Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Frances Margaret Graham

Female 1836 - 1902  (65 years)


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  • Name Frances Margaret Graham 
    Born 22 Feb 1836  De Kalb, Kemper, Mississippi, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 28 Jan 1902  Weston, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Downsville Cemetery, Norwalk Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I285  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Simeon Peter Graybill,   b. 26 Mar 1816, Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jun 1889, Weston, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 5 Oct 1862  , Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F258  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Reviewed 6 Jun 2002 Rootsweb.com Worldconnect.

      2. Censuses:
      1850 US: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 124 of 187, 7 Nov 1850, 975/975:
      Thos. Grayham, 43, SC, farmer.
      Sarah, 40, NH.
      Frances, 16, MS.
      John, 15, MS.
      Wm., 12, MS.
      Caroline, 10, MS.
      Amanda, 8, MS.
      Geo., 4, MS.
      Alfonzo Saunders, 4, IA.
      Thos. Graham, 6/12, IA.
      Nathan Ward, 70, MA.

      1851 Iowa: No Frances Graham in index.

      1852 Iowa: there is an "E. Downs" in the statistical 1852 Iowa census in Kanesville Pct., Pottawattamie, IA, p. 27; unfortunately this census gives very little useable information on individuals or families

      1854 Iowa: Rockford, Pottawattamie, Iowa, per FHL film 1022207, is Ezekiel Downs, 3 males, 1 female, 1 voter, 4 total. Census was statistical without much help.

      1856 Iowa: (From Ancestry.com) Kane, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 27 of 63, 169/170 (several related families are nearby); also notes years the family has been residents of the state:
      Eziekel Downs, 62, 11 yrs., NC, farmer. (Also includes some agricultural production figures.)
      Francis, 22, 10, MS.
      John, 2, IA.
      Sidney Downs, 33, IL, farmer.

      1860 US: Crescent, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 6 of 14, 5 Jul 1860, 630/564:
      Ezekiel Downs, 64, farmer, $4000, $900, NC.
      Fran M., 24, house wife, MS.
      John W., 6, IA.
      George Tucker, 16, farm hand, Unk.

      1870 US: Council Bluffs Post Office, Kane Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 172, dwelling 50, family 51; the following families were neighbors: Simeon Graybill, Margaret Stoker, George Graybill, William L. Graybill, Phillip Gatrost:
      S.P. Graybill, 54, farming, $8000 real estate, $3275 personal property, OH.
      Frances, 33, keeping house, MS.
      George, 6, IA.
      Emily, 5, IA.
      Willis, 2, IA.
      Amanda, 1, IA.
      John, 20, farm laborer, IA.

      1880 US: Garner, Pottawattamie, Iowa; NA film T9-0361, p. 22C:
      Simen Graybill, farmer, self, 64, OH NC NC.
      Frankie, wife, 44, MS NC MS.
      Emily J., dau., 15, IA OH NC.
      Willis, son, 12, IA OH NC.
      Amanda, dau., 11, IA OH NC.
      Mary E., dau., 8, IA OH NC.
      L.W. Cook, laborer, single, 52, PA PA PA.
      Joshua Tucker, laborer, single, 26, MO MO MO.

      1900 US: District 127, Garner, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 16 of 32, 13 Jun 1900, 148/156:
      Willis M. Graybel, Jan 1868, 32, IA OH MS, md. 4 years, farmer.
      Annie R., wife, Apr 1879, 21, md. 4 years, 5 total children with 4 living, KS MO MO.
      Lloyd [or Loyed], son, Jul 1896, 3, IA IA KS
      Vivan, son, Jul 1897, 2, IA IA KS.
      Amos D, son, Jul 1898, 1, IA IA KS.
      Erma, dau., Apr 1900, 1/12, IA IA KS.
      Frances M., Feb 1836, 64, widow, 7 total children with 5 living, MS NC MS.
      Emma, sister, Oct 1865, 35, single, IA NC MS.
      Michael Graybel, uncle, Jul 1828, 72, single, OH NC NC.

