Robert Graham Appointed Commissioner

In Louisiana, Police Juries have served as parish governments since the early1800s.  Here's an article that explains more about the Police Jury.  Road and bridge building and maintenance were handled at the local level by residents who were appointed as Commissioners.  In the newspaper article below Robert Graham along with his neighbors H. G. Nash and William Dyer (most likely the father of Robert's daughter-in-law, Laura Dyer m. William Jackson Graham), were appointed commissioners for Spring Hill Ward and charged with the building and maintenance of a bridge. 

Transcription: 

Alexandria, La.,
January 10, 1878.

The Jury met pursuant to adjournment; all members present; F. Seip, President, in the chair. The minutes of yesterday's meeting were read and adopted. [...]

On motion of Mr. Calhoon,
Resolved, That in accordance with a resolution passed by the Jury, appointed Commissioners to apportion road hands in the respective Wards,
    H. B. Nash, Robert Graham and William Dyer are appointed Commissioners for Spring Hill Ward; [...]

Source: 

"Alexandria, La., January 10, 1878," The Louisiana Democrat, 16 Jan 1878, p. image 2; digital images;  Chronicling America. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ 

Civil War in Rapides Parish, Louisiana

I love history, but war history has never been an interest of mine.  That has all changed! 

While researching my Robert Graham family in Louisiana I came across the Civil War military records of Robert’s son William Jackson Graham and some of Robert’s sons-in laws, which gave me insight into the military lives of these soldiers.  What I really want to know is how did the rest of the family survive and endure the war.  

While browsing online, I came across a communication, dated 21 Sept 1864 from Abraham Lincoln to General Canby in Louisiana. The gist of the letter says that the loyal Union people of Rapides Parish were “in great destitution---almost absolute starvation”.  Since most had taken the oath of allegiance General Baily was asking for permission to take donated food to them from New Orleans. For a complete and a more graphic account of their circumstances, see. To Edward R. S. Canby (Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln)

While these documents apply only to Union sympathizers, it does illustrate the dire circumstances of those who were living behind the Confederate lines in Rapides Parish, LA.

WOW! 

What an eye opener. This was my first official glimpse into the plight of my own ancestors who were living in Rapides Parish, LA during the Civil War.  They were going hungry, maybe even starving!

This one document spiked my curiosity about the lives of my ancestors living in the south during and after the Civil War.   I am now reading Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone 1861 - 1868. Kate, a young woman in her early 20s at the outbreak of war, chronicles the day to day lives of her family members throughout the Civil War and its aftermath. Although I am not yet done reading it, I am completely captivated by her diaries. I am particularly looking forward to reading about her family’s escape to eastern Texas and their lives as war refugees. 

Family lore says that my own Graham ancestors also fled to Texas during the Civil War. I am hoping Kate’s descriptions of life there will give me insight into my own ancestor’s plight, their flight to Texas, and life as refugees.

  ____________________________

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 8. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. (accessed 7 Jan 2013) http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln8/1:34?rgn=div1;view=fulltext  2006 .

Family Lore as Clues to the Truth

We can't dismiss family stories, without checking them out.

Many times we learn that these stories, which were passed down from generation to generation have changed over time.  Much like the game of telephone, the stories change, are embellished or important facts forgotten with each new telling of the story.   However, in every family story, no matter how distorted over time, there are probably some grains of truth.  So, it is worth searching for the evidence that will prove or disprove each statement in the family story.

Our family lore is no different.

Robert Graham was born in Mississippi on August 20, 1818. He moved to Texas in about 1836. He then moved to Natchitoches, La., about 1841. Robert Graham married Ruth Smith (b. Dec. 5, 1813; d. Jun. 2, 1869) about 1843. Soon after marring Ruth Smith (a trapper's daughter) from Natchitoches, they moved to Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, La.  (Robert Graham 1818-1890 Family Story)

There is more to this story, but for this blog I am only dealing with this first paragraph. The story can easily be found throughout the Internet, as it has been repeated many times and in many places. Some of it can be verified and some of it cannot.

The evidence below will show that it is highly unlikely that Robert Graham and Ruth Smith married in Natchitoches, LA, and while they did eventually move to Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, it was many years later.

