Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 782.
 
CHARLES A. GRAVES

     who is the efficient surveyor of Crook county, is also a pioneer of this
portion of Oregon, having come to Crook county in 1881. He was born in Benton
county, Oregon, on July 16, 1855, the son of James and Melvina (Pyburn) Graves.
The father was born in Ohio and in his youthful days learned the stone mason's
and the carpenter's trades. In 1852, the year of the terrible cholera ravages,
he crossed the plains with of teams to the Willamette valley. He followed his
trades in various portions of the valley and became a very prominent and well to
do man. He and his wife are now living at Hillsdale, Oregon. The mother of our
subject was born near Independence, Missouri, and was left an orphan at an early
age.  In 1852 she accompanied some relatives across the plains and located at
Corvallis, Oregon.  Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native
county and in the Agricultural College, at Corvallis, and made a practical study
of surveying and civil engineering.  In 1902 he located a homestead in the
Powell Butte country.  In 1886 he was elected county surveyor of Crook county
and is now serving his sixth term in this office.  He has demonstrated his
ability to cope with the intricate problems of this important branch of county
work to the entire satisfaction of his constituency, while also he has
manifested himself a progressive citizen, a good man and a generous and faithful
friend.
     In 1889 Mr. Graves married Miss Monia Lewis, a native of California.  She
came to Oregon with her parents when a child.  Frank Lewis, her father, who was
born in New York, was a pioneer to Wisconsin and then to California in 1850.
For years he was mining in the Golden State.  His mother was, in maiden life, a
Miss Clark and her father, Abraham Clark, was a signer of the Declaration of
Independence.  The Clarks were a very early colonial family and prominent in
those early days.
     Our subject is a member of the A. O. U. W. and is deeply interested in
everything for the welfare of his county.  When living in the Willamette valley,
his father's first neighbors were M. H. Bell, D. E. Templeton, and Joseph
Hinkle, with others who are now residents of Prineville, Oregon.  Mr. Graves has
shown himself a genuine pioneer and has done a great deal for the advancement
and building up of Crook county.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.