OHIO DEMOCRAT, Thursday, August 4, 1881. Mr. Fred. Graham, of McConnelsville, O., is at home, looking after his father, who is in precarious health.
OHIO DEMOCRAT, Thursday, September 1, 1881. James E. Graham, of the Chronicle was again in town on Tuesday, looking after his father, Mr. William Graham, who is in a critical condition, and not expected to recover.
IRON VALLEY REPORTER, Saturday, September 10, 1881, On Tuesday morning at 30 minutes past six, Mr. William Graham, a long time ago citizen of Dover, but for many years a resident of New Philadelphia, died at his home, surrounded by his children. Mr. Graham has not been entirely well for some time, and as he was considerably past eightyone years of age, his departure was not unexpected. By a funeral notice just received, we find that Mr. Graham was born March 20th, 1800, and that the funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at his residence at four o'clock.
Mr. Graham was a Christian, and one of the best citizens of the county. Himself, George Crites, Benjamin Miller and William Karnes, with their respective families, were among the earliest and staunchest Baptists of this place. Mr. Karnes is the only one of the men left, and Mrs. Miller perhaps the only woman.
Full of years and of earthly honors, Mr. Graham was a ripe sheaf for the garner of heaven. He raised a large and respectable family, who grieve that his departure was necessary, but who know that it was only a transition to a happier and eternal home. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; they rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
OHIO DEMOCRAT, Thursday, September 15, 1881, Obituary. Death of Mr. William Graham. Another ransomed soul has crossed the river. Father Wm. Graham died at his residence in New Philadelphia, the morning of September 6th, 1881, after a lingering illness with flux. He was born in Perry county, Pa., March 20th, 1800. He has an enviable record of 81 years on earth. He was married to Betsy Angeline Beach, at Cayuga county, N.Y., the 23rd of January, 1831. He came to Tuscarawas Valley in 1834, settