Graham Family, Early Settlers, Part III

Theodore Graham, uncle of Charles W. Graham and half-brother of Thomas Jefferson Graham was born in Jefferson County, Missouri. His mother died at his birth. As a lad, he joined his brother Thomas J. to Waddam Grove. As already stated, he went to California in 1849 searching gold. He returned to Warren in 1851 and exchanged some of his gold for 80 acres of land two miles southwest of Warren where he built his home. The place now in 1922 is occupied by the Papoon brothers. Theodore Graham married Alethea Tucker, daughter of Benjamin Tucker. He was born in Virginia in 1796. Benjamin's wife was his cousin, Elizabeth Tucker. The Tuckers lived in Adams Co. Ohio and in 1836 moved in near Waddams Groves, their farm being, however in Stephenson Co, Ill. The four children of Tuckers were: Alethea who married Theodore Graham and she was born Aug. 16, 1819 and died May 18, 1876. Jesse, born in 1822, died in 1876, Delia (Ibbie?) who married Josephus Cooper and lived at Mason City, Iowa; and John Tucker who lived in Kansas.

Ten children blessed the union of Theodore Graham and Alethia Tucker. William Harrison Graham, the 1st child was born at Waddams Grove on Jan 2, 1842 and died Lamoni, Iowa. He married Melvina Baird. Their daughter Allie married Wm. Smith.

Ephraim Graham, the 2nd child, was born March X, 1843 and he served in Co. H Ill Inf 45. . . .known as the Lead-mine Regiment for four years in the Civil War and was mustered out at the end of the conflict. He was killed in 1865 just two weeks after getting home by a run-away team. He was a brave soldier and twice wounded.

Eliza A. Graham (the 3rd child) was born at Waddams Grove on July 12, 1844 and married James Smith who came from New York. She spent her life in Lamoni, Iowas and had seven children.

Erastus George Graham, the 4th child of Theodore, was born Jan. 1846 and served in Co.H of the 45th Ill Inf along with his brother Ephraim. He married Eliza Newton and died in Pleasanton, Ia, the father of nine children.

Lydia M. Graham, the 5th child, was born at Waddams Grove on Jan. 10, 1848 and married Kingsley Olds, a veteran of the Civil War on Aug. 1, 1865. Consult the Olds Family, Sentinel-Leader of Dec. 3, 192X.

Lucinda J. Graham, the 6th child of Theodore was born in Warren on Jan. X, 1850 and married Thomas Teale who served in the 14th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers in the Civil War. They lived at Lamoni, IA and had four sons.

Theodora Graham, the 7th child of Theodore was born at Morris [Morse] Mill, Mo on July 2, 1852 and married Robert Turner, a Civil War veteran. They lived at Lamoni IA and had three children.

Florence V. Graham, the 8th child was born in Warren on June X, 1854 and married Elmer Lamphair [Landphair] in Lamoni, Ia where they now reside being parents of ten children.

Benjamin F. Graham, the 9th child was born in Warren on Aug. 17, 1856 resides in Lamoni, Ia.

Martha J. Graham who was the 10th and youngest child was born in Warren in 1859 on March 11th. She married Warren Little of Lamoni, Ia and died there being the mother of five children.

The Grahams were substantial people and reliable. They made a wonderful record as citizens, neighbors and defendants of their country. Such people stamped their character upon the Middle West. The headstone in Elmwood Cemetery Warren, Il in the memory of Margaret J. Graham born 1831 and d. 1905, I have not been able to identify.
-Jay M. WhithamThe above is from The Warren Sentinel-Leader Warren, Il Oct. 1922 and the entire article is about the Theodore Graham and his brother Thomas Jefferson Graham who both moved from Missouri to Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. For Part I of the article click here and for Part II of the article, click here.