Emanuel H. Gragg Mystery: For years, it’s been extremely hard to find information on Emanuel H. Gragg, son of William H. Gragg and Nancy Cornett. We knew an approximate birth date, who his parents were, and most likely where he was born, from the 1880 Federal Census; but aside from word of mouth information, that was about all we knew factually. Now that we have the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 & 1940 Censuses, Manuel's WWII Draft Card, and where he was buried. we can extrapolate the following, from the facts on those documents:
1- He was born June 16 1877 (WWII Draft Card) 2- He was born in Missouri (all four census’s) 3- He was most likely born in Montrose, Henry County, Missouri (1880 census) 4- His parents were William H. Gragg and Nancy J. Cornett (1880 census) 5- Sometime before 1900, he shortened his name from ‘Emanuel’, to ‘Manuel’, and he was called Manuel since that time, with no reason given (1900 Census). He also has legal documents listed under M.H. Gragg as well. 6- On 23 Aug 1896, in Krebs, Indian Territory, USA (now Oklahoma)he married Laura MacAninch. Laura was listed as being born in January, 1881, in Kansas (1900 Census), and was listed as being 15 years old according to their marriage license. 7- He had a daughter named Sylvia, and she was born in April 1898, in the Indian Territory, Choctaw Nation; which is now Oklahoma (1900 Census) 8- Sometime before 1900 he was living near his father William H. Gragg (with his family), and his uncle Samuel Gragg (with his family), in the Indian Territory, Choctaw Nation; which is now Oklahoma. Most likely, they all moved there together, as this is what many families did during that era (1900 Census) 9- He was listed as a “Farmer” at that time, and had an 18 year old servant named Frank Huston assisting as a laborer on his farm. Frank Huston is listed as coming from Missouri as well, and most likely moved west with the Gragg Family (1900 Census) 10- His father-in-law and mother-in-law ( 52 year old Joseph MacAninch, and 42 year old Hannah MacAninch) were living with him and his family at that time. Joseph was listed as a miner by trade. Joseph is listed as being born in November,1847, in Missouri; Hanna is listed as being born October 1857, in Illinois (1900 Census) 11- The entire family is listed as being able to “Read”, “Write”, and “Speak” English; which may sound odd today, but was far more common at that time. (1900 Census) 12- By 1910 Emanuel and Laura had four more children: Roy (Leroy L. Gragg, my great Grandfather), born - December 1900 Manuel (my father was named after), born - 1904 Daymond, born – 1906 Lucy, - 1910 (1910 Federal Census, Haskell County, Oklahoma). 13- Laura MacAninch passed away sometime before 1914, as by that time a 'Virgie B.' is listed as Emanuel/Manuel’s spouse, and they had a child born in 1914. It is unknown when she passed, or where she is buried (1920 Census, and 1920 census extract) 14- As of 1929, at the age of 47, Emanuel/Manuel’s occupation had changed from “Farmer”, to “Coal Miner”. (1920 Census) 15- As mentioned earlier, Emanuel/Manuel married a lady named Virgie prior to 1914, and they had a child (Clara V.) in 1914, and she is listed as 6 years old in the 1920 Census.
Note: As of this time, no further information can be adduced concerning Emanuel H. Gragg.
1880 Federal Census For: Montrose, Henry County, Missouri, United States, District 167
Name: Emanuel H Gragg Event Type: Census Event Year: 1880 Event Place: Montrose, Henry, Missouri, United States District: 167 Gender: Male Age: 5 Marital Status: Single Race: White Race (Original): W Occupation: At Home Relationship to Head of Household: Son Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son Birth Year (Estimated): 1875 Birthplace: Missouri, United States Father's Birthplace: Missouri, United States Mother's Birthplace: Missouri, United States Sheet Number and Letter: 273A Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records :Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T9 Affiliate Film Number: 0689 GS Film Number: 1254689 Digital Folder Number: 004241886 Image Number: 00424
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self William H Gragg M 34 Missouri Wife Nancy J Gragg F 36 Missouri Dau Jennie M Gragg F 13 Missouri Son Samuel M Gragg M 15 Missouri Son Emanuel H Gragg M 5 Missouri
Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (
: accessed 25 Mar 2014), Emanuel H Gragg in household of William H Gragg, Montrose, Henry, Missouri, United States; citing sheet 273A, NARA microfilm publication T9.[9]
Oklahoma and Indian Territory Marriage Citizenship and Census records 1841 to 1927 USC 51 Marriage Records Volume 7
Marriage License #25 Name: Mr M H Gregg Gender: Male Birth Date: abt 1874 Marriage Age: 22 Marriage Date: 23 Aug 1896 Event Date: 22 Aug 1896 Spouse: Laurah Mcaninch Spouse Gender: Female Spouse Age: 15 Marriage Place: Krebs, Indian Territory, USA[10]
1900 Census for: Indian Territory, Choctaw Nation... Township #6, just outside McCalester Town, 11 June 1900:
Line 96 - William H. Gragg Line 89 - Williams Brother Samuel Gragg Line 75 - Manuel (or Emanuel) Gragg, son of William H. Gragg. •Living with William is his wife of the time, Ethel, and daughter Mary.
•Living with Manuel, was wife Laura (McAninch), Daughter Sylvia, and in-laws Joseph and Hanna McAninch, and a servant named "Frank Huston".[11]
1910 United States Federal Census for: Haskell County, Oklahoma District 88 Chant Ward 1
Gragg, Manual -(DOB) 1874 -(POB) Missouri Head Gragg, Laura -(DOB) 1881-(POB) Kansas Wife Gragg, Sylvia-(DOB) 1898 -(POB) Oklahoma Daughter Gragg, Roy -(DOB) 1901 -(POB) Oklahoma Son Gragg, Mamuel-(DOB) 1904 -(POB) Oklahoma Son Gragg, Daymon-(DOB) 1906-(POB) Oklahoma Son Gragg, Lucy-(DOB) 1910-(POB) Oklahoma Daughter [12][13][14]
1920 United States Federal Census for: Haskell County, Oklahoma District 30 Diamond township (part of) and Chant city and McCurtain town.
Gragg, Manuel H 1873 Missouri White Head Diamond~Dist 30 Gragg, Virgil B 1891 Oklahoma White Wife Diamond~Dist 30 Gragg, Manuel E 1905 Oklahoma White Son Diamond~Dist 30 Gragg', Daymon 1907 Oklahoma White Son Diamond~Dist 30 Gragg, Clara V 1914 Oklahoma White Dau Diamond~Dist 30[15][16][17]
22 April 1930 ~ US Federal Census for: Wilkeson Township, Pierce County, Washington, USA
Name: Manuel H Gragg Gender: Male Birthplace: Missouri Race: White Home in 1930: Wilkeson, Pierce, Washington Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Virginia B Gragg Father's Birthplace: Missouri Mother's Birthplace: Missouri Manuel H Gragg 45 Virginia B Gragg 39 Clara B Gragg 17 Eliza Mcclarney 72 (Mother In-Law) George Howard 29 (Son In-Law) Sylvia Gragg-Howard 29 (Daughter) George Howard 12 (Nephew)[18]
27 April 1940 ~ US Federal Census for: Bayne, King County, Washington, USA
Name: Manuel Gragg Respondent: Yes Age: 62 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Missouri Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: Bayne, King County, Washington Farm: No Inferred Residence in 1935: Bayne, King County, Washington Residence in 1935: Same House Sheet Number: 1A Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 4 Occupation: Fire Boss House Owned or Rented: Rented Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 10 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 7th grade Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40
Ron Gragg 
