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GRAVES, Julius K.: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:graves.gif|left|thumb|200px|Julius K. Graves]] | [[Image:graves.gif|left|thumb|200px|Julius K. Graves]] | ||
[[Image:jkgraves.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Graves' home at 25 Fenelon Street with its four acres of land was called the "Executive Mansion" when Graves was elected mayor. (1) The house was removed to make room for a home for [[SEIPPEL, Peter J.|Peter J. SEIPPEL]]. Photo courtesy: State Historical Society of Iowa. (Iowa City)]]GRAVES, Julius K. (Keene, NH, Sept. 29, 1837--Dubuque, IA, Dec. 9, 1898). Graves became his professional career as a bank clerk in New Hampshire. Coming to Dubuque in 1855, he served as a clerk for the private banking house of [[M. MOBLEY]]. This bank reorganized as J. K. Graves & Company in 1858. (1) It merged with the [[STATE BANK OF IOWA]] with Graves as vice president and general manager. He also served on the bank's Board of Control as a director. Graves was a principal organizer of the National State Bank and the | [[Image:jkgraves.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Graves' home at 25 Fenelon Street with its four acres of land was called the "Executive Mansion" when Graves was elected mayor. (1) The house was removed to make room for a home for [[SEIPPEL, Peter J.|Peter J. SEIPPEL]]. Photo courtesy: State Historical Society of Iowa. (Iowa City)]]GRAVES, Julius K. (Keene, NH, Sept. 29, 1837--Dubuque, IA, Dec. 9, 1898). Graves became his professional career as a bank clerk in New Hampshire. Coming to Dubuque in 1855, he served as a clerk for the private banking house of [[M. MOBLEY]]. This bank reorganized as J. K. Graves & Company in 1858. (1) It merged with the [[STATE BANK OF IOWA]] with Graves as vice president and general manager. He also served on the bank's Board of Control as a director. Graves was a principal organizer of the National State Bank and the [[COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK]]. (2) | ||
Prominent in the city, Graves was the founder of the [[FOURTH STREET ELEVATOR]]. In 1859 Graves was president and a major stockholder of the [[KEY CITY GAS COMPANY]], the company that provided Dubuque with light. Starting in 1868, Graves worked for the construction of the [[DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY]], a company in which he later served as president. (3) | Prominent in the city, Graves was the founder of the [[FOURTH STREET ELEVATOR]]. In 1859 Graves was president and a major stockholder of the [[KEY CITY GAS COMPANY]], the company that provided Dubuque with light. Starting in 1868, Graves worked for the construction of the [[DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY]], a company in which he later served as president. (3) | ||
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In 1862 Graves wrote to Governor Kirkwood that, "I am ready to quit Banking, drop my Pen (sic) and devote my time and energies to the welfare of the Brigade and the extinction of Traitors (sic)." Through his lead in establishing what was first called [[CAMP UNION]] and later [[CAMP FRANKLIN]], a major state organizational site in Dubuque, Graves was appointed Dubuque Quartermaster. (10) Letters of support for his selection came from fellow bankers, [[ALLISON, William Boyd|William Boyd ALLISON]], and Brigadier General [[HERRON, Francis J.|Francis J. HERRON]]. The post was largely honorary. (11) | In 1862 Graves wrote to Governor Kirkwood that, "I am ready to quit Banking, drop my Pen (sic) and devote my time and energies to the welfare of the Brigade and the extinction of Traitors (sic)." Through his lead in establishing what was first called [[CAMP UNION]] and later [[CAMP FRANKLIN]], a major state organizational site in Dubuque, Graves was appointed Dubuque Quartermaster. (10) Letters of support for his selection came from fellow bankers, [[ALLISON, William Boyd|William Boyd ALLISON]], and Brigadier General [[HERRON, Francis J.|Francis J. HERRON]]. The post was largely honorary. (11) | ||
[[File:JKG.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Campaign ribbon: Image courtesy: Dan Parkin]]Elected [[MAYOR]] in 1866, Graves began a political career that saw his election as a representative to the state legislature in 1876. In 1881 he was elected to serve four years as a state senator. (12) His interest in [[RAILROADS]] began with the construction of a line from Dubuque to Chicago. Graves later became president of the [[CHICAGO, DUBUQUE AND MINNESOTA RAILROAD]]; the [[CHICAGO, CLINTON AND DUBUQUE RAILROAD]]; and the Iowa Pacific. He was vice-president of the Railroad River Construction Company, the Iowa & Minnesota Construction Company, and the Iowa & Wisconsin Construction Company. He was a director of the | [[File:JKG.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Campaign ribbon: Image courtesy: Dan Parkin]]Elected [[MAYOR]] in 1866, Graves began a political career that saw his election as a representative to the state legislature in 1876. In 1881 he was elected to serve four years as a state senator. (12) His interest in [[RAILROADS]] began with the construction of a line from Dubuque to Chicago. Graves later became president of the [[CHICAGO, DUBUQUE AND MINNESOTA RAILROAD]]; the [[CHICAGO, CLINTON AND DUBUQUE RAILROAD]]; and the Iowa Pacific. He was vice-president of the Railroad River Construction Company, the Iowa & Minnesota Construction Company, and the Iowa & Wisconsin Construction Company. He also was a director of the Commercial National Bank and the president of the First National Bank of McGregor. (13) | ||
In 1865 Graves was appointed Special U. S. Indian Commissioner by the Interior Department for New Mexico. His duties involved negotiating the basis of treaties which would later be acted upon by Congress. He first journeyed to the area in October 1865 accompanied by a military escort and an artist who was to sketch points of interest along the way. (14) | In 1865 Graves was appointed Special U. S. Indian Commissioner by the Interior Department for New Mexico. His duties involved negotiating the basis of treaties which would later be acted upon by Congress. He first journeyed to the area in October 1865 accompanied by a military escort and an artist who was to sketch points of interest along the way. (14) | ||
