[4] He married a second time to Nancy Amelia Southworth, Rhoda's sister,[5] and the family lived in Westchester County, New York.

[6] The McGraws moved to Ithaca in 1862[6] and John married a widow, Jane P. Turner Bates.

[2] McGraw was educated at Canandaigua, New York, and, at about 18 years of age, at Pelham Priory in New Rochelle in Westchester County.

She studied standard subjects as well as French composition, Latin, "social science", singing, and music.

[3] She gave Cornell its set of chimes which have been rung daily since the University's opening ceremony on October 7, 1868.

[11] Like her father, who did not have the benefit of a good education, McGraw believed in the importance of the creating a "world-class university library".

[13] She took her last trip to Europe in 1878, in the hopes that the more temperate climate there would help her recuperate from tuberculosis;[3] since she was a young girl, McGraw had "weak lungs".

[6] During her trip, she purchased art and furniture for the new mansion,[12] but her health deteriorated significantly during her travels.

He had been in love with her for some time, but was reticent to express his feelings for fear of being considered a fortune hunter.

[11] She died on September 30, 1881[3][10] and was interred in the Memorial Antechapel of the Sage Chapel at Cornell University.

[10] Ten years after her death, Willard Fisk sold the mansion and had the furniture and household furnishings auctioned.

Another state law disallowed more than one half of a woman's estate go to charity if she was married when she died.

[17] Fiske launched a legal assault to reacquire the money that the university could not accept, known as The Great Will Case.