Bennington

GRAVES, Josiah, Increase

Vermont Historical Magazine, No. XI, October 1867, pp 224-225
(extracted from a section on the history of Rupert, Bennington County)

Dr. Josiah GRAVES, the first physician who settled in Rupert [Bennington 
County, Vermont], was born in 1760 in Columbia County, New York; he came here 
in 1788, and continued in practice here until his death in 1825. His 
practice was large and lucrative. He was a man of good size, broad 
shoulders, spare in person, very homely in his features, a self-made man, 
uncouth in his manners, strong intellect, sober and discreet in his 
intercourse with his fellows, of decided piety, and much beloved by the 
people. To a stranger his appearance was stern and forbidding, but upon 
acquaintance he proved to be warm-hearted and companionable. He had no 
patience with impertinence or quackery. It was very annoying to him to be 
hailed on his return from visiting the sick and inquired of concerning them. 
In such case, he would either give a repulsive answer, such as "sick enough," 
or pass along without making any reply. He was also a man of firm opinions 
and strong prejudices. The following anecdote is characteristic and shows 
his contempt of quackery. [Anecdote edited. A stranger inquired of Dr. 
GRAVES where Dr. DREW lived, to which he replied he knew no "Doctor" DREW, 
but Jacob K. DREW lived about two miles below.] Dr. GRAVES was for some 
years a County Judge, and held the office of Town Clerk from 1791 to 1824, 
was two years a Town Representative; Chief Judge of the County Court for some 
years, and is now livng, though advanced in life. He had only two children, 
both daughters. One [Charlotte?] married Hon. Nathan BURTON, then a lawyer 
at Manchester [Bennington County], who afterwards removed here [Rupert]. The 
other [Laura?] married Hon. John S. PETTIBONE of Manchester. Dr. Henry 
SHELDON succeeded Dr. GRAVES as physician in 1821, and as Town Clerk in 1824, 
and is now performing both duties here.

The first church organized here [Rupert, Bennington County, Vermont] was the 
Congregational, 06 June 1786, with only seven members. Rev. Increase GRAVES, 
brother of Dr. [Josiah] GRAVES, was the first Pastor, and as such was 
entitled to come into possession of the lot of land granted to the first 
settled minister. He was a man in appearnce resembling his brother, of 
limited education, strong reasoning powers and a sound theologian. He 
remained here until 1793, removed to Bridport [Addison County, Vermont], 
where he [Increase GRAVES] died about 1830.

[Also in this section on the history of Rupert (p 226) is the following 
regarding Allen GRAVES. Its presence in this section of the text seems to 
imply a relationship between Allen GRAVES and the GRAVES family which 
included Josiah and Increase, but the relationship is not defined. Thus the 
submitter, who is not researching this family, also includes it here.] Rev. 
Allen GRAVES, born in 1790, was noted as being one of the first missionaries 
sent out by the American Board to India. He located at Bombay, and after a 
life of ardent and devoted toil in behalf of the heathen, died there in 1845. 
His wife, also reared here [Rupert, Bennington County, Vermont], is supposed 
to be still living in India, though broken down by years and severe labor. 
Miss Orpha GRAVES, a sister of Rev. Mr. [Allen] GRAVES, also went to India, 
some years since, and died there.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly