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For almost a quarter of a century, D. J. Graves has been a resident of Idaho and on coming to the state took up his abode a mile west of New Plymouth. He has since purchased and occupied other land but always in the neighborhood of New Plymouth, where he has conducted a successful business as a farmer and apiarist, his time being now largely devoted to bee culture. He was born near Lansing, Michigan, March 3, 1859, a son of Martin and Mary Ann (Douglas) Graves, the latter a niece of the famous Illinois statesman Stephen A. Douglas, the democratic contemporary of Lincoln, with whom he engaged in debates that awakened the deepest interest throughout the country. Mrs. Graves was born in the year 1816 and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, became the wife of Martin Graves, who was a native of the Keystone state, born in 1809, and became a pioneer settler of Michigan.
D. J. Graves was educated in the schools of his native state and throughout his entire life until the present time has largely followed the occupation of farming. In 1887 he went to Nebraska, where he cultivated four hundred and eighty acres of land for eight years but success did not crown his efforts there. Removing to the northwest, he spent six months in Oregon and in 1895 came to Idaho, first settling about a mile west of New Plymouth, where he purchased twenty-six acres of land. Eight years ago he sold that property and homesteaded one hundred and twenty acres three and a half miles southeast of New Plymouth. This he improved and sold and then invested in forty acres in the same locality, which he still owns. This tract has been planted to alfalfa and grain. In the fall of 1918 he purchased a fine residence in New Plymouth, where he and his family now reside. He is largely leaving the development and improvement of his farm to others and is giving his attention mainly to bee culture, now having about three hundred and forty hives.
On the 26th of January, 1892, Mr. Graves was married to Miss Loretta Conners, of Wisconsin, who removed to Nebraska with her parents in 1884. They were married in Nebraska and have a daughter, Pearl, who is the wife of W. G. Hurley, proprietor of the Ford Garage at New Plymouth. Mrs. Hurley is of great assistance to her father in the care of his bees. She is a very bright and intelligent young woman, possessing excellent business ability and sound judgment. Mr. Graves came to the west with very limited capital, having sustained losses in Nebraska. Here he found the opportunities for retrieving his fortunes and is today one of the prosperous and representative residents of the community in which he makes his home.