Robert Gravenor

GRAVENOR, WAKEFIELD, WILLSON, MILFORD, BOYER

Posted By: Bonnie Grimmius (email)
Date: 7/16/2015 at 19:40:20

English Ancestors
GRAVENOR, WAKEFIELD, WILLSON, MILFORD, BOYER
Posted By: Bonnie Grimmius (email)
Date: 11/4/2001 at 07:44:39
Robert Raven GRAVENOR Sr., baptized February 4, 1823, at Scaftworth, Nottinghamshire, England, crossed the pond to America in 1869 settling in Clinton, Iowa, with six children by his fist marriage to Ann WAKEFIELD: Anna; Ellen; Fannie; Alice; Robert Raven Jr; Kitty; and Sarah Ada, by his second marriage to Sarah WILLSON, born ca. 1820 in Corringham, England.
Robert took up farming and applied for and became a Naturalized Citizen, in 1874, while living in Clinton. His older daughters married and stayed in Iowa. Legend has it daughter Fannie, and husband joined the Klondike Gold Rush.
After ten years, Robert and Sarah, with Robert Jr. & Sarah Ada most likely ferried down the Mississippi to Farmington, Van Buren County, by 1880, where he was again farming and the two youngest siblings married and began their respective families.
Robert Raven Jr. & Doretta Ellen “Dora” MILFORD married in October 1882, at Vernon. William and Mary Jane (MURPHY) MILFORD of this county were Dora’s parents. First-born Kathryn Viola was born in November 1884, in Farmington. By 1887, Robert Jr. and Dora relocated to Mendota, Putnam County, Missouri, where Elvin, Icel, Mary and Irene GRAVENOR, were born. Robert farmed and was employed in some capacity by the coal co. Robert and Dora’s last move in 1905, took them to Cincinnati, Appanoose County, Iowa, where Robert purchased a farm, and bought into Coroorou & Gravenor, a cement and block partnership. Today his farm is a Century Farm and remains in the family. Robert and Dora rest at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Sarah “Ada” GRAVENOR and Louis Calvin “Gus” BOYER married October 1886, in Bonaparte, whereas their six children were born in Farmington: Arthur, Minnie, Anna, Alma, Amy, and Lola. Gus’ parents were Adam and Rachel Jane Mc CORMACK BOYER of this place. Ada and Gus relocated to Miller County, Missouri, by 1905, where daughter Nora Agnes was born. Their last move to greener pastures took them to Morgan County for twenty-five years, where they rest at Ritchie Cemetery in Versailles.
We assume mother Sarah GRAVENOR had an illness that beckoned her to Bonner Springs, Kansas for a cure. She died January 11, 1891, and was buried there, although there is no record. The 100 year-old GRAVENOR Family Bible has her death date and place recorded at that place. Daughter Ada was tending to her mom when she gave birth to number-two daughter, Minnie Esther, in June 1890, at Bonner Springs.
Robert Raven Sr. then lived with his son in Mendota and passed February 1894, where he now rests at Mendota Cemetery in Putnam Co. His stone reads: Dear children, I must leave you, Leave yes, I leave you all alone, But my blessed Saviour calls me, Calls me to a heavenly home.