William B McGraw Idaho Prison

William B McGraw was born 5 Jul 1859 in Louisville, Kentucky, to Benjamin Ellis McGraw (Unknown Dates) and Mary Anne Mariah Hogue 15 Jun 1833-14 Aug 1907. He was one of four children to this marriage.


He married Fannie Winstead and they had one child, Ida L McGraw born 1 Feb 1890 in Harlan, Ky she died 9 Nov 1985 in Middletown, Ohio and was married to Oxford Lee Downing (1886-1974) on 15 Oct 1903 in Wellington, Ky.

William B McGraw's Daughter

In early 1900 in Latah, ID William B McGraw was tried and sentenced for the rape of Florence Cartwright because she was under legal consent. Here's his story.

Lewiston Daily Teller 27 Jan 1900 Page 1

William B McGraw was Inmate #737

Term: 15 Years

Crime: Rape

Received: 19 Jan 1900 

William B McGraw Idaho Prison Record

William B McGraw Idaho Prison Mugshot

He asks for a pardon and here's the newspaper clipping I found.

Idaho Statesman 12 May 1901 Page 6

Seems he may have been innocent, but he lost everything. In the census records I found he states he is single and a carpenter. Did Fannie divorce him? She stays in Kentucky with her daughter and I found no divorce record or that she re-married. In Census records William states he's single and there is no record he ever married again.

William B McGraw's mother re-married after the death of his father and has two more children with James Burden 1793-1888

Here are William's known siblings:

Annie Elizabeth McGraw (Wells) born 1850

Marcus Luther McGraw 1854-1928

Charles T McGraw 1866-1912

1/2 Siblings known:

Zelma S Burden (Nichols) 1869-1930

George Thomas Burden 1872-1921

William B McGraw at age 70 is living in Caldwell, ID in Odd Fellows Home

He died 4 years after living in the Caldwell, ID Odd Fellows Home at age 75 years old, notice his census and death record state he was single. We may never know the truth beyond this but I am moved by the newspaper clipping that states he was innocent. I researched Florence Cartwright and found nothing on her not even a 1900 census.