Charles M. Gravis

    Charles M. Gravis, is the eldest son and third child born to Sebastian and Minerva (Barker) Gravis, natives of Pennsylvania, and Ohio, respectively, and married in Williamsburg, Ohio in 1839. In 1863, they removed to Indianapolis, where the father at present resides. The mother died in July, 1849.

    Charles M. Gravis was reared and educated in Ohio. When seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, under Capt. William A. Townsend. He served for three years, during which time he participated in the battles at Hoover's Gap and Chickamauga. At the latter, he was captured, and put in the prison on Belle Island, but was soon after transferred to "Libby", where he remained for about two years. From there he was sent to Danville, Virginia, and incarcerated for five months, when he was transferred to Andersonville. He remained there for seven months when he was paroled, and soon after exchanged, immediately returning to his company. He participated in the battle at Bentonville and a number of skirmishes.

    At the close of the war, he returned to Clermont County, Ohio, soon after coming to Indiana, where he learned the brick-mason trade with his father. He afterward studied medicine with dr. D. Wiley, for three years. In March, 1871, he graduated at the Indiana Medical College, at Indianapolis. In September, 1870, he was married to Sarah C. Smock, a native of Indiana. They had six children -Walter, Charles, William, Ursula, all of whom are dead; Gracie B. and Frederick L. are living. In 1871, he began the practice of his profession in Southport, Indiana, and from there, eighteen months later, removed to Indianapolis. He there entered into practice, and in the drug business, which he continued for three years, returning thence to Southport, where he remained until September, 1880. He was in partnership with Dr. George Spees, in Glenn's Valley, where he remained eighteen months, when he came to Martinsville, where he is at present engaged in the practice of his profession. He has filled all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., Southport Lodge, No. 394, and of the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the G. A. R., and is a Republican. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884.