William Graham

As printed in 1909

WILLIAM GRAHAM.

William Graham, who is extensively engaged in agricultural and horticultural pursuits and.stock-raising, is numbered among the enterprising citizens of Coshocton county. He was born in this county, October 6, 1862, a son of James and Matilda (Bryan) Graham. The paternal grandparents emigrated from England to America in 1812 and was en route at the time war was declared between Great Britain and the United States. The vessel on which they were passengers was seized by a British man-of-war and taken to a port in Nova Scotia where the passengers were detained, as prisoners. The grandfather was a stonemason by trade and worked on government building during the time he was held as a prisoner and it was at this time that James, the father of our subject, was born, the year of his birth being 1814. After peace was declared between the United States and Great Britain the family was released and came direct to Pike township, Coshocton county, the year of their arrival here being 1816. Here the grandfather entered three hundred acres of land from the government and soon began clearing the forests and establishing a home for himself and family. In the material line our subject comes of IrLh descent, his maternal grandfather, James Bryan, and his brother Silas being natives of Muskingum county, to which place their parents had removed upon their emigration from the Emerald isle. James spent his remaining days in Muskingum county, but Silas removed to Illinois. He was the grandfather of William Jennings Bryan, the noted statesman and presidential candidate in 1908, so that the latter is a distant relative of Mr. Graham of this review.

William Graham was reared on his father's farm assisting in the work of cultivating the fields during the spring and summer months, while in the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools. He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared and now in addition raises fruit on an extensive scale and is also engaged in stock-raising. He now operates a farm of one hundred and six acres in Washington township and ninety acres in Muskingum county, his tracts of land being among the most valuable and best improved in this section of the state.

Mr. Graham was married in April, 1886, to Miss Margaret Lemert, a daughter of John C. and Mary (Mull) Lemert. Two sons and one daughter have blessed this union: Frank C, John L. and Mary E. Mr. Graham gives his political support to the men and measures of democracy and is a public-spirited citizen, always ready and willing to contribute his share in every public movement calculated to better the conditions of the community in which he lives. He has served as a member of the county infirmary board for three years and is also a member of the district school board. He is also a notary public, the only man in the township officiating in that capacity. He is a Knight of Pythias and in religious faith is a Presbyterian. He and his family occupy an attractive home, wherein reigns culture and refinement, and its hospitality is enjoyed by a host of warm friends.

As printed in Centennial history of Coshocton County, Ohio; (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.