The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-21

JUDGE EMERY C. GRAVES
Especial to The Argus)
Geneseo, Aug. 21.-Judge Emery
C. Graves, a member of the circuit
bench of the Rock Island district
continuously since 1903, prominent
as a jurist, lawyer and leader In
the Republican party in western
Illinois. passed away at 3 O'clock
this morning at his home here on
West First street following an
apopletic stroke suffered early Sun
day morning. He did not regain
consciousness during the "a hours
preceding his death.
Judge Graves had been In Ill
health for several months and for
IA weeks he was confined to Ham,
mond hospital this city, under the
care of physicians. His condition
became improved, however, and for
several weeks he had been able to
be about his home and occasionally
make a trip about the city in his
automobile. Last week he was
taken to the hospital again and
underwent a minor operation fol
the removal Of puss from his lung
He was taken home Friday and the
stroke came at 3 o'clock Sunday
morning.
Besides the widow, Judge Grave:
is survived by two daughters, Mrs
May Graves Bradford of Sterling
land Miss Gretchen at home. Fun
eral services will be held at
o'clock Wednesday afternoon at thu
residence and burial will be in Oak
wood cemetery.
i Long Political Career.
The life story Of Judge Emery c
Graves constitutes an integral chap
ter in the records of Geneseo ant
4 Henry county. He had twice serv
ed as mayor of Geneseo and hat
also served in the capacity Of city
attorney. Judge Graves was hon
ored four times 'by the people o.
Henry county by being elected
states attorney. He had been yer,
prominent in other lines of activ
ity, and at the present time wa:
serving for the fourth term a.
Judge of the circAit court of thi!
district. AS a lawyer he stood pre-
eminent among the Aembers OF th'
bar, and his fitness for the bench
was based upon a broad and com
prehensive knowledge Of the law
: combined with conscientious
:, sense of obligation which he dis
played in his personal relations.
A native of New York state
Judge Graves was born at Cherr!
Creek, Chautauqua county, on th'
10Th day of January, 1858, havin,
been the son of Calvin S. and Mar
tha Kingsley Graves, both of whom
were also natives of New York
The father was a farmer by Occu
patton, and his wife and famil.
came to Illinois in 1858, settling il
. Henry county in the fall of tina
year. There he carried on agri
cultural pursuits near Yorktown
until the year 1866, when he sol'
out and came to Geneseo. Here b.
was engaged in various pursuit
until 1874, when he became pros
porous druggist. He retired from
business after many years, enjoying
ing in the earned rest the result
of the activities of the earlier years
His death occurred Dec. 27, 1917
while Mrs. Graves lived until Fet
% of this year, being "a years O
!, age.
At the time Of her death Mrs
Graves was the living representa-
tive of five successive generation
of her family, all of whom live il
: Geneseo, having the rare distine
ton of being a great-great-grand
mother with one representative G
each generation paying her revel
ence.
Judge Graves received his earl
education in the schools OF thi
city, and then in preparation for
. professional = career took up th
| 6luuy vi low III Tue OuiCcS VI III
then we'll known Buckles law firm
remaining with them until th
death Of Mr.. Buckles. He contir
), ued his studies at the law offices
: the late Judge George E. Wait
$ after which he entered the law d,
r partment of the University of Wi.
? consin, and was there graduated.
Enters Law Practice.
He established himself in Il
practice Of law at Janesville, VIII
where he remained for six month
when he returned to Geneseo in Il
: fall of 1874, and had since tn;
!. time made this city his home.
: His ability soon gained him re
ognition at the bar. He displays
clear and careful analysis in Il
preparation OF his cases, which
presented with strength and for,
2 Of argument. His points Of attal
were well made and his .defen
was almost invulnerable. Becau
Z Of his ability he wass accorded
very liberal patronage and as Il
e years advanced he had been CALI
" go N r