Revision as of 01:09, 25 September 2015
Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3199225&id=I01519
GRAVES, Julius K. (Keene, NH, Sept. 29, 1837--Dubuque, IA, Dec. 9, 1898). Graves became his professional career as a bank clerk in New Hampshire. Coming to Dubuque in 1855, he served as a clerk for the private banking house of M. MOBLEY. This bank reorganized as J. K. Graves & Company in 1858. (1) It merged with the STATE BANK OF IOWA with Graves as vice president and general manager. He also served on the bank's Board of Control as a director. Graves was a principal organizer of the National State Bank and the COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK. (2)
Prominent in the city, Graves was the founder of the FOURTH STREET ELEVATOR. In 1859 Graves was president and a major stockholder of the KEY CITY GAS COMPANY, the company that provided Dubuque with light. Starting in 1868, Graves worked for the construction of the DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY, a company in which he later served as president. (3)
Much has been said of Graves' business sense. In 1860 Graves with other stockholders purchased the SHOT TOWER. When his fellow stockholders grew impatient with their investment, Graves was able to purchase their shares for pennies on the dollar. He was then able to sell the tower in 1862 to his stiffest competitor, the firm of Chadbourn and Foster, at a fine profit. It is often repeated that as part of the deal, Graves swore not to build another tower within one hundred miles of Dubuque for ten years. Taken to court by the St. Louis firm for violating this agreement, Graves won the case by demonstrating that he had manufactured SHOT by dropping it down an abandoned mine shaft instead of building another tower. (4) Research, however, has never proven that this court case actually occurred. (5)
At the beginning of the CIVIL WAR, Graves and his brother loaned the State of Iowa large sums of money to recruit and equip volunteers from the Dubuque area. (6) In May 1861 he wrote to Governor Kirkwood with the following proposal:
As the sole owner of the "Dubuque Shot Tower" I take this occasion to
tender the use of said property to (the) Government for the manufacture
of such supplies of Bulletts (sic) and other Leaden (sic) missiles of
war as may be required during the continuance of the present troubles--
without money and without price. (7)
There is no evidence that Governor Kirkwood responded to this proposal. (8) Unable to use the tower for the war effort, Graves purchased a flag according to the Daily Times, May 24, 1861:
J. K. Graves, Esq., a gentleman who is largely interest in this enterprise,
purchased a large flag the other day which cost him $40, which he intends to
raise upon a tall pole from the top of the shot tower on the receipt of the
news of the first battle and victory for the Union. Good for him! (9)
Union victories did not come quickly enough. Graves displayed his flag at the end of May.
In 1862 Graves wrote to Governor Kirkwood that, "I am ready to quit Banking, drop my Pen (sic) and devote my time and energies to the welfare of the Brigade and the extinction of Traitors (sic)." Through his lead in establishing what was first called CAMP UNION and later CAMP FRANKLIN, a major state organizational site in Dubuque, Graves was appointed Dubuque Quartermaster. (10) Letters of support for his selection came from fellow bankers, William Boyd ALLISON, and Brigadier General Francis J. HERRON. The post was largely honorary. (11)
Elected MAYOR in 1866, Graves began a political career that saw his election as a representative to the state legislature in 1876. In 1881 he was elected to serve four years as a state senator. (12) His interest in RAILROADS began with the construction of a line from Dubuque to Chicago. Graves later became president of the CHICAGO, DUBUQUE AND MINNESOTA RAILROAD; the CHICAGO, CLINTON AND DUBUQUE RAILROAD; and the Iowa Pacific. He was vice-president of the Railroad River Construction Company, the Iowa & Minnesota Construction Company, and the Iowa & Wisconsin Construction Company. He also was a director of the Commercial National Bank and the president of the First National Bank of McGregor. (13)
In 1865 Graves was appointed Special U. S. Indian Commissioner by the Interior Department for New Mexico. His duties involved negotiating the basis of treaties which would later be acted upon by Congress. He first journeyed to the area in October 1865 accompanied by a military escort and an artist who was to sketch points of interest along the way. (14)
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Source:
1. Gue, Benjamin F. "Julius K. Graves," History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/Volume 4 Online: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/History_of_Iowa_From_the_Earliest_Times_to_the_Beginning_of_the_Twentieth_Century/4/Julius_K._Graves
2. National Register of Historic Places," Online: http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink8/1/doc/16333/Page56.aspx,
3. Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1894, p. 138
4. "Julius K. Graves," Linwood Legacies. Online: http://www.linwoodlegacies.org/the-graves-family.html
5. National Register, p. 62
6. Ibid., p. 57
7. Ibid., p. 57
8. Ibid., p. 57
9. Ibid, p. 56
10. Oldt, Franklin T., The History of Dubuque County, Iowa, Western Historical Company 1880, p. 795
11. Ibid. p. 57
12. "Julius K. Graves," Dubuque County Genealogy, Online: http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iadubuqu/biographies/graves.html
13. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, August 8, 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18720808&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
13. "An Expedition to New Mexico," Dubuque Herald, October 17, 1865, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18651017&printsec=frontpage&hl=en