George W. Graston
- Born: 20 Sep 1834, Clark Co., IN
- Marriage (1): Minerva C. Corya on 15 Dec 1858
From "BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL SOUVENIR FOR THE COUNTIES OF CLARK, CRAWFORD, HARRISON, FLOYD, JEFFERSON, JENNINGS, SCOTT AND WASHINGTON. INDIANA", ILLUSTRATED, COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY JOHN M. GRESHAM & COMPANY, CHICAGO, 1889 ;
George W. Graston, dealer in flour, grain, lumber and timber, Dupont, Lancaster township, Jefferson county, Ind., and proprietor of the Dupont Flour and Saw-Mill. Mr. Graston was born in Silver Creek township, Clark county, September 20, 1834. He was brought up in Clark county until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Jennings county and remained there until 1854, engaged in farming. In 1854 he went to Shelby county Ind., where he engaged in farming for two years, and in the latter part of 1856 returned to Jennings county, and engaged in the milling business. He remained in this mill for two years, and then came to Jefferson county September 1, 1858, where he has been ever since, engaged in the lumber and milling business.
On December 15, 1858, he was married to Miss Minerva C. Corya, daughter of Isaac Corya, a farmer of this county. They have a family of seven living children, five girls and two boys, viz: Luella, Mary I., Michael E., Perry A., Laura A., Minnie and Eva. Ella is married to John Dunn, an engineer on the O. & M. R. R., and lives at Deputy, Ind. Perry and Mike are both married; Mike lives in Dupont, Perry lives in Newport, Ky.
Mr. Graston is the son of William and Catherine (Hitch) Graston, who were natives of Knox county, Tenn., and came to Indiana in 1829, and settled in Silver Creek township, Clark county. They came on horseback, and brought all their worldly goods with them, also on horseback. Mr. William Graston was a blacksmith by trade. He died in Missouri in June, 1876. His wife died in 1842, at the age of forty years.
The subject of this sketch commenced his life without any money, and by energy and industry had made a good living, raised a nice family, and is still doing well. The mill he owns at present is of the roller process, and he does the best work and makes good flour. He is also the largest farmer in the township, having raised in 1886 one hundred acres of wheat, and in 1888 raised one hundred acres of corn.
Mr. Graston has built up a large trade in his line of business and employs more men than any other person in the township. He pays out more money for hired help and does more to help the people. He has bought, paid for and shipped $12,000 worth of wheat since harvest; in 1887 he cut over 1,000,000 feet of lumber. Mr. Graston is a member of the M.E. Church and is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and also a trustee of the church and one of the stewards of his church.
He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and of the Masonic Order; and is an inflexible Democrat in politics.
George married Minerva C. Corya, daughter of Isaac Corya and Unknown, on 15 Dec 1858.
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