who was in command of the Michigan, said that all he required was for the tugs to stand by. He reported that his vessel was afire in the forehold and had been burning for several hours. He had the hatches all battened down and the fire smothered in such away that he could make port and turn her over to the agents and underwriters. The tugs stood by and escorted the vessel up the river.

The scene was an exciting one. Wild reportsliad proceeded the arrival of the Michigan, and hundreds flocked to the wharves to see -the burning vessel come up. The crowd was disappointed for save for puffs of smoke issuing from the seams at the bow, through the forward hatch and through the dead light holes of the freight deck, no fire was visible.

The vessel came up the river at full speed, and by 12 o'clock had a line ashore at the Union Pacific dock. The few passengers on board were landed, and then the underwriters' agent, Chief Stockton of the fire department, and others, together with the Union Pacific representatives, went on board. A consultation followed, and the result was that it was decided to scuttle the vessel forward, or rather to sink her by the bow and thus smother the flames. Lines were run out, and with the aid of a tug the vessel was Warped around into a position between the west end of the Union Pacific wharf and the old sturgeon wharf.

No. 1 and No. 2 engines were called out, but considerable delay was occasioned by the fact that the burning vessel was stuck in the mud, and the tugs made an effort to tow her off. This, it was found, could not be done, so orders were given and two lines of hose from each engine were put on board and the work of flooding the steamer commenced.

The hose was put down through the hatch and as the first stream of water struck the fire, a mass of thick black smoke accompanied by a strong odor of burning fish was wafted to the wharf. Throughout the afternoon the engines pumped water into the hold.

It was a veritable volcano. The fire was confined among 500 barrels of lime and 2,300 cases of salmon, with a lot of coal on one side to help it out The combined efforts- of the local engine companies told on the fire after several hours and at 7 o'clock last evening the fire was out.

The damage could not be estimated last night but it will amount to probably 15,000. The vessel is considerably damaged, and of the cargo, the 2,300 cases of salmon, which belonged to Morgan & Sherman, are almost a total loss. The fish was insured for its full value, about $9,000. The lime, to which the origin of the fire is attributed, is also a total loss, but outside of this and the damage to the ship the loss is comparatively small.

Captain Graves, master of the Michigan, stated that the fire was discovered about 2 o'clock yesterday morning when the vessel was about fifty miles off the entrance to Gray's Harbor. The hatches were at once battened down and all the ventilators turned. It was intended to kill the fire at once and the entire crew were summoned. The first attempt showed that this would be impossible, with the appliances at hand so the hatches were battened down again, the course laid direct for the Columbia river and the engineer told to open her wide. This was done, and the little steamer came along at a rate of speed she had seldom attained. The few passeugers were somewhat "frightened but they put their trust in Captain Graves and he saw them through. At first they insisted on the vessel being beached at once, but the skipper preferred to stay by his ship and get her into a place where if it was necessary to scuttle her he could find her again. Seeing he was determined, the passengers withdrew their objections, and the Michigan arrived here as state.

With the exception of the salmon, the lime and other cargo is destined to Portland.

Birth:
Town records indicate Methuen, MA, but family bible record shows Lawrence, MA. From MA vital records: “Sewell Fogg Graves, son of John Graves and Delilah his wife was born Feb 17th, 1841.”

Military:
Masters Mate, US Navy, Civil War

Census:
Graves, S. F. / Age 29 / Male / White / Occupation - Design Artist / Value of Real Estate $15 / Value of Personal Estate $100 / Birthplace Mass-

Census:
Graves, Sewell F / W / M / 39 / Head / / Married / / Sailor / Mass / Mass / NH

Sewell married BATCHELDER, Amelia Aldea on 6 Mar 1866 in Bath, Maine, USA. Amelia was born on 1 May 1841 in Bath, Maine, USA; died on 18 Feb 1926 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Women’s Relief Corps of Massachusetts

Notes:

From Howe/Graves:

DELILAH S. DAVIS, an earnest and liberal supporter of patriotic work, has been a department officer of the Woman's Relief Corps of Massachusetts for several years. Born November 28, 1833, in that part of the old town of Methuen now included in Lawrence, Mass., she was one of the twelve children, six boys and six girls, of John and Delilah (Smith) Graves. Her father, born September 27, 1800, in New Market, N.H., died November 23, 1880, in Palmer, Mass.

Her paternal grandfather, Joseph Graves, was born in 1761 in Stratham, Rockingham County, N.H. His wife was Mary Badger, of Portsmouth, N.H. Her brother, Daniel Badger, was a ship-builder. He was buried on Badger's Island, near Portsmouth, N.H., and on his tombstone was recorded the number of ships he built. The mother of Mrs. Davis was born in Wolfborough, N.H., April 12, 1798. She died in Palmer, Mass., June 4, 1873. She was one of the four children and the youngest of the three daughters of James and Abigail (Pinkham) Smith. Her maternal grandfather, Abijah Pinkham, was a soldier of the Revolution, the records showing that he was a private in Captain Smith Emerson's company on Seavey's Island in November, 1775. Abigail Pinkham after the death of James Smith, her first husband, married Reuben Libby, by whom she had a son and a daughter.