• Robert GRAHAM was born on 20 August 1818 and he died 10 Feb 1890.  These dates are probably correct as they appear on his headstone, Graham Family Cemetery, Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana  (headstone photo by Elizabeth Mix)  So, far we don't have any collaborating evidence for his birthdate. 
• To date, there is no evidence, to prove that Robert moved to Texas in or about 1836, but as a young man of about 18 years of age, it is entirely possible. However, if he did move to Texas it was as a man already married to Ruth Smith.
• A land record dated 1 February 1836, for Robert and Ruth Graham in Scott County, Mississippi clearly demonstrates that Robert Graham and Ruth Smith were married prior to this date in 1836.  (Book C, page 63 Scott County Land Records).   (Research by Virginia Butter Fields)   Additional information added, 11 Jan 2013: Virginia Butter Fields explains that this record information including the Book C page 36 were found in the Scott County, Mississippi book containing the section and township records.  When she looked up the land by the legal definition, she found the purchase and sale history along with the book and page number noted.  However, the original deed was not located in the present day Book C.
• The next wrinkle in the story is that Robert moved to Texas about 1836.  There were several Graham families in eastern Texas, so it is possible... however.....

•  On 28 August 1838, Robert and Ruth Graham sold this same property to Jackson Graham.  (Nov 2012 research by Virginia Butter Fields)
• Then there is the 1840 Scott County, Mississippi Census, with a Robert Graham and 2 females, of the correct age ranges.  (Robert Graham, 1 male 20-29 years, 1 female under 5 years, 1 female 20-29 years). No other Robert Graham family in 1840 Mississippi fits this census as cleanly.
• Robert's & Ruth's oldest daughters may have been born in Mississippi, placing Robert and Ruth in Mississippi at least as late as 1839.
• Sarah C. Graham born about 1839 Mississippi (1850 Census Jackson Parish, Louisiana)
• Christiana Elizabeth Graham, born about 1842 Mississippi (1850 Census Jackson Parish, Louisiana), although all subsequent censuses list her as being born in Louisiana, so her birthplace is not definitive.
• Robert and Ruth Graham moved to Jackson Parish, Louisiana before 20 Oct 1843, when their son, William Jackson Graham was born.  So, regardless of whether Christiana was born in Mississippi or Louisiana, we can still be certain that Robert and Ruth were in Scott County, Mississippi by 29 September 1840, when the census was taken.
   
• The Robert Graham family appears on the 1850 Census in Jackson Parish, Louisiana. 
• Robert Graham registered Jackson Parish, LA Land Patents in 1851, 1858 and as late as 7 Dec 1859.
• The family lived in Jackson Parish, Louisiana for about 16 or 17 years -- which means they did not move to Rapides Parish, Louisiana right after they married. A review of the 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1890 census records, along with death records for most of the Graham children suggest that all of the 7 remaining children were born in Jackson Parish, Louisiana between 1845 and 1855. 
• The Robert & Ruth Graham family first appear in Rapides Parish, Louisiana on 16 Jan 1860 when Robert registered a Land Patent, and again on the 1860 census taken 10 July 1860.     

From the traditional family story, we have been able to prove that Robert Graham was probably born in Mississippi in 1818.  He did, indeed, marry Ruth Smith, although no marriage record has been found - the Scott County Courthouse burned in 1872, so we may never have the record.  And, we do not know who her parents were.  And, yes, the family did move to and live in Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, but not before 1860.

The lesson here is to read and mine those family stories for clues to be proved or disproved with facts, supported by evidence.

_______________________________________________ 

Sources:

Fields, Butter Virginia. Robert Graham Research Report November 2012. email correspondence. 3 Jan 2013.

Mix, Elizabeth. Photo of Robert Graham headstone taken 1997.

Willis, Randy. Robert Graham 1818-1890 Family Story. (no date) "Ancient Faces". accessed 3 Jan 2013. <http://www.ancientfaces.com/story/robert-graham-1818-1890-family-story/382965>.

Ruth Smith's Birthplace

Ruth Smith wife of Robert Graham was born 5 Dec 1813 in - and that is the question.

Where was Ruth Smith born? 

We don't have a lot of information about Ruth prior to her marriage to Robert Graham.  We don't know who her parents were.  Family tradition says that her father was a trapper, but with a common last name it is going to be a problem to discover her parents.

The first order of business is to determine where Ruth was born, and then perhaps we can narrow down possible Smith families to discover which one she came from.   In looking over the available documents that list Ruth's possible birthplaces we discover that there is no agreement and several possibilities.

The 1850 (Jackson Parish, Louisiana) and 1860 (Rapides Parish, Louisiana) censuses both show Ruth as being born in Kentucky.  This is significant because these are the only 2 records of her birth that were created when she was still alive.

The 1870 Mortality Schedule for Rapides Parish, Louisiana states that she was born in Mississippi. We don't know who gave this information, but it couldn't have been Ruth, herself.

