The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-08-31
LEVIC. GRAVES
CALLED BY DEATH
Widely Known Hotel Keep
err and Real Estate Man
Dies Monday.
SERVED AS SOLDIER
People Pay Tribute to Delight
full Companion and Friend
Who Answered Summons.


nosha and widely known to the people
of the city and county as hotel man
and real estate dealer, died at the
Kenosha hospital on Monday evening
just after o'clock Death came as a
result of general breaking down due
to advanced years. Mr.. Graves had
been in failing health for the better
part of year and he had gone to the
hospital two weeks ago. The announce
ment of his death came as shock to
close personal friends, as they had not
known that his condition was critical.
His one son, Thomas v. Graves Of
Peoria, ILL.,, was with him when the
final summons came.
The remains were removed to the
Hansen mortuary, from which the
funeral services will be held later in.
the week. The services will be under
the direction of the Fred S. Lowell post
of the Grand Army Of the Republic, of
which he had been one Of the most
active members for many years. The
remains will be laid at rest at the
family plot at Green Ridge.
w DIS 4NdtANG VI OniU.
Levi Curtis Graves, lovingly known
to his thousands of friends in Kenosha
as "Pop" Graves, was native of Ohio.
He was born on farm just over the
Indiana line on March IT,, .1848. He
went from the farm to Richm ond, Ind,
as boy and worked in hotel. When
the Civil War came, he burned with a
j L.
though under age for service, he was
finally admitted to one Of the volunteer
companies raised at Richmond and in
the closing days of the great struggle
for national unity he marched south
under the flag. He received slight
wound in service from which he never
fully recovered. The intense patriot
ism which led him into the army as
boy under age was featured in his
entire life and in after years he had
an active part in every great patriotic
movement in the country.
With the close of the war, Mr.
Graves returned to Richmond and
shortly after he became the proprietor
of the old Richmond House," one of
tional road. He remained in charge of
this hotel for twelve years.
Kept Hotels in Many Cities.
1t was during his residence at Rich
mond that he was married to Miss
Elizabeth Starbuck, the wedding being
celebrated at Union City, Ind, in 1878
Mrs. Graves died in. Kenosha four
years ago, her death bringing to an
end a wonderful comradeship. Mr.
Graves never fully recovered from the
lonesomeness which followed the death
of his wife. e5fE
After leaving Richmond, Mr.. Graves
for number of years was in charge
of hotel at Winnemac, Ind, and for
short time was in charge of health
resort. in Ohio. Later he went to
Grand Rapids, Mich, where he was en-
gagged in the real estate business, and
still later he engaged in the same bust
ness in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. He
came to Chicago as a real estate dealer
in 1892 and a year later he came to
Kenosha and assumed the management
OF the Grant House. He was in charge
of the Grant House, the leading hotel
of Kenosha, for nearly ten years, when
he gave up the hotel business and went
into the real estate business.
Active in Real Estate Business.
He was associated with the late John
M. Kehlor in the organization of the
Kenosha Realty company and for many
I.
pany~in an executive capacity. He was
promoter of home building and many
subdivisions about Kenosha which are
now wholly built up were put on the
market under his direction. His hon
esty and integrity and his scorn for
the littleness of life won for him
high place among the people of Keno
sha with whom he had dealings and
the announcement of his death will re-
fleet sorrow in many homes in Kenosha
which were built under his guidance.
He was connected with many organi-.
cations for the advancement Of Keno
sha and he was active in the work of
the Chamber of Commerce in the other
days.
Mr.. Graves took great interest in
the veterans of the Civil War and dur
ing his long residence in Kenosha he
had been one of the most active and
most faithful of the members of the
Fred S. Lowell post of the Grand Army
of the Republic.
He was vigorous in his support of
the principles Of the Republican party
and he took an active part in the Re-
publican organizations in the various
places in which he had lived. He never
sought but one political Office. He wa
candidate for the nomination of his
party for county treasurer two years
ago and was defeated by few votes.
Delightful Friend and Companion.
"Pop" Graves was delightful as
friend and companion. In his later
years he was one of the most active Of
the members of the Kenosha lodge of
the Elks and he had spent much Of his
time in recent years at the clubhouse.
To the little coterie of friends with
whom he was won't to mingle at the
clubhouse, his death comes as a great
personal sorrow. He numbered among
his close personal friends many of the
men of Kenosha who had been active
in the development of the city and