Born in Virginia, Joseph Jackson Gravely became a lawyer and served in the Virginia House of Delegates. Gravely moved to Missouri in 1854. In December 1861, Gravely was commissioned second lieutenant in Company A, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. On May 2, 1862, Gravely was promoted to captain of Company D and then again to colonel of the regiment on March 11, 1863. During Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri, Gravely's regiment was part of Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn's brigade in Pleasonton's Provisional Cavalry Division. In November 1864, Gravely was authorized to raise the 14th Missouri Cavalry and was commissioned its lieutenant colonel on March 23, 1865. After the war, Gravely was elected to Congress in 1866 and then elected lieutenant governor of Missouri in 1870.
Missouri Adjutant General, Annual Report of the Adjutant General of Missouri for the Year Ending December 31, 1865, 388-389, 501-502.
Wikipedia. “Joseph J. Gravely,” May 16, 2019. Link.