John Graves and Delilah Smith were married in 1821 in Boston, where Mr. Graves was engaged in the livery business. He subsequently bought a farm in Methuen, built a soap factory, and conducted an extensive business. After the founding, in 1847, of Lawrence, the "new city," as it was called, he removed to Billerica. Here his daughter Delilah attended a private school. She had previously been a pupil in the Prospect Street School, Lawrence, formerly Methuen: and when, in 1850, the family returned to Lawrence, she was admitted to the Lawrence High School. It being decided in the home council that she could not take the full three years' course of study, she preferred to give up school at once, which she was allowed to do. On June 22, 1851, she was married to Edwin Lawrence Davis. He was born in Billerica, February 17, 1831, son of Timothy Jr. and Susan S. (Lawrence) Davis. Timothy Davis Jr. died in Billerica in 1841. His wife, Susan S., was the daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Lawrence, who preached in Tyngsboro, Mass., forty years, and delivered a sermon on the day of his death. He died suddenly, of apoplexy. His son, Samuel S. Lawrence, was a prominent merchant of Boston. Timothy Davis Jr. was a member of the Bunker Hill Monument Association, which was formetl in 1823. Mrs. Davis has in her po.ssession his certificate of membership, signed by the president of the association, J. Brooks; the vice-presidents, T. H. Perkins and Joseph Story: the secretary, Franklin Dexter: the treasurer, Nathaniel P. Russell; and fourteen directors.

Edwin Lawrence Davis, enlisting in the navy in 1864, was in the United States service in the latter part of the Civil War as captain's clerk on the steamer "Miami." Mrs. Davis had two brothers in the Union army, one of whom died in a hospital at Alexandria.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis removed in September, 1853, to Palmer, Mass., where Mr. Davis purchased a dry-goods store, and was a successful merchant. They had two children: George Lawrence, born March 26, 1854, who died Nov. 29, 1883: and Annie Elizabeth, who is still living. Mrs. Davis became interested in church and charitable work in Palmer, devoting her special efforts to the cause represented by L. L. Merrick Post, G. A. R., and its auxiliary Relief Corps, which was formed in 1886. She was elected first President of the Relief Corps, and was installed into this office five years in succession.

At the annual State convention held in Boston in 1891 she was elected Senior Vice- President. The office of President of the Department of Massachusetts, Woman's Relief Corps, was tendered her the following year, but she was unable to accept the honor, as her husband was in failing health.

During the destructive fire in Palmer in 1895 Mr. Davis's store was burned. They went to Gardiner, Me., in the spring of 1896, and in December of that same year returned to Massachusetts, settling in Springfield. Mr. Davis died in that city, January 6, 1897. In October following Mrs. Davis moved to Lawrence, where she now resides with her daughter.

In 1900 Mrs. Davis was elected Department Chaplain of the Massachusetts Woman's Relief Corps, and at the annual convention of 1901 she was re-elected. Referring to this office, she said: "Fully appreciating the honor con- ferred, I assumed the sacred duties of Chaplain, and have filled the position to the best of my ability. The work lia.s been an inspiration to me and given me a better knowledge of what has been done through the State on Memorial Day."

In her last report as Department Chaplain she stated that members assisted in decorating the graves of thirty-four thousand four hundred and fifty-one soldiers in Massachusetts, that flowers were furnished one hundred and twenty-two posts on Memorial Day, and that memorials and Horal designs for the unknown deatl who sleep in nameless graves were pre- pared by one hundred and thirty-nine corps. Memorial Day work in the South was aided by one humlred and fourteen corps in Massa- chusetts.

The number of children who assisted in memorial exercises under the direction of corps was reported as twenty-eight thousand five hundred and fifty-five. An elaborate account of this work throughout the State was prepared by Mrs. Davis, her report containing twenty-one printetd pages.

Elected a member of the Department Executive Board in 1902, Mrs. Davis has continued her interest with the same loyal enthusiasm as in other years. She has served as Inspector and on numerous committees. As a delegate to several national conventions she has travelled in many States, and has been recognized by national appointments in the order. Mrs. Davis is a liberal contributor to the various objects of the W. R. C, and takes special interest in its charitable and philanthropic work.

She has been a guest of corps in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and in other Southern States. The Andersonville Prison property under the management of the National W. R. C. has received her liberal support, and she has visited these historic grounds in Georgia.

Mrs. Davis is a woman of firm convictions, and is devoted to the principles of loyalty and justice. Her steadfast friendship and kindly deeds are appreciated by her associates.

She attends the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lawrence. She is a member of the Charity Club of that city, also of the Woman's Christian Temperance I'nion and of the auxiliary to the Young Men's Christian Association of Lawrence.

Her husband was a member of the Masonic lodge in Palmer, and she is therefore interested in the Order of the Eastern Star. Revere Chapter, No. 4, of that city, elected her its first secretary.

