William was born on 25 February 1867 in
Blount county, Alabama. He was the son of
James Washington Graves and
Mary Ann Mitchell. He married
Eleanor Jane (Ellen) Savage on 8 November 1888. William died on 8 January 1962 in
Ackerman,, Choctaw county,, Mississippi, at age 94.
William was admitted to trial status by the North Mississippi Conference of the Methodist Church 3 December 1891 at the annual conference at Macon, Mississippi. His 1st appointment was the Athens Circuit, between Aberdeen and Amory. He was admitted to full connection 1 December 1893, & ordaned a Decon 3 December at Columbus, Mississippi. 1 December 1895 he was ordaned an Elder at Water Valley, Mississippi.