      3. Per 17 May 2002 Rootsweb.com Worldconnect database ":1142121": Parents are Thomas B. [Bedford?] Graham, b. 12 Aug 1807 in Kershaw Dist., Chesfield, SC, and Sarah Ann McCrory, b. 1 May 1810 in Nashville, Davidson, TN. Pitt book quoted below concurs with names and also mentions Sarah died bef. 1852 with Thomas going on to Utah thereafter. Hook book referenced below notes Sarah's last name may be McCruary.

      4. Various references to Ezekiel Downs (note Ezekiel did not marry Frances until mid-1851) per FHL film 934962 "History of Pottawattamie Co., Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, pp. 228, 229:
      "Norwalk township was organized June 6, 1873... The first settlers were Mormons, but finally they all went on with the last detachment to Utah... The principal early settlers were Joseph Holman, Ezekiel Downs, Asa Downs, William Cox, William Hendrix, Johnson Lane and William Yocum. They all arrived and settled from 1845 to 1850. William Yocum was a wreck physically. He came from Missouri and while there joined the mob at Horn's [Haun's] mill against the Mormons. During the fight he received seven bullets in his body, from the effects of which he never recovered. He died in Pottawattamie county. As early as 1847 Ezekiel Downs and A. Smith built saw and flouring mills on Mosquito creek. They were two story buildings of hewed logs. Both mills were run by water power furnished by a dam built in Mosquito creek. Both mills did a good business until a flood in 1850, which demolished the grist mill. The dam was injured as well as the saw mill, but were repaired and finally sold to William Garner, who continued to run the sawmill for years..."

      5. A partial quote from the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT, from an article entitled: "Polly Stoker":
      "Vivian Graybill, of Independence, Missouri, has worked on the Graybill genealogy for many years and since he plans to publish a book with a great amount of detailed information I will not list the names of their complete families. I will note the names of Michael and Polly's children and how they relate to other families in this book. I do have most family names if anyone wants to check it. [Kerry's note: the author lists each child and grandchild of Polly. See her file for the complete listing. I include only the immediate family in this individual's note.]
      "Simeon Peter Graybill, b. 3/26/1816, Jackson County, Ohio, m. (1) Amanda Hill, who died in Adams Co., Ill. in 1848.
      1. Rachael, b. Mar., 1838
      2. William Graybill, b. July 28, 1840 m. Agnes Spears, sister to William Spears. William Graybill, William Spears, Andrew Graybill and Orson Stoker were early settlers in Washington Township, Harrison County, Iowa. William's great grandson, Donald Nelson married Elaine Dollen, daughter of Harold Dollen.
      3. Andrew Graybill, b. Dec. 29, 1842
      4. Aaron Graybill, b. Oct. 30, 1848, killed at Camp Creek, Georgia Aug. 31, 1864 in the Civil War.
      m. (2) Frances Graham Downs, widow of Ezekial Downs, who named Downsville, Iowa.
      5. George A. b. 4/2/64
      6. Emily Jane b. 4/12/65
      7. Willis M. b. 1/22/68
      8. Amanda M. b. 5/8/69
      9. Almeda b. 10/8/70
      10. Mary Ellen b. 7/31/72"