For several years Mrs. Davis has been an active member of the Ladies' Aid Association of the SoKliers' Home in Massachusetts. As a visitor, director, and in other capacities she has given time, money, and effort for the welfare of the home. The officials and inmates recog- nize her faithful work in its behalf.

Mrs. Davis, through her great-grandfather Pinkham, above mentioned, has membership in Bunker Hill Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mrs. Davis has one sister living, namely: Sarah Abbie Graves, whose home is in Indiana; another sister, Octavia McFarland, who resided in San Francisco, died June 5, 1893. Her only brother, Sewell F. Graves, resides hi Alameda, Cal. He is a sea captain, was in the United States navy during the Civil War, and is now a pilot in San Francisco Harbor.

Delilah married DAVIS, Edwin Lawrence on 22 Jun 1851. Edwin (son of DAVIS, Timothy Jr and LAWRENCE, Susan) was born on 17 Feb 1831 in Billerica, Middlesex, MA, USA; died on 6 Jan 1897 in Springfield, Hampden, MA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Sally Abby Poor
• Residence: 1904, Indiana

Family/Spouse: MCFARLAND. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MANN, Samuel Smith. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 13 Jul 1870, Table Rock, Sierra, CA USA
• Census: 23 Jun 1880, Empire City, Coos, OR, USA
• Residence: 1900, Santa Cruz Ward 3, Santa Cruz, California
• Residence: 1910, Santa Cruz Ward 4, Santa Cruz, California
• Residence: 1914, 320 King Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
• Residence: 1920, Santa Cruz Ward 4, Santa Cruz, California
• Residence: 1935, 350 Laurel Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Notes:

Census:
Graves, Helen F / Age 2 / Female / White / / / / / Birthplace Maine

Census:
Graves, Helen P / W / F / 12 / Daughter / Single / / / At Home / School / Maine / Mass / Maine

Residence:
36 Byrne, Mrs. Helen G. Progressive Housewife 320 King Street, Santa Cruz

Helen married BYRNE, George Griffing on 17 Dec 1890 in Portland, OR, USA. George (son of BYRNE, George Griffing and EARLEY, Henrietta) was born on 19 Apr 1864 in Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, United States; died on 28 Dec 1923 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried on 31 Dec 1923 in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Martha Graves
• Census: 13 Jul 1870, Table Rock, Sierra, CA USA
• Census: 23 Jun 1880, Empire City, Coos, OR, USA
• Residence: 12 Sep 1924, 112 Cleveland Ave, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz CA USA

Notes:

Birth:
From Santa Cruz Sentinel, 1 Aug 1946: “August 1 / Happy BIrthday / Mrs. Mattie Bemis”

Census:
Graves, Martha / Age 10 Mos / Female / White / / / / / Birthplace Cala

Census:
Graves, Mattie O / W / F / 10 / Daughter / Single / / / At Home / School / Cala / Mass / Maine

Family/Spouse: BEMIS, E. P.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Anna C Graves
• Obituary: From the Oakland Tribune, 21 Nov 1955 (page 56) GRAVES In Oakland. November 20, 1955. Miss Anna, sister of Alonso Graves of Lafayette and the late Helen Byrne and Mattie Bemis: a native of California: a member of First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Friends are invited to attend services at the East 14th Street Chaoel of Grant Miller Mortuaries, 2372 East 14th Street, Oakland. Tuesday. November 22. at 1 o'clock p.m. Dr. V. V. Loner officiating..
• Census: 23 Jun 1880, Empire City, Coos, OR, USA
• Residence: 12 Sep 1924, Berkeley, Alameda, California, USA
• Census: 27 Apr 1950, 3041 23rd Street, Oakland, Alameda, CA USA

Notes:

Census:
Graves, Annie C / W / F / 9 / Daughter / Single / / / At Home / School / Cala / Mass / Maine

Census:
3041 23rd Street / Graves, Anna C / Aunt / White / Female / Age 79 / Never Married / Born in California / Not Employed / Not seeking work

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: From Oakland Tribune 1 Jan 1957 GRAVES, Alonzo McFarland. in Lafayette. December 30, 1956, beloved husband of Florence Graves: loving father of Florence Hastings and Evelyn Goheen of Oakland; grandfather Clayton Hastings, Audrey Mann and Janet Goheen; also survived by three great-grandchildren; a native of Portland. aged 78 years. Friends are Invited to attend services at the Telegraph Avenue Chapel of the Grant Miller Mortuaries. 2850 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. Wednesday, January I it 1 o'clock p.m. (Ample off street parking.).
• Occupation: Asst Chief Engineer, San Francisco - Oakland Terminal Railway, SF Bay (Emeryville Pier)
• Residence: Jan 1920, 2045 41st Ave, Oakland, Alameda, CA USA
• Residence: 20 Nov 1955, Lafayette, Alameda CA USA

Notes:

Residence:
“Alonso Graves of Lafayette”

Family/Spouse: MINNA, Florence. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]