CROSS COUNTY, AR - JOHN GRAHAM - Bio ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.