John Adam Gracy, the eldest child of David Bergen Gracy and Emma Lee (Caldwell) Gracy was born on August 20, 1888. He was educated at Texas A&M and received his law degree from University of Texas School of Law in 1910. Initially joining his father's business, the Gracy Title Guaranty Co. in Austin, TX, John went on to serve as President of Guaranty Mortgage and Realty Company from 1927 to 1933, and as Vice President of the Capitol National Bank from 1935 to 1950. While at Capitol National Bank, John was the first banker in central Texas to make Federal Housing Administration government loans, a program that greatly changed the nature of loans, allowing repayment over longer periods of time in smaller installments. Active in community life, John served on the Austin, TX draft board, volunteered for the Red Cross and Boy Scouts and was a member of the Austin Genealogical Society. John married Bessie Wells on December 5, 1917 in Austin, and had one surviving child, Jane Gracy (Bedicheck) born September 9. 1918. He passed away August 5, 1965 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, TX.
Bessie Wells Gracy was born August 20, 1890, a daughter of Peter C. and Catherine F. (Walling) Wells of Austin, TX. Bessie Wells married John Adam Gracy on December 5, 1917 in Austin and had one surviving child, Jane Gracy (Bedicheck) born September 9. 1918. Bessie Wells Gracy was a member of Virginia Society of Colonial Dames of America and University Methodist Church, Austin, TX. Bessie Wells Gracy passed away February 5, 1975.
Jane Gracy Bedichek was born on September 9, 1918 to John A. Gracy and Bessie Wells Gracy, the only surviving child of this union. Jane received her initial education in the Austin Public Schools, graduating from High School in 1935. Jane went on to attend Wellesley College and the University of Texas at Austin. Jane received a Masters in Social Work from Columbia School of Social Work in 1944 and held various positions with the Red Cross and other social service agencies throughout her life. In 1946, Jane married Bachman Greer Bedichek, the son of Roy Bedichek. Jane and Bachman Bedichek had five children. Widowed in 1964, Jane has spent most of her time in civic, environmental and scholarly organizations. In 1998, Jane edited The Roy Bedichek Family Letters . At the time of this collection's processing, Jane Gracy Bedichek resides in Scarsdale, NY.
From the guide to the Bedichek, Wells and Gracy Families Papers AR. S. 017., 1884-1989., 1950-1989., (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78701.)
