John W. Graham
John W. Graham, a son of James A. and Sarah Graham, was born in Lewis County, Ky., May 27, 1809. ln April, 1819, he came to Ohio with his parents, and located in Clarke County. In March, 1820, they moved to Miami County, remained two years, when they came to Shelby County, and settled on land two miles west of Hardin, Turtle Creek Township, in the southwest quarter of section 25, on which they remained about thirteen years. In 1835 they sold their land. They then lived on different farms in Shelby County as tenants until 1843, when James A. Graham purchased land, and moved his family to Orange Township, on which he passed the remainder of his days. Mrs. Sarah Graham died September 1, 1840, aged fifty-nine years. He died September 8, 1864, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and nineteen days. He filled the office of justice of the peace one term, and trustee for several years. He reared a family of nine children, viz., Robert R., William M., John W., Thomas B., Eliza, Mary J., Sarah, James A., and Samuel S. Robert R. and Eliza are now dead.
John W. Graham, subject of this sketch, received a common school education in the old log school house. His boyhood days were spent in clearing land, and working on the farm with his father. He is a cooper by trade, which he worked at during the winter months for several years. But farming has been his principal business, and he now owns two good farms in Turtle Creek Township. He was also engaged in the lumber or timber business for several years in connection with farming. His business, while dealing in timber, was to furnish timber for the wheel works at Dayton, Ohio.
On the 17th day of April, 1832, he married Miss Jane Bill, of Montgomery County, Ohio, born December 5, 1805. Mr. and Mrs. Graham settled in Montgomery County, remained two years, when he moved with his family to Shelby County, purchased and moved on the farm in section 18, Turtle Creek Township, on which he now resides. His companion died February 19, 1861. He reared a family of four children, Elizabeth A., Henry C., John W., and Sarah J. Sarah J. Graham died May 14, 1862. Mr. Graham served as trustee of Turtle Creek Township about twenty years, and justice of the peace for six years. He was also land appraiser for the year 1859.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883