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the number of men, women and children who want his advice and aid is
simply marvelous. They know the advice will be sound and no trust will be betrayed.
His liberal and generous nature entertains charity for all and malice toward none.
As a citizen his public spirit is probably the most marked trait of his character. In the erection of schools,
churches and public buildings he always takes a prominent part. It was said of Emperor Augustus that he found Rome brick and left it marble;
and it can be truthfully said or Simpson: he found Norton county a raw, treeless prairie and has lived here to see it, and has largely helped
to make it, a fertile garden, the home of thousands of happy, industrious and prosperous people. His public and private acts stand
the test of scrutiny; the competency that he has gained is the inevitable result of good habits, a clear head and unflagging toil; he
is cheerful, joyous and even tempered, scattering blessings everywhere. "His armor is his honest thought, and simple truth his utmost
skill." [*Transcriber's note: This section is apparently plagiarized from the
1883 Cutler's History of Kansas description of Edmund N. Morrill.
The quotation is from a poem, The Character of a Happy Life,
by Sir Henry Wotton, which was included in the McGuffey's Fifth Reader.]
Albert Graves was born June 30, 1843 in Coshocton county, Ohio; was raised on a farm and received a common school education; when
twenty-two years old he attended college one year at Haysville, Ashland county.
In April, 1861 he went west to Bureau county, Illinois, where he remained until October 29 at which time he was married to Ethelinda
S. Dunham, and immediately returned to his old home in Ohio. In August 1862 he volunteered in the 97th Ohio infantry and after a short service
of two months was discharged. He then moved to Bureau county, Illinois, where be remained until March 1865 at which time he moved to
Makaska [Mahaska] county, Iowa; bought raw prairie land and made a farm where he
remained until April 1874. He then moved to Norton county, and located five miles east of of Norton on a claim formerly taken by John Price.
In January 1875 he made proof on the Price land and moved down the creek and took
a homestead. The same land is now owned by George Smith. During the county seat trouble be was active in behalf of Norton.
In 1879 he purchased the farms of John and Isiah Williams, five miles east of Norton, where he lived until 1880.
He then purchased school land, one mile east of Norton, where he has since resided.
The first five years he was in this country he followed farming and stock raising.
In 1879 he and his brother John Wesley embarked in the hardware business at Norton, which they continued until 1885 when they sold out to Davis
Brothers, retaining their building and book accounts, which were considerable; but on January 2, 1886 they lost both, without
insurance, by the big fire.Albert was elected to the legislature in 1880, defeating A. S. Burroughs, the democratic nominee. During the session he secured the passage of a bill refunding the county indebtedness at a low amount of interest. He was also an |
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