Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Graham, John G. 1868 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 21, 2007, 11:27 pm

Author: Emma E. Forter (1917)

JOHN G. GRAHAM.

    John G. Graham, one of the well-known and most successful farmers and
stockmen of Richland township, Marshall county, was born in the state of
Illinois on October 19, 1868, and is the son of James Thomas and Melissa Jane
(Gilchrist) Graham.

    James Thomas and Melissa Jane Graham were born in Illinois and there they
received their education in the public schools and there grew to maturity and
were later married. After their marriage they continued to live in Illinois
until 1871, when they went to Iowa and located in Adair county, where they
remained for thirteen years, when they came to Kansas and settled in Richland
township, Marshall county. Here they established their home on a farm, where Mr.
Graham engaged in general farming and stock-raising with much success for many
years. He and his wife were among the prominent people of the township and were
held in the highest regard and esteem. They always took the deepest interest in
the affairs of the community. They made their home on the farm until a few years
ago, when they retired from the more active duties of life and moved to
Summerfield, where they have a beautiful home.

    John G. Graham received his education in the common schools and grew to
manhood in Marshall county. At the age of sixteen years he began working for
himself as a farm hand, and when yet a young man, he purchased eighty acres of
land in Nebraska, where he engaged in farming for a time, when he sold the place
and in March, 1908, purchased his present farm, which he has improved and
developed into one of the best farms in the township. On this farm of one
hundred and sixty acres he is engaged in general farming and stockraising and is
recognized as one of the substantial men of the township, and a successful
breeder of high-grade stock. His home, with its beautiful white house and barns,
situated amid a fine grove of evergreen trees, presents a most pleasing view.
His farm, with its well cultivated fields aglow with the golden grain and his
pasture with the herds of the finest cattle and the best of hogs, is evidence of
thrift and prosperity. Few farms in the district are better kept and few are
maintained in better condition with outside buildings.

    John G. Graham has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has
had much to do with the growth and development of the township. He is
identified, with the Republican party and in 1914 was elected trustee of his
home township. He assumed the office with the confidence and the respect of the
entire community and he gave to his official duties the same care and attention
that he has always given his own business. Because of his successful
administration during the years for which he was chosen in 1914, the voters
returned him to office in the fall of 1916, it being evident that his services
were appreciated and that his work was well done. He is an active member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient
Order of United Workmen. As a lodge man he takes much interest in the work and
is devoted to the cause of the orders of which he is a member.

    On March 23, 1892, John G. Graham was united in marriage to Clara Conard,
who was born in Pawnee county, Nebraska, on August 11, 1871, and is the daughter
of John and Elizabeth (Winter) Conard. Mr. and Mrs. Conard were natives of the
state of Indiana, where they were educated in the public schools. They were
later married, and soon thereafter came to Nebraska, where they homesteaded land
and engaged in general farming and stock raising with success. They have ever
been among the highly respected people of their home community and are held in
the highest regard.

    To John G. and Clara (Conard) Graham have been born the following children:
Ray W., Ava Eola, Iva Igetta, Thelma Elizabeth and Walter Ivan. Ray W. was born
on January 9, 1893, received his education in the public schools and is now at
home assisting his father with the work on the farm; Ava Eola was born on June
19, 1895; Iva Igetta was born on December 13, 1896; Thelma Elizabeth was born on
October 3, 1898, and Walter Ivan was born on December 18, 1901. Mr. and Mrs.
Graham are among the prominent and highly respected people of the township, and
have ever taken a keen interest in the general development of the community.
Their home life is ideal and they take much interest in the welfare of their
children.

    James Thomas Graham, the father of John G. Graham, was born on October 8,
1836, and the mother was born on October 7, 1842. They were the parents of the
following children: Alva E., A. R., W. M., H. W., John G., L. W., J. T., Iva L.,
G. W. and Frank I. Alva E. was born on December 25, 1859, and is now a resident
of Norton, Kansas; A. R. was born on October 18, 1861, and is a well-known
carpenter of Summerfield, Kansas; W. M. was born on December 27, 1863; H. W. was
born on March 14, 1866, and now lives in the state of Washington; L. W., born on
August 4, 1871, is a resident of the state of Nebraska; J. T. was born on June
16, 1874, and is also a resident of the state of Nebraska; Iva L. Howard was
born on December 13, 1876, and is now a resident of Oklahoma, where her husband
is a professor of schools and a minister; G. W., born on December 10, 1878, is
now living at Denver, Colorado, and Frank L, who was born on December 21, 1885,
is now a successful farmer south of Home City, Marshall county.

    John Conard, the father of Mrs. John G. Graham, was born in 1845 and was for
many years one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Nebraska, is now a
resident of Howell county, Missouri, where he moved in 1893. Elizabeth Conard,
the wife of John Conard, was born in 1842 and died on October 13, 1910. Mr. and
Mrs. Conard were the parents of the following children: Joseph, Clara, Jessie,
Myrtle and Ray. Joseph is a successful farmer of Richland township, and near
neighbor of Mr. and Mrs. Graham; Jessie Graham is a resident of Nebraska, where
her husband is successfully engaged in farming; Myrtle Evans is a resident of
Missouri, where Mr. Evans is engaged in overseeing an experimental station in
the state of Missouri, and Ray is now deceased.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)



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