      6. Children with Simeon Graybill per 17 May 2002 Ancestry.com database ":1142121" with additional notes added from Graybill Cemetery records:
      "George Alvin, b. 2 Apr 1864 [possibly 2 May 1864 per tombstone] at Weston, Pottawattamie, IA, d. 28 Aug 1873. The following name is found on a new memorial stone with 33 other related family members at Graybill/Stoker Cemetery: "George A. Graybill 1864-1873." It is 3 miles east of Council Bluffs, Iowa in Garner Township on old Highway 6 (also known as McPherson Highway - not to be confused with the new Highway 6), then a right (south) on State Orchard Road for 9/10ths of a mile, then left (east) on Cedar Lane to the first driveway on the left (north). The address is 21090 Cedar Lane and the cemetery is in their backyard. Get permission from the homeowner first. These directions were corrected from previous directions after my visit May 8, 2007. Tombstone at Graybill Cemetery, Garner Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa: "George A. Graybill d. 28 Aug 1873, 9y, 5m and Almeda d. 8 Sep 1873, 2 y, 11 m, children of Simeon P. and Frances M. Graybill."
      Emily Jane, b. 2 Apr 1865 at Weston, Pottawattamie, IA, d. 17 Sep 1937.
      Willis Meredith, b. 22 Jan 1868 at Weston, Pottawattamie, IA, d. 14 Jul 1932. [PAF file sent 3 Jul 2003 by John P. Fisher, a descendant of Henry Fisher , says he also died in Weston, Pottawattamie, IA.]
      Amanda M., b. 8 May 1869 at Weston, Pottawattamie, IA, d. 17 Jan 1905.
      Almeda, b. 8 Oct 1870 at Weston, Pottawattamie, IA, d. 8 Sep 1873. The following name is found on a new memorial stone with 33 other related family members at Graybill/Stoker Cemetery: "Almeda Graybill 1869-1873." It is 3 miles east of Council Bluffs, Iowa in Garner Township on old Highway 6 (also known as McPherson Highway - not to be confused with the new Highway 6), then a right (south) on State Orchard Road for 9/10ths of a mile, then left (east) on Cedar Lane to the first driveway on the left (north). The address is 21090 Cedar Lane and the cemetery is in their backyard. Get permission from the homeowner first. These directions were corrected from previous directions after my visit May 8, 2007. Tombstone at Graybill Cemetery, Garner Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa: "George A. Graybill d. 28 Aug 1873, 9y, 5m and Almeda d. 8 Sep 1873, 2 y, 11 m, children of Simeon P. and Frances M. Graybill."
      Mary Ellen, b. 31 Jul 1872 at Weston, Pottawattamie, IA, d. 10 Aug 1960 at Portland, Multnomah, OR.

      7. http://iagenweb.org/pottawattamie/Bios1891-G.htm#GraybillS quoting from the "Biographical History of Pottawattamie County," 1891:
      "Simeon Graybill, deceased, was one of the well known pioneers of Pottawattamie Co. Born in Jackson Co., Ohio, March 26, 1816, he was a son of Michael Graybill, a native of North Carolina, and of German ancestry. His mother's maiden name was Polly Stocker, and she was born in the Carolinas. Mr. Graybill was reared to manhood in Ohio on a farm, but for a time he was engaged in mining at Mt. Vernon, that state. He was first married March 16, 1837, in Jackson Co, Ohio, to Amanda Hill, who died in Adams Co., Illinois, Feb. 21, 1848. In the fall of that year, Mr. Graybill came to Pottawattamie Co, and he was afterward married to Mrs. Frances (Graham) Downs, who was born in Kemper Co., Mississippi, a daughter of Thomas and S. Ann (McCrary) Graham. Her parents came to this county in 1846; her mother died in the eastern part of this state. In 1852 her father went to Utah, where he was some time afterward killed by a grizzly bear, which was afterward captured and found to weigh 800 pounds. Mrs. Graybill was first married to Ezekiel Downs at Downsville, who was born in North Carolina, and came to this county in 1846. By this marriage, there was one child, John W. Downs. Mr. Downs died in 1860. Mr. Graybill settled on his present farm in 1848 where he resided until his death, June 27, 1889. By his first marriage, there were four children, three of whom grew up to years of maturity, viz.: William, who now resides in New Yorkshire, Harrison County; Andrew, who is living near the same place; and Aaron L., who was killed at Camp Creek, Georgia, August 31, 1864, as a member of an Iowa regiment. By his second marriage the subject of this sketch has had six children, four of whom are living: Emily Jane, Willis M., Amanda M. and Mary Ellen. Politically Mr. Graybill was a Republican. He had a landed estate of 320 well-improved acres on which he lived for over 40 years. His death was lamented by all the community."

      8. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, pp. 90-91:
      "Frances Graham Downs, widow of Ezekial Downs, who named Downsville, Iowa. Children:
      George A., b. 2 Apr 1864.
      Emily Jane, b. 12 Apr 1865.
      Willis M., b. 22 Jan 1868.
      Amanda M., 8 May 1869.
      Almeda, b. 8 Oct 1870.
      Mary Ellen, b. 31 Jul 1872."

