WI BIO - Dane Co - GRAVES, Sereno W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 286-288

Sereno W. GRAVES was born in Berkshire, Franklin County, VT, 11 Oct 1810, a 
son of David J. GRAVES, who was born in Leominster [Worcester County], MA, 
and his grandfather, Captain Peter GRAVES, was as far as known, born in the 
same place and commanded a company in the Revolutionary War. Peter GRAVES 
spent his last years in Leominster, and his wife was married a second time to 
Colonel John BOYNTON, and spent her last days at Weathersfield Windsor 
County, VT.

David J. GRAVES was three years old when his father died and his mother 
married again two years later and removed to VT and located at Weathersfield 
and here David J. was reared. After marriage he removed to Berkshire, 
Franklin County, VT, and bought timber land and built a log house in which 
Sereno W. GRAVES was born. David J. GRAVES resided at this place until 1832, 
when he lost his farm and returned to Weathersfield and lived there until 
1847, at which time he removed to WI and spent his last days in the town of 
Rutland [Dane County], WI.

David J. GRAVES, the father of our subject, was twice married, the maiden 
name of his first wife, [p 287] the mother of Sereno W. GRAVES, being Polly 
LELAND, who was born in Grafton [Worcester County], MA, a daughter of Joshua 
and Thankful LELAND, of Chester [Windsor County], VT. Polly (LELAND) GRAVES 
died on 04 Jul 1817. The maiden name of the second wife of David J. GRAVES 
was Sally COLBOTH, of VT, and she died in Rutland [Dane County, WI]. Four 
children were born of the first marriage and five by the second.

Sereno W. GRAVES was reared and educated in Berkshire, Franklin County, VT. 
There were no railroads in that section of the country nor any of what we at 
this time [1893] regard as the necessary adjuncts of civilization. The 
people were mostly poor and lived upon the products of the land, but the 
meagerness of their lives made them all the more interested in the lives of 
others, and neighborly kindness and interest were the rule among all. What 
noble men and women have come from the secluded portions of the New England 
States, and what wonderful marks they have left behind them! Thrifty habits 
were inculcated in both sexes, and the industrious mother of our subject 
labored without ceasing, spinning and weaving, and all of her family were 
arrayed in garments, not only made by her own skillful hands, but the cloth 
was also produced in the same manner. Money was scarce and debts were paid 
in cattle and stock. The pioneer schools were taught in log cabins, with 
only the merest excuses for teachers and with no opportunities at all for 
anything beyond the most primitive methods.

When 18 years of age, Sereno W. GRAVES went to Chester, VT, to live with his 
grandfather LELAND, where he remained until the death of this kind man two 
years later, at which time he returned to Weatherfield and lived with his 
aunt, attending the farm and going to school. This last occupation was very 
congenial, as he had a very intelligent understanding and was most anxious to 
learn. Four years passed by this way, and then our subject started out in 
life as a teacher, following the profession in the winters and farming during 
the summers until 1841, when he bought a farm in Weathersfield and lived upon 
it until 1843, when he sold it and on 10 Jun 1844, accompanied by his wife he 
started for the far away Territory of WI, feeling sure that the great West 
held possibilities which a resident in the East could never reach. The trip 
was commenced by team to Troy, NY, where the travelers took the Erie Canal 
for their ride across the State, and upon landing in Buffalo took a steamer 
to Milwaukee, WI, landing there 26 Jun 1844. Sereno W. GRAVES left his wife 
in Milwaukee with his cousin, D. A. J. UPHAM, and started to seek a location 
for a permanent home, accompanied by Jonathan LAWRENCE and his son, Frank, 
and finally drifted to Dane County, WI. At that time the country was but 
sparsely settled, and but three families lived in the town of Rutland [Dane 
County], WI. All the land was Government land, and our subject selected a 
tract that is now included in his present farm.

Sereno W. GRAVES walked to Milwaukee, from there to Waukesha, WI, [then still 
part of Milwaukee County] and there worked through harvest. On 01 Sep 1844 
he hired a horse and buggy and drove to his frontier home, and his wife was 
pleased with the land. Here he concluded then to settle and with his wife 
returned to Milwaukee and entered the land, consisting of 280 acres. Then 
Mr. GRAVES bought a pair of oxen and a cow, commencing to cut and hew logs 
for the new house. Before long a comfortable log cabin was erected and that 
same fall [1844] housekeeping was begun on the place. This log house has 
been replaced by others since, but Mr. GRAVES has resided [p 288] on the old 
farm since, although he rents the land.

In 1841 Sereno W. GRAVES was married to Miss Malinda BLAKESLEY, born in 
Weathersfield [Windsor County], VT, where she died in Dec 1841. In 1843 he 
married Melvina DENNISON, a native of Ludlow [Windsor County], VT, but she 
died in Rutland [Dane County, WI] on 28 Dec 1845. In 1846 Sereno W. GRAVES 
married Mary (READ) DUDLEY, a native of Plainfield [Sullivan County], NH, a 
daughter of Silas REED and widow of Charles DUDLEY. Mr. and Mrs. GRAVES have 
three living children: Ellen, who married La Salle C. BREWER of Evansville 
[Rock County, WI]; Marinda, who married C. A. COLE of Evansville; and Leland, 
the efficient manager of the farm.

In public life Sereno W. GRAVES has become well known in the State in which 
he has lived [VT]. In 1836 he joined Captain ALDRICH's company of State 
Militia and was made 2nd Lieutenant, but in 1837 the company was disbanded, 
but that same year a petition was made to the Legislature that another 
company might be organized. The petition was granted, and when the company 
was organized, our subject was made Captain and later was made Major, and 
still later promoted to be Colonel, holding that position until his departure 
for the West.

Soon after locating in WI, Sereno W. GRAVES became interested in public 
affairs, his intelligence and active mind requiring him to be more than a 
mere tiller of the soil. Formerly he was a Whig in politics, and may be said 
to have been one of the founders of the Republican party [formed in 1854]. 
Since those early days in the Territory, he has been called upon to fill 
various offices of trust. For sixteen years he was County Surveyor, and 
Deputy; seven times has been elected on the Town and County Board of 
Supervisors; in 1848 was elected Justice of the Peace, and with the exception 
of one year has served as such since. He has also been Road Commissioner and 
Town Clerk. In 1861 he was honored further by being elected to the State 
Legislature, and in all of these positions he has borne his part as a man of 
honesty and strict integrity.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly