My Genealogy Hound

William H. Graves, mayor of Canton, was born November 24, 1840, the son of Thomas A. and Mary P. (Bruce) Graves, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The father came from Kentucky to this county with his wife in 1840, and located on his present farm. [See sketch.] Our subject was reared to manhood on the farm, and has been largely self-educated. In March, 1863, he engaged in the drug business in Canton, without a dollar of his own, and for twenty years conducted it with unusual success. In 1882 he sold out, and became stockholder, secretary and treasurer of the Canton Planing Mill Company, his present occupation. September 10, 1863, he married Jennie, a daughter of William Montgomery, a native of Maryland. She was born in Ohio, but reared in Kentucky, and married in Bloomington, Ill. Their children are Mary B., William T., Harry B., Charles C., Carrie L., Leta and Virgie. He has been a prominent Democrat, and in 1876 was elected county collector, serving two terms, in which position he inaugurated and perfected the present system of bookkeeping and duplicate receipts, which has saved the county thousands of dollars. For seven years he was a member of the Canton school board. Since April, 1887, he has been an efficient mayor. He has served in Odd Fellowship as Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Master of the State, and Representative of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He is now G. S. W. of the Grand Encampment. He is also a Knight Templar, having passed all the chairs in the lodge and chapters, and has been Captain-General in the commandery at Canton, since the organization. His high position as an Odd Fellow is due to his thorough knowledge of the order and his zeal in its behalf. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.