Melissa Ann Gravitt

     Melissa Ann Gravitt was born on 18 February 1856 at Iowa.^5,6 She was the daughter of James Henson Gravitt and Elizabeth Bell.^1,2,3,4

Melissa Ann Gravitt was enumerated with James Henson Gravitt as Melissa A. Gravitt on the Census of 5 July 1860 at Fabius Township, Davis Co., Iowa. She is age 3 and was born in Iowa.⁷

Melissa Ann Gravitt was enumerated with James Henson Gravitt as Melissa A. Gravitt on the Census of 19 August 1870 at Fabius Township, Davis Co., Iowa. She is age 13 and was born in Iowa. She is attending school.⁸

Melissa Ann Gravitt married George Washington Ashby, son of Richard Washington Ashby and America Lane, on 26 May 1875 at Davis Co., Iowa, when she was 19 at the home of Eli D. Powers.^9,10,11

Melissa Ann Ashby was enumerated with George Washington Ashby as Melissa Ashby on the Census of 7 June 1880 at Wyacondah Township, Davis Co., Iowa. She was shown as age 29, born in Iowa, and "keeping house." Her father was born in KY, her mother in MO..¹²

Melissa Ann Ashby and George Washington Ashby appeared on the 1895 Iowa State Census of Appanoose Co., Iowa, at Vermillion Township, enumerated 1895. George was entitled to vote and was subject to military service.. Their children George William, Emery Emmet, Clyde Hinson, Alice O., Howard Ray and Grover Everett were listed as living with them.¹³

Melissa Ann Gravitt was Baptist.¹³

Melissa Ann Ashby was enumerated with George Washington Ashby as Melissa Ashby on the Census of 22 June 1900. She was shown as wife, a white female, age 43 and born in Iowa in Feb. 1857. She had been married 27 years and was the mother of 8 children of whom 7 were still living. She could read and write..¹⁴

Melissa Ann Ashby lived in Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa, on 30 December 1907.¹⁵

Melissa Ann Ashby was enumerated with George Washington Ashby as Melissa Ashby, wife on the Census of 20 April 1910 at Center Township, 1st Ward, Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa. She is shown as a white female, age 53. She was born in Iowa. Her father was born in Kentucky, her mother in Missouri. She has been married once, for 35 years. Readability is questionable but it appears to report she has had 6 children. Five children are still living. She can read and write..¹⁶

Melissa Ann Ashby died on 23 August 1913 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa, at age 57 years, 6 months and 5 days. Cause of death - cholelithiasis.^5,17,18

I walked Wright-Thomasson Cemetery on 28 Aug 2008 and did not find a readable marker for Melissa Ann Ashby.¹⁹ She was buried 24 August 1913 Thomasson Cemetery, Appanoose Co., Iowa, 40.7108469~-92.9015888, To see others buried at the same cemetery, go to the preceeding link for Thomassan *Cemetery.^17,20,5

On 23 August 1913 at Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa, George Washington Ashby was named as Melissa Ann Gravitt's husband in Melissa Ann's obituary. She had been ill with gall stones for three weeks before her death.¹⁷