The only other documents listing possible birthplaces are the death certificates of some of her children.  The informants in some cases were her grandchildren, and in other instances the relationship of the informant is unclear, at this time.  Of the 5 death certificates examined (William Jackson Graham 1940; Julia Ann Willis, 1936; Emily Butter, 1933; Mary Ann (Maggie) Willis, 1940; and Annie Willis, 1936) Alabama (3), Louisiana (1), and Mississippi (1) were listed.

Looking back at the history of the Mississippi Territory at the time of Ruth's birth in 1813, we find that it encompassed both of what we know as Mississippi and Alabama.  If Ruth were born in part of Mississippi that is now Alabama, that could account for some confusion on the part of her grandchildren.  But other than Kentucky having once been part of Virginal (before Ruth's birth), there shouldn't be any confusion with Kentucky and Alabama or Mississippi.   

My best "guess", at this time, is that Ruth Smith was probably born in Kentucky as this is the only state listed on the censuses during her lifetime.  Perhaps this will change once more records and more of Ruth's family is found.

William Jackson Graham - Laura Dyer Marriage

On th 24th of January 1870 Wm J. Graham and Laura Dyer were issued a marriage license in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.  William Jackson Graham, son of Robert Graham and Ruth Smith was 26 years old and Laura Dyer, daughter of William Dyer and Mary Hurbert was 20 years old at the time of their marriage.  

The Minister's Marriage Return tells us that they were married at the home of Laura Dyer's father William Dyer on 26 January 1870.   There are 2 records of this marriage at the Rapides Parish courthouse.  One is a handwritten statement and the other is the standard form.  Both are essentially identical and we are left to wonder why 2 records were submitted.

Additional names to research from these records are:  Wm Randolph, Thomas E. Randolph, F. Richard Barker, Mathew P. Willis 

Records obtained from the Rapides Parish Courthouse, Alexandria, Louisiana.

The One and Only Christiana Elizabeth Graham

In my last blog, I shared my thoughts and the circumstantial evidence suggesting that Robert Graham’s and Ruth Smith’s daughters Christiana and Elizabeth were, in fact, one and the same person. Last week, I received the 37 page Succession packet from the Rapides Parish, Louisiana courthouse in Alexandria, LA for Mrs. Christian E. Merchant. I was really excited to receive this, as I already had the marriage records showing that Elizabeth Graham married Joel B. Merchant on 24 Jan 1867 at the home of R. Graham (probably her father as several of her sisters were also married at R. Graham’s home), establishing that Elizabeth Graham was also Elizabeth Merchant.

The Succession packet details all the events after Elizabeth’s death (1888), wherein, her husband Joel B. Merchant (aka J. B. Merchant) served as administrator to settle her estate. The front cover of the packet clearly states that the file is the court records pertaining to Mrs. Christiana E. Merchant,

and on the 1st page it says “Succession of C. Elizabeth Merchant” 

The text on the 1st page not only establishes the husband/wife relationship between Joel B. Merchant and Christian Elizabeth Merchant, but it also clearly establishes her full name as Christian Elizabeth Merchant, and their residence in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

This next image is the upper half of the 1st page, which includes the last 2 short images.

[transcription of above image]

“To the Honorable the Judge of the Twelfth Judicial District Court in and for Rapides Parish, La. The petition of Joel B. Merchant a resident of our Parish of Rapides, Louisiana, with respect shows:

That his wife, Christiana Elizabeth Merchant departed this life recently leaving property in community with your petitioner, and leaving also community debts to pay situated in your Parish of Rapides Louisiana — Petitioner shows that it becomes necessary to have an administrator appointed to administer the Succession of the said deceased, and that is entitled to the appointment.”

The file date of Joel B. Merchant’s petition administration was 20 Aug 1888, which establishes that Christiana Elizabeth Merchant’s death as before that date, and the statement of “departed this life recently” suggests that she probably died during the summer of 1888, in Louisiana.

Throughout the document she is referred to by the following variations of her name,which lends credence to the fact that Christiana and Elizabeth were one woman, and demonstrates that she was known by both her first and middle names:

• Christiana E. Merchant
• C. Elizabeth Merchant
• Christiana Elizabeth Merchant
• Mrs. C. E. Merchant

With this new information along with the information in my last blog entry I feel comfortable in saying that Christiana and Elizabeth were the same woman, and that she died in 1888, while living in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

The rest of the Succession packet deals with the assets, auction of assets, and payment of debts.

Source: Christiana E. Merchant Succession, Rapides Parish succ. File 535(reporting death and full name of Christiana Elizabeth Merchant wife of Joel B. Merchant) Clerk of Court’s Office, Alexandria.

