James came to Sanillac County, Michigan with his family around 1865. He built his own brick house and barn in Custer Township. The farm is still in the family ownership in 1998.
James was a farmer. His obituary reads: “Funeral services for James Graves, 80 year old Custer Township farmer, are to be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. from the Latter Day Saints Church at McGregor with Elder William Grice officiating. Burial is to be made in Downing Cemetery. Mr. Graves, who had lived for 45 years on the farm where he died Sunday, was born in Mt. Bridges, Canada, in 1856 and came to Michigan with his parents at the age of 9 years. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Levenia Nichol Graves, whom he married in 1877; five sons, Edward, Harley, Eugene, and Victor, all of Custer Township and Emery of Sandusky; three daughters, Mrs. Amy Phillips, Leaonard, Michigan; Mrs. Harry McNeal, Oxford and Mrs. F. O’Connell of Midland, 24 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.”

The 1881 Fire of Huron County, MI Chapman Bros. 1884
(some GRAVES children died in this fire) "Flying sheets of flame and balls of fire were seen in every direction. These would often overtake or light upon people fleeing for life, and burn them to death. Many found refuge in wells. One man sought a lake for safety, found behind him in the morning was a big bear, submissive as a kitten.
We could go on for days detailing incidents of this fire, and then not be half through. Space will not permit. We believe this conflagration has no parallel in the world's history. The Chicago fire of 1871 was not so extensive. The loss of life, the amount of property consumed, and the extent of the territory burned over the terrific speed with which the county was laid to waste; the wail of human suffering and anguish and woe that broke over these fair shores, it would seem never could be surpassed. "