      9. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 34-38, note that this book has a very detailed downline of the children of this couple: "Simeon Peter Graybill, b. 26 Mar 1816, Bloomfield Twp., Jackson Co., OH; d. 27 Jun 1889, Weston, Potta. Co., IA; md. (1) 6 Mar 1837, Jackson Co., OH to Amanda Hill; md. (2) 5 Oct 1862 to Frances Margaret (Graham) Downs... Amanda was b. abt 1814/19, Bloomfield Twp., Jackson Co., OH; d. 21 Feb 1848, Quincy, Adams Co., IA; bur. Quincy, IL. Frances was b. 22 Feb 1836, DeKalb, Kemper Co., MS; d. 28 Jan 1902; bur. in Downsville Cemetery, Potta. Co., IA. She was the d/o Thomas Graham and Sarah A. McCrory. Thomas and Sarah came to Pottawattamie Co., IA in 1840. After Sarah died, Thomas went to Utah in 1852. Some time later, he was killed by an 800 pound grizzly bear. Frances was previously married, about 1853, to Ezekiel Downs from whom Downsville, IA got its name. She had one son, John W., by Ezekiel who was 37 years her senior. In 1837, Simeon moved from Jackson Co., OH to Caldwell Co., MO. They moved to Adams Co., IL in 1839 and remained there until 1848. Simeon travelled by covered wagon in Dec 1848, bringing his three children and his brother's four children to Kanesville (later named Council Bluffs), IA. His youngest Child, Aaron, was but three years old. Simeon's wife, Amanda, and daughter, Rachel, had recently died in 1848 near Quincy, IL. Simeon's and Amanda's children were Rachel, William A., Andrew Jackson and Aaron George. Simeon's and Frances' children were George Alvin, Emily Jane, Willis Meredith, Amanda M., Almeda and Mary Ellen."

      BIRTH:
      1. All censuses indicate she was born in Mississippi. Pitt book uses 22 Feb 1836 in DeKalb, Mississippi. A variant is 22 Feb 1835 at Hope, Pickens, Alabama per Nauvoo LDS Land and Records Office research file; however, volunteers at this office derive a lot of information from Internet trees and so it cannot be fully relied upon. The Findagrave entry as of Dec 2016 is only a tribute page and not based upon an actual burial record or gravestone; it appears to use information from the Pitt book. What we do know with documentation is the date is Feb 1836 as stated per the 1900 census and definitely Mississippi.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Online Ordinance Index first husband was Ezekiel Downs. Per FHL book 977.771 V2p" Pottawattamie Co., IA Early Marriages 1848-1869": "Ezekiel Downs and Francis M. Graham, 15 Jul 1851."

      2. Per FHL book 977.771 V2c "Death and Marriage Notices from the Frontier Guardian, 1849-1852", p. 34:
      "Ezekiel Downs and Miss Frances A. Graham, both of Pottawattamie county, Iowa, 15 June 1851, at Pleasant Grove, by J.F. Lane. (Frontier Guardian, 27 Jun 1851. See also Frontier Guardian, 25 July 1851, for additional information regarding this marriage.)" FHL book 977.771 V2k "Vital Statistics from the Frontier Guardian, Kanesville, IA, Feb. 1849 - Jan 1852" has the two entries: (Issue 27 June 1851) "At Pleasant Grove, on the 15th inst., by Elder J.F. Lane, Mr. Ezekiel Downs to Miss Frances A. Graham, both of this county"; [date uncertain] "Hymneal. At Pleasant Grove, on the 15th ult., by Elder J.F. Lane, Mr. Ezekiel Downs to Miss Frances M. Graham, both of this county." Note the initial "A" changes to "M" in the second citation.

      3. Per FHL book 977.771 V2p" Pottawattamie Co., IA Early Marriages 1848-1869"and Internet site www.genexchange.org for Pottawattamie IAGenExchange marriage records: "S.P. Graybill, Frances M. Downs, 5 Oct 1862."

      DEATH:
      1. Research note: I did check FHL film 1477205 "Pottawattamie Death Records, 1898-" for Hannah's death record. I did not find it; however, it appears that no recording was done for some reason for about five months on either side of Frances' death date of 28 Jan 1902.

      2. Per Pitt book quoted above.

      BURIAL:
      1. Per quotation above from Pitt book. There may two Downsville Cemeteries in Norwalk Township - one by Weston and the other by Underwood - or they may in fact be the same one.

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, p. 98.

      ACTION:
      1. Verify Mississippi as birth state in other censuses.