Jessie May Graves

b. 12 August 1920, d. 12 January 1996
  • Jessie May Graves was born on 12 August 1920 in New York.
  • William B. Graves and Frieda M. Coolidge appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1428 Fort Street. Other members of the household included Jessie May Graves.
  • The following appeared on 29 January 1936 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: William B. Graves died this morning at 11 o'clock in his home, 1428 Fort avenue, after a lingering illness. Funeral arrangements were being completed this afternoon.
         Mr. Graves was a son of the late Charles Graves and a member of one of the best known and most prominent families of the Niagara section. He was a native of Niagara Falls and had always lived here. For a number of years he was employed by the Niagara Falls Power company.
         Surviving Mr. Graves are his wife, Mrs. Frieda Graves; two children, Jessie May and Charles Coolidge Graves; his mother, Mrs. Emma O. Graves, and two sisters, Mrs. Lucy F. Read and Miss Emma A. Graves. The late Charles E. Graves was a brother.
  • The following appeared on 14 May 1942 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Emma O.Graves, beloved 84-year-old native and lifelong resident of Niagara Falls, who was long known to a host of friends and admirers as "Mom" Graves, died at 9:30 o'clock last night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. W. Read, 714 Chilton avenue. She was one of the oldest of Niagara Falls' surviving natives.
         Born in the former village of Niagara Falls in 1858, she was the daughter of the late Carl and Marie Utz, pioneer residents. Her father for years operated a meat market in Falls street, one of the few shops in the straggling village of that time. She was a sister of Otto Utz, who served as chief of the Niagara Falls fire department for many years.
         Educated in the old Niagara Academy, famous local girls' school of that era, she married Charles Pomeroy Graves, prominent member of one of the community's oldest families, who later became one of the city's foremost real estate dealers. Mr. Graves died 25 years ago.
         Unusually active throughout her long life, Mrs. Graves had many interests, chief of which was her home life. She was also an outdoor enthusiast, and an ardent fishing fan and for 55 years she went on annual fishing trips in the Georgian Bay district of Canada. She made her last trip north two years ago and spent many hours fishing from the dock in front of the cottage. She was invalided by a streptococcus infection last Christmas.
         Mrs. Graves is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Read and Miss Emma H. Graves, and two grandchildren, Charles C. Graves and Jessie May Graves, all of this city.
         Funeral services will be held at Mrs. Read's home at 3 p. m. Saturday, with the Rev. A. C. VanRaalte, of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
  • She married George Alva Rushton, son of George Aldous Rushton and Mary E. Rhodes, in September 1942.
  • The following appeared on 26 September 1942 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Mrs. Frieda M. Graves, 1428 Fort avenue, this city, announces the recent marriage of her daughter, Jessie May, to Lieutenant George A. Rushton, son of Mr. and Mrs. George A. Rushton, 720 Monteagle street, this city. The young couple, shown above, were married at Fort Lewis, Washington, where Lieutenant Rushton is currently stationed with the Adjutant General department of the 44th Infantry Division. Captain Howard Tomlinson, assistant division chaplain, officiated.
         Mrs. George Rushton and son, Jerry, mother and brother of Lieutenant Rushton, and Mrs. Birdella Bell, also of this city, who recently returned from an extended trip along the West Coast, were present at the ceremony..
  • The following appeared on 7 June 1948 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: [Born, at Memorial Hospital] To Mr. and Mrs. George A. Rushton, 723 Townsend place, June 6, a son.
  • The SSDI lists Appleton, Outgamie County, Wisconsin, as the last residence of record of Jessie May Graves.
  • George Alva Rushton became a widower at her death.
  • Jessie May Graves died on 12 January 1996 at age 75.
  • She was interred at Appleton Highland Memorial Park, Appleton, Outgamie County, Wisconsin.
  • Last Edited: 20 May 2012

Family: George Alva Rushton b. 31 July 1916, d. 8 May 2001