THOMAS GRAHAM
Thomas
Graham, an honored veteran of the Civil War and an energetic and
prosperous agriculturist of Jefferson Township, Johnson County, Iowa
has held during this thirty-eight years of residence in this locality
many positions of official trust, and ever discharging their duties
with able fidelity, has won the esteem and high regard of his
fellow-townsmen. Our subject was born in Washington County, Md.,
August 13, 1817, and was the son of Samuel Graham, a native of
Londonderry, Ireland, who was born in 1782. The paternal ancestors were
Scotchmen, but Grandfather Graham had made his home in the Emerald Isle
a short time previous to the birth of his son, Samuel, and eleven years
after, in 1793 emigrated with his family to America, settling in
Washington County, Md. He was a blacksmith by trade and being an
energetic and industrious man prospered in his new home. He died
in 1804, near Loudon, Pa. He and his family came over in the brig
"Cunningham, " which was captured by a French privateer. He lost
everything he had, some $2,500 in gold. The father of our subject
was a painter, and after a time removed to Virgina, where he remained a
few years and then journeyed to Edgar County, Ill., dying in Paris at
eight-one years of age. He lived in Baltimore during the War of
1812 and belonged to the minute-men. In religious faith, he was a
Presbyterian, and an upright man, he was respected by all who knew him.
The
mother of our subject was Ann (McDonald) Graham, a most excellent
woman, of Scotch descent, who after a life of busy usefulness, passed
away in 1849. She was the mother of seven children, five of whom
are yet living. Our subject was the second child of the family
and was reared upon a farm, attending the subscription schools of that
early day. He lived at home with his parents until he was
thirty-three years of age, and was the only one who remained with his
father and mother. Mr. Graham was married in 1844, to Miss Mary Troup,
a native of Washington County, Md., and born in 1827. In 1847 our
subject and his excellent wife made their home upon a farm in Virginia,
where the husband followed the pursuit of agriculture. In 1855
they journeyed to Johnson County, Iowa, and purchased land in Jefferson
Township. Upon the breaking of of the Civil War, Thomas Graham
enlisted October 2, 1861 in Company F, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry and
forwarded with the regiment to the front, he actively participated in
the battles of Ft. Donelson and Shiloh, being taken prisoner during the
latter engagement and was held for two months in Memphis (Tenn),
Mobile, Cahoba (Ala) and Macon (Ga). After his release, our
subject went to Nashville and about one month later was allowed to go
to St. Louis on parole where he was taken very ill with fever and was
soon discharged upon a surgeon's certificate of disability, October 13,
1862. He was in his forty-fifth year when he patriotically
enlisted and gave faithful and courageous service in behalf of national
existence.
When
Mr. Graham had recovered his health, he engaged again in the peaceful
occupation of a tiller of the soil, and a man of wise judgment and
thrifty industry has gained a comfortable competence. In
political affiliation he is a Republican and in 1860 he was elected a
member of the Board of County Supervisors and resigned the position
when he entered the military service of the Government. As a
member of the School Board for twenty-two years, and a Justice of the
Peace for seventeen years, he aided in advancing the cause of education
in his home locality and in his decision upon the magisterial bench was
ever guided by law and evidence. As a Township Trustee for many
years he materially assisted in the promotion of enterprise and local
improvement and in all that pertains to the best interests and welfare
of the township and county, has ever been most zealous and
faithful. The devoted wife of our subject passed away August 31,
1890. She was a member of the United Brethren Church, and a
consistent and earnest Christian woman. Of her ten children,
three died in infancy. The seven who survived to maturity are:
James W., Mary J., Sarah E., Nancy V., Fannie E., Charles C. and
George. The sons and daughters now living are all married.
Since
the death of his wife, Mr. Graham, having sold his farm, has resided
with his son James W., the eldest of his children and a man of more
than ordinary ability and enterprise. James W. Graham was born in
Washington County, Md., October 3, 1845 and attended the common schools
during childhood, afterward enjoying for a brief time the advantages of
instruction in the Western College. Later he went to Ann Arbor
and entering the University, pursued a course of study. His
school days ended, he taught school for a time and then engaged in the
duties of agriculture, profitably cultivating his acreage and raising
graded stock. Prior to his location upon his farm he married Miss
Sarah E. Hall, a Virgina lady who came with her parents to Johnson
County many years ago. Her father died in 1871, but her mother is
still living. The hearts and home of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Graham
have been cheered by the birth of five children. Laura R. is a teacher
in Plainwell, Mich.; Vivian B. and Edith B. are teachers; Jessie and
Lillie G. are at home. In 1863, following the example of his
father, James Graham enlisted and upon October 9 joined the Iowa
Cavalry, and bravely serving u until March 1866, was engaged in many
decisive battles and traveled over an extensive range of country.
He was slightly wounded in a hot fight and was at the time of his
discharge from the service a Sergeant. For over twenty seven
years he has been engaged in farming in Jefferson Township, where he
owns a valuable and highly-cultivated homestead of eighty acres.
Politically, he is a Republican, and has with honor and efficiency
discharged the duties of Assessor, Clerk, Trustee and has long
been an important member of the School Board. He and his wife are both
members of the United Brethren Church, and liberally aid in the
extension of its good work. Both Thomas Graham and his children
inherited from their sturdy Scotch ancestors the sterling virtues and
self-reliance which have so materially aided them in their upward
progress and have won for them the high regard and best wishes of a
host of friends. Ambitious, energetic and enterprising, and
withal upright, intelligent and patriotic, they are the highest type of
true American citizens and worthily occupy positions of usefulness and
influence.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Johnson, Poweshiek and Iowa Counties, Chicago Chapman Bros 1893
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