Osage Mission - Neosho County Museum |
203 Washington Street, Saint Paul, Kansas 66771 |
Phone: (620) 449-2320 Email: museum@osagemission.org |
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday or By Appointment |
|
William Whites Graves "The Man of the Journal" October 26, 1871- July 22, 1952 The Museum is indebted to W. W. Graves, who was a prolific author, historian, and publisher in this community. He came to Osage Mission with his parents in 1881 and graduated from St. Francis Institute in 1891.
In January 1896 he became the owner, editor, and publisher of the Neosho County Journal in St. Paul. He changed the name to the St. Paul Journal on April 1, 1901. He continued in this capacity until he sold the paper in July 1951. Pictured at left is his personal typewriter on display in the Museum. Several Neosho county residents, including W.W. Graves, became prominent with the Anti-Horse Thief Association (A.H.T.A,). Mr. Graves received the contract to publish the A.H.T.A. Weekly News in 1902 and continued as its editor until 1925 when poor health caused him to lease the paper to A.J. Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins ran the paper until his death in 1932 at which time Graves resumed the editor's role until he sold the publication in 1933. Graves was a signer of the A.H.T.A. charter when the order was chartered under Kansas law in 1905; and he held the position of trustee of the National Order from that date until 1932. During this period a prominent associate of Mr Graves, Fielding Scott, served two terms as National President of the Association (1900, 1901).
He was a charter member of the St. Paul Council No. 760 Knights of Columbus when it was organized on April 26, 1903. For sixteen years he published the Kansas Knight. Graves was one of the organizers of the Kansas Catholic Historical Society and served as the Society's vice-president for a number of years. On May 31, 1952, the southeast Kansas editors, the State Historical Society and the St. Paul community recognized his accomplishments with an honorary banquet. At this time he received the honor of Knighthood of St. Gregory from Pope Pius XII for his literary contributions to the Catholic Church.
At this banquet Graves was also made an honorary member of the Osage Tribe in recognition of his friendship with the Osage and his historical work relative to their Tribe. The Osage Indian war bonnet, pictured at right, was presented to Graves by Paul Pitts of Hominy, Oklahoma, principal chief of the Osage tribe. Pitts placed the colorful feathered war bonnet on Graves and said he had been given the tribal name of "The Man of the Journal".
Graves promoted a public library to which he contributed his own personal library. The completed library, the Graves Memorial Public Library, is pictured on the left. It is located at 717 Central, St. Paul.
Sources: Osage Mission Sesquicentennial, Mary Frances Vanleeuwen Casey, Editor. St. Paul Journal, July 24, 1952, p. 1.
|
|
The publications of W. W. Graves highlighted in maroon are all available at the Graves Memorial Public Library; all but one of those (Tricks of Rascals) are also available at the Museum. In addition, there are four other publications, appearing in black below, for which we have no copies. They are a testimony to the fact that he was a talented and prolific author and historian. The following is a complete list in ascending order by copyright date. All are sole authored unless otherwise noted. Tricks of Rascals. copyright 1905. The Law for Criminal Catchers, copyright 1907. On the Trail, copyright 1908. Graves' Manual, unknown copyright (likely between 1908-15). A compilation of parliamentary rules for the A.H.T.A. Origin and Principles of the Anti-Horse Thief Association, copyright 1915. Life and Letters of Fathers Ponziglione, Schoenmakers, and Other Early Jesuits at Osage Mission. Sketch of St. Francis' Church. Life of Mother Bridget. copyright 1916. Making Money with a Country Newspaper: The Story of How I Saved $25,000.00 in a Country Newspaper Office in a Town of 900 Population. copyright 1926. Life and Letters of Rev. Father John Schoenmakers S. J. Apostle to the Osages. copyright 1928. Annals of Osage Mission. copyright 1934. The Broken Treaty: A Story of the Osage Country. copyright 1935. The Legend of Greenbush: The Story of a Pioneer Country Church. copyright 1937. The Poet Priest of Kansas Father Thomas Aloysius McKernan. copyright 1937. Life and Times of Mother Bridget Hayden. copyright 1938. History of Neosho County Newspapers. copyright 1938. History of the Kickapoo Mission and Parish: The First Catholic Church in Kansas. by W. W. Graves, Rev. Gilbert J. Garraghan, S. J., and Rev. George Towle. copyright 1938. Annals of St. Paul: A Third of a Century. From the Change of Name in 1895 to January 1929. copyright 1942. Autobiography of Rev. Eugene Bononcini, D. D.: Early Kansas Missionary. Additions and Notes by W. W. Graves. copyright 1942. The First Protestant Osage Missions 1820-1837. copyright 1949. History of Neosho County, Volume I. copyright 1949. History of Neosho County, Volume II. copyright 1951. Annals of St. Paul: Supplement. January 1929 to June 1936. [This was a 120-page start on Volume II which was never completed.] |
William
Whites Graves died of a heart attack in his home on July 22, 1952. He is buried
in St. Francis Cemetery, one-quarter mile east of St. Francis Catholic Church,
St. Paul, Kansas. To locate his gravesite, enter the cemetery through the west
gate, proceed south until you come to the first road going east. Turn left there
and proceed east until you see a full grown evergreen tree several yards to your
left. Approaching that tree on foot, you will find a cluster of simple stones
marking the graves of 18 Sisters of Loretto, including Mother Bridget Hayden.
From the tree walk approximately 20 yards east and 5 yards north to Graves'
gravesite.