CROSS COUNTY, AR - JOHN GRAHAM - Bio

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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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He always lived a correct life and was one of the leading members of the
Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis. John Graham was reared to farm
labor and attended the common schools at [p.352] home until 1858, when
he attended school at Greensboro, N. C. Subsequently he was under the
instruction of a teacher at a private school and remained there until
the breaking out of the late war. In 1863, when only sixteen years of
age, he enlisted in Company A, McGee's regiment cavalry, and for a year
operated in Eastern Arkansas. In 1864 he joined Gen. Price in his
Missouri raid, was in the battle of Pilot Knob and in all the battles
until West Port, when, holding the field until Price could escape with
the wagon train, our subject was captured, taken to Kansas City and
later to Fort Leavenworth, where he was held in captivity, and after
some time was removed to Camp Morton, Ind., and here retained until the
close of the war, being released about June 1. He immediately started
for home and made the journey from Memphis on foot. He at once took
charge of his father's farm. In 1866 he went to Mebaneville school,
remained there one year and then came home, residing with his parents
for one year, From there he removed to the bottoms, engaged in
agricultural pursuits for himself and there remained three years.
Following this he took charge of the old homestead, while his father
went to Memphis, and tilled the soil for five years, after which his
father gave him an interest in the place, on which he erected a dwelling
and there resided. At the time of the father's death he bought out the
heirs and moved back to the old homestead. Since then he has cleared
about sixty acres and now has 500 in a fine state of cultivation, and on
another tract near by he has sixty acres under cultivation. He moved his
gin to the home place, has a good dwelling, orchard and is considered
one of the best farmers in the county. He is quite extensively engaged
in stock raising, principally mules, and has been very successful at
this, raising some of the largest and finest mules ever seen in the
State, and as good as any from Kentucky or in fact, any State. He seeds
down a large part of his farm to improve and fertilize the soil. He
raises large crops of cotton and corn and is a practical, as well as a
scientific farmer. His farm embraces about 600 acres under cultivation,
lying on the west slope of Crowley's Ridge, and presents a magnificent
view, for, from his residence, nearly every acre is spread out like a
picture before the eye. He was married in December, 1870, to Miss Jennie
Allen, a daughter of Abijah Allen, one of the early settlers and
prominent farmers of St. Francis County. Eight children were the result
of this union: Mary C., Charles C. (died at the age of three years),
John M., Abijah Allen (died at the age of three weeks), Jennie Clay,
Willie Vernon (died at the age of three years), Carey Osceola and James
Franklin. Mrs. Graham is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1888
Mr. Graham joined with his partners in the large mercantile firm at
Wynne. He is the leading spirit in all movements pertaining to the good
of the country, and is not only a leading farmer, but is a member of the
leading commercial firm in Cross County.