Joseph Graves Chinn is my 3rd great grandfather. He was born April 1, 1797, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, being a descendant of John Chinn (Chynne), the colonist, of Lancaster County, Virginia. He was the son of William Ball Chinn and Sally Graves.

He was a physician, organizer of the Christian Church in Lexington, KY, Mayor of Lexington, KY and Mayor of Lexington, MO.

I have found several articles in various historical books (The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume II C Chipley, William Dudley - page 191; The Biographical Encyclopedia of Kentucky of the Dead and Living men of the Nineteen Century and History of Fayette County Kentucky, page 585-586).

When the war of 1812 broke out, he enlisted in the army, although he was only 15 of age. His father obtained a special permit from Governor Shelby. At the battle of Lake Erie he was captured by the Indians, but was afterwards released.

After serving honorably through the war, he returned to his home in Kentucky, and took up the study of medicine. His first course of lectures were taken at the University of Pennsylvania, during the season of 1816-17, receiving the degree of M.D. After practicing a short time, he attended Transylvania University, of Lexington KY, from which he graduated in 1843.

He later moved his family to Lexington, Missouri. There he severed as Mayor and City Judge. After nine years, he returned to Lexington, Kentucky, where he later served as as City Mayor.

He was married in 1821, to Barbara Graves, by whom he had twelve children: Mary Elizabeth, Joseph Garland, William, Benjamin G., David, Lewis Henry, Penelope "Ellen", Addison Ball, John, Susan Anna, Hester and Claudius.

Losing his first wife in 1848, he was remarried in 1850 to Mrs. Sheppard, nee Taylor. She dying in 1871, he was again married, in 1877 to Mrs. Catherine Lawson of Fayette County, Kentucky.

He was a member of the Baptist Church, having joined in 1825. In 1830, he was mainly instrumental in organizing the Christian Church in Lexington, KY, it being one of the first of that denomination established in Kentucky.

In politics he was an old-line Whig, and opposed to the Civil War. He attributed his long life and his remarkable health to his regular habits, never using tobacco and being a total abstainer from spirituous liquors. He married his third wife when he was eighty-two years of age.
Inscription on tombstone reads "Organized a Christian Church on the 1st Lord's Day in October 1830 and was an Elder over 50 years".

She Had a Dream
From the Lexington' Kentucky Gazette The very largest congregation that ever assembled in any church in Lexington came together on Monday, January Ist, at the Main-street Christian Church to witness the marriage of Dr. Joseph G. Chinn to Mrs. Catherine Lawson, the former of this city, and be latter of Fayette County. ' The ages of the high contracting parties made It one of the most extraordinary marriages that was : ever solemnized. , The (room was of the ripe but modest age of 8O years, and looked as vigorous as most men at 60. The lady will be 99 years of age on the Ist of May next. Dr. Chinn was a soldier of the war of 1812. He enlisted when about 13 years of age, but owing to an accident by which he was severely wounded in the foot, he did not go out until the next year, but served until the close of the war. ' This is his third marriage, and he will probably survive many years. Mrs. Lawson was born in Virginia, but was brought by her parents to Kentucky in early life. She had a dream not long ago that made a deep impression on her, and that was that the Lord was sparing her for some wise purpose, which she interpreted, without the doubts and incredulity that beset Sarah of old, and these led her to accept one of several offers of matrimony, laving made up her mind to marry, she set about it with all the earnestness that a girl of eighteen could exhibit. She bought a handsome trousseau and appeared at the altar in a seal-colored silk, with velvet cloak, seal-skin muff and boas, velvet bonnet rimmed very becomingly with feathers, and joint lace and very handsome jewelry. Out of respect for the white hair of her affianced, she did not conceal her own gray hairs, but had them puffed and well-arranged. She was attended by five generations of her relatives, who preceded her into the church and took reserved seats. The ceremony was performed by Elder Marshall with all solemnity, and the large congregation— that , is, all that could get within the church— behaved with respectful attention. After the ceremony, and after the venerable couple had been congratulated by the clergyman, Master Coleman Gentry, a youth of five years, a nephew of the fifth generation, stepped up to her, bearing a beautiful bouquet of (?) and orange blossoms, which, he presented in due form, and which was accepted by the bride with evident pleasure. . The congregation remained seated while the bridal party passed out. At the door an old negro woman, one of her former servants, lifted her train, and carried it until she entered the carriage, when they drove off to their home and happiness. A bountiful wedding breakfast was awaiting their arrival.