My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT BARNETT GRAHAM is one of the self-made men of Johnson County, and one of the most prominent citizens of township 45, range 27. After the war he invested what money he could raise in sixty-three acres of land, a part of his extensive farm, which has within its boundaries about four hundred and eighty acres. He has always made it his plan in life to pay cash for everything which he buys, or else do without. He has worked industriously and perseveringly and has bravely surmounted all difficulties in his pathway. In the ranks of the local Democracy, he has been a leader for many years and a factor in its success. He has served on the Central Committee, and is looked upon as an authority on questions of public importance. For some twenty years he has acted in the capacity of School Director. When the creamery company of Center View was organized, he was one of its promoters, and is now its President, and besides this he has been connected with almost every enterprise in the county.

John G. Graham, father of the gentleman just mentioned, was born in Wytheville, Va., July 6, 1811. He grew to manhood in that vicinity and was brought up as a farmer. In 1833 he emigrated with his parents to this state, and here passed the remainder of his life. He continued to live with his parents until his marriage, which occurred December 21, 1837. The lady of his choice was Miss Nancy E. Hobson, who was born February 5, 1822, in Lafayette County, Mo., and is still living and in the enjoyment of good health. Her parents, Joseph and Rachel (Barnett) Hobson, were early settlers of this county, having located a mile southeast of where Fayetteville now stands. They were strict members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the resources of their household were taxed to the utmost at the annual camp-meetings held in their neighborhood in early years. To Mr. and Mrs. John G. Graham were born eleven children, all but three of whom are yet living. Mary Margaret is now living in Kansas; J. C. is engaged in farming near Ft. Smith, Ark.; Robert B. is the next in order of birth; Helen A., widow of Ribert Huggins, lives with her mother; Susan E. married John M. Barnett, a stock-raiser and dealer of Lafayette County, Mo.; Sarah C. is the wife of John Huggins, of Center View; Nancy A is the wife of Perry Houx, who owns a farm three miles north of Center View; and John S. operates the old homestead. J. H., born in 1844, died September 11, 1894. W. S., of Cherokee County, Kan., was drowned in the Missouri River in the fall of 1894. Louisa C., who died August 25, 1894, was the wife of Rev. Frank Russell.

In 1834 John G. Graham entered one hundred and sixty acres in township 45, range 27. In time he bought additional tracts of land, until at his death his estate comprised five hundred and forty acres. He possessed the sturdy and fearless qualities necessary to the pioneer, and met all misfortunes bravely. His death, which occurred July 3, 1878, was felt to be a public loss, and his old friends and neighbors still hold his memory dear.

The birth of Robert B. Graham took place on his father’s farm a little over a mile southwest of Center View, Johnson County, Octobers, 1842. Much of his boyhood was passed on his grandfather’s farm, but when he was fourteen years old he returned to his father’s rooftree. He attended school when there was any held in the neighborhood and worked at farming until the outbreak of the war. In 1861 he enlisted in Captain Cunningham’s company of enrolled militia, and engaged in fighting bushwhackers and guerrillas. After a time he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Missouri State Militia, a regiment that probably did more active fighting than any other of the state troops. Mr. Graham was mustered out July 11, 1865, at St. Louis, having participated in the battles with Price and Shelby at Jefferson City, Big and Little Blue and Mine Creek, where Marmaduke was captured. Though he had many narrow escapes, he was neither taken prisoner nor wounded.

December 2, 1866, R. B. Graham and Nancy J., daughter of Ambrose L. King, were united in marriage. She is a native of this county, and was one of our subject’s schoolmates; her brother, J. B. King, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume, was a member of his company during the war. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Graham, namely: Ella, who is now attending the Woman’s Medical College in St. Louis; Charles, manager of the creamery company of Center View; Albert R., a graduate of the Gem City Business College of Quincy, Ill.; George B., a graduate of the State Normal at Warrensburg, and now teaching his second term in the Houx District; Oscar M., a student at the State Normal; Horace Guy, a schoolboy; and Jesse K., Robert Paul and Lora, who are at home. Mattie and Stella were six and eleven years old, respectively, at the time of their death.

Mr. and Mrs. Graham, and all of their children but the two youngest, are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. For twenty years our subject has been an Elder in the congregation, and in 1894 it was his privilege to attend the General Assembly in Oregon. In his social relations he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.