A One-eyed Horse

The following and seemingly unimportant newspaper article about a stray one-eyed horse doesn't appear to be all that interesting, except that it places Wm. Graham (son of Robert and Ruth) and his brother-in-law Joel Merchant (husband of Christiana Elizabeth Graham) in Rapides Parish, Louisiana on 24 April 1867.

Since both men lived most of their lives in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, it again doesn't seem to make much difference that we know this particular date placing them in this locality.  However, according to family lore we believe that most, if not all of the Graham family fled to Texas during the Civil War.  Both Wm. Graham and Joel Merchant served in the Confederate army during the war.  Thanks to this little article combined with Joel Merchants marriage to Christiana Elizabeth Graham on 24 Jan 1867, we know that the Graham family had moved back from Texas by, at least early 1867.

 

Chronicling America - The Library of Congress

The Louisiana Democrat. (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, April 24, 1867, Image 1
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82003389/1867-04-24/ed-1/seq-1/ 

Image provided by Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

ESTRAY

TAKEN UP and estrayed before me by Gadie Johnson---a DARK BAY HORSE, with blaze face, hind feet white, roach mane and short tail, left eye out, ten years old, thirteen and a half hand high, and branded thus: [see image for brand]  Appraised by Joel Merchant and Wm. Graham to be worth Twenty-Five dollars in currency.
  
    The owner is requested to come forward, prove proverty, pay charges, and take him away within sixty days, or the said Estray will be sold according tot law.  Wm. RANDOLPH, a17-47-Printers fee $7 50. J. P.