Contra
Costa County
Biographies
AMOS
M. GRAVES
AMOS M. GRAVES. It is not a matter of wonder that Amos M.
Graves has succeeded in his agricultural operations in Contra Costa county, for since his location here, in October, 1865, he
has made a complete and thorough study of the conditions of climate and soil as
adapted to certain crops. For nearly
forty years he has lived upon the property where he now makes his home,
bringing the land from nature to the highly developed state which places his
ranch in the front ranks of those that do credit to the energy and ability of
the farmers of Contra Costa county. Born in Rochester, Monroe county,
N.Y., April 10, 1841, he is the son of Martin A. and Lusetta (Daily) Graves, both of whom spent their last days
among the pleasant scenes of their son’s California home, the father dying at
the age of sixty years, while the mother lived to be seventy-seven.
Reared
and educated in his native state, Amos M. Graves there enlisted
July 8, 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and Eighth New York Volunteer
Infantry, serving three and a half years.
Although wounded in the leg, arm and hand at the Battle of Bristow
Station, a sturdy constitution enabled him to recover quickly, and upon his
discharge he came at once to California, having made up his mind to settle in
this state. After looking about for a
desirable location, he finally bought a quarter-section of government land in
Contra Costa county, upon which he has since made his
home. His first improvement on the place
was a cabin 12x12 feet in dimensions, the lumber for which cost him $50 per
thousand. He quickly discovered that he
had made a wise purchase in one way, at least, for that winter was one in which
the violent rains did a great amount of damage to the lowlands, and his land
lay higher and thus escaped. The
following season he put in the first crop of barley ever raised in that
section. Many of the farmers about
advised him not to do so, saying that he could not raise anything there. Always self-reliant and dependent upon his
own judgment, Mr. Graves persisted in his efforts and matured a crop which
won for him the admiration of those who witnessed his efforts. He continued to depend upon himself, and in
the face of every obstacle developed his property and won a position among the
successful agriculturists of the community.
His ambition has been limitless, but his ability has kept pace with it
and brought him splendid financial returns.
He set out the first almond trees of the valley, and to-day has twenty
acres of orchard and twenty acres of vineyard, while he has bought ten acres
adjoining his property, which he devotes to almonds. The remainder of his ranch is given over to
the cultivation of hay and grain. In
time he added to the value of his property by the erection of a fine house and
barns. Everything about the place
bespeaks the thrift of the owner, while the quality of the
products are an evidence of the study which he has put into the
accomplishment of his plans.
In
1876 Mr. Graves married Elizabeth Comrie, a
native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a woman of rare qualities of heart and
mind. Of this union one daughter,
Elizabeth, was born. In his fraternal
relations Mr. Graves is a member and past grand of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and is a veteran of the order.
Both himself and wife are identified with the Rebekahs.
[Inserted
by D. Toole]
AMOS M. GRAVES
According
to Amos M. Graves’ Pension record at Fold3.com [attached], Amos M. Graves died
December 20, 1906. I find no obituary
for him or his wife [Bessie] who died in 1914.
History of Contra Costa County,
California, Including its Geography, Geology, Topography, Climatography
and Description; Together with A Record of the Mexican Grants; The Bear Flag
War; The Mount Diablo Coal Fields; The Early History and Settlement, Compiled
From the Most Authentic Sources; The Names of Original Spanish and Mexican
Pioneers; Full Legislative History of the County; Separate History of Each
Township, Showing the Advance in Population and Agriculture; also, Incidents of
Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches of Early and Prominent Settlers and
Representative Men; and of its Towns, Villages, Churches, Secret Societies,
Etc.. Illustrated.
San Francisco: W. A. Slocum & Co. Publishers. 1882; Mocavo.com, P568
Amos M.
Graves – The subject of this sketch is a native of Monroe county,
New York, where he was born April 10, 1841.
July 8, 1862, at his country’s call, Mr. Graves enlisted in Company G,
One Hundred and Eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served his full time of
three years. He now bears a memento of
his service in the loss of one of his index fingers. On his return home, he started with his
mother via the Isthmus of Panama for the Pacific States, and arrived in San
Francisco October 22, 1865. His father
having preceded him to California, the subject of our memoir first found
employment on the river steamers as engineer, which he followed some five
years, at the end of which time, he joined his mother, after the death of his
father, on his ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, two miles east of Antioch,
where he is now engaged in general farming, and respected by all who know
him. Mr. Graves was married in Martinez,
October 23, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Comrie, a native
of Scotland. By this union they have one
daughter.
1887 Sep
17, San Francisco Bulletin, P5, San Francisco, California
Agricultural
Notes
<snipped>
What
Mission Grapes are Good For – Food for Making Eggs –
Damage Done by the Late Rain – Drying Grapes
<snipped>
Amos
Graves this week sent to the Board of Trade rooms a Zinfandel grape vine, which
grew on his place one mile east of Antioch, without irrigation, and the first
year’s growth of which was eaten down by rabbits. The weight of the vine with the fruit
remaining upon it was fifty-three pounds.
The grapes were in large compact clusters. – Antioch Ledger.
<snipped>
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 996. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.
Contra Costa County Biographies