Robert Graham - Family Patriarch

I'm starting this blog to document my research of  the Robert Graham (1818-1890) family.

Robert Graham
photo obtained by Elizabeth Mix from family member

Robert Graham was my 3rd Great-grandfather on my mother's side.  Robert's parents are this family line's brick wall.  Much research has already been done with no concrete evidence of Robert's parents.  An Internet search for Robert Graham in Rapides Parish, Louisiana and on Ancestry.con will provide information about previous researches done on this family, so I won't repeat that here.

Research Goal:  Determine Robert Graham's parents.

Method:  Conduct a community study of Robert Graham, his wife, children and neighbors beginning in Rapides Parish, Louisiana to acquire clues to Robert Graham's parentage.

What we already know for certain: 

Robert Graham was born 20 Aug. 1818 in Mississippi and died 10 Feb 1890 in Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana (U.S. Federal Census 1860, 1870, 1880 and tombstone)

Robert Graham's Tombstone

location: Graham Cemetery
Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Photo by Elizabeth Mix

 In Memory of 

Robt. Graham

Born

Aug. 20, 1818

Died

Feb 10, 1890

Robert Graham appears on the 1860, 1870, & 1880 US Census in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.  On all 3 censuses his birthplace is listed as Mississippi. In 1880, it also lists both his parents as being born in Mississippi.

The tombstone and the census records are secondary sources as we do not know who provided the information for any of these records.  But they are all consistent and that is a plus.

We also know that his wife's name was Ruth aka Lucy.  The family oral history suggests her maiden name was Smith -- that has yet to be proved. (US Census 1860; 1870 Mortality schedule, & tombstone)

location: Graham Cemetery
Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Photo by Elizabeth Mix

In Memory of

RUTH SMITH

Beloved wife of

Robert Graham

Born

Dec. 5, 1813

Died 

June 2, 1869

Ruth (as Lucy) appears as Robert's wife on the 1860 US Census for Rapides Parish, Louisiana.  It is very nice that she is listed by her maiden name on her tombstone.  And even better that the tombstone says she was the wife of Robert Graham. On the 1860 census, her birthplace is listed as Ky (Kentucky).   However on the 1870 Mortality Schedule her birthplace is listed as Mississippi, and that she died in July (not June as her tombstone says) of Typhoid Fever. Since there is probably at least the month of death error on the Mortality schedule it isn't unreasonable to think that just maybe her birthplace is also wrong -- it will take a thorough search to sort out her birthplace.  Again these are secondary sources and we cannot know who provided the information.  

Although Robert and Ruth do not appear on the US Census in Louisiana prior to 1860, it is evident, from the dates of the children's births that they were in Louisiana as early as about 1842 when the eldest child Christina was born. 

Their children, as listed on the 1860 census were:

1. Christina b. abt 1842 - Louisiana
2. William Jackson b. abt 1844 - Louisiana
3. Julia Ann b. abt 1845 
4. Emily b. 10 Aug 1846 (date on headstone)
5. Lorenzo Dow abt b 1848
6. Demarius b. abt 1850
7. Lucy M. b. abt 1851
8. Mary Ann b. abt 1853
9. Anna b. abt 1856

All the children's birth dates, at this time, are calculated from their age on the 1860 Census.   

It is worth noting that there is a James Graham age 59 also from Mississippi on the 1850 and 1860 censuses for Rapides Parish, Louisiana.  This James is worth taking a second look at as his about 18 years older than Robert and also was born in Mississippi. Perhaps he was a cousin, uncle or older brother.  Another interesting link is that in 1850 James Graham was living with Edgarton Willis and his wife Sophia.  A link between the Graham and Willis families will become more apparent in future blog posts.  But for now it is worth noting that Sophia Willis was also born in Mississippi, and that some of Robert Graham's daughters married into another Willis family.   

There was only 1 other Graham listed in Rapides Parish in 1860 - a George M. Graham age 53 from Virginia.  I think it is unlikely that he would have been related to our Robert, primarily because of the economic difference between George and Robert.  George M Graham, farmer's real estate was valued at 206,000 and personal estate at 14,970 while Robert's real estate value was 240 and personal estate was 690. These are vast differences in terms of personal wealth; it is obvious that George M Graham was a very wealthy person.   

There were 2 other Grahams listed in the 1850 census but for now there doesn't seem to be any connection to our Robert Graham.  They were Danl Graham from either Virginia or South Carolina and James Graham from England - there does appear to be a family connection between these 2 as they are living in at the same residence in 1850.