Graves, W. W. (William Whites), 1871-1952

Graves was editor of the St. Paul (Kansas) Journal Press and was interested in the history of Osage missions. He wrote several books on the subject, some of which are in the Kansas Collection.

William Whites Graves was born on October 26, 1871 near Loretto, Marion County, Kentucky to James Paul and Minerva Ann (Ballard) Graves. In 1881, he became a resident of Kansas, graduating from the St. Francis Institution at Osage Mission, Kansas in 1891. On April 30, 1895, he married Emma C. Hopkins, daughter of Joshua and Cherrille (Peck) Hopkins. She died July 30, 1936 at St. Paul, Kansas. The given name of Graves' second wife was Susie.

Graves was newspaper editor of the St. Paul Journal from 1895 to 1925 and again from 1935 to 1945. He also was editor of the Anti Horse Thief Association News from 1902 to 1925, and for many years was employed as an insurance agent. He was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America, and was a leader of the Neosho County Historical Society and Knights of Columbus. As an active historian, he authored many books regarding St. Paul and Neosho County history and the early history of Jesuits in Kansas, including histories of Neosho County's Osage Mission, various Jesuit leaders in early Kansas, the Kickapoo Indians, and St. Aloysius Church of Greenbush, Crawford County, Kansas. He died July 22, 1952 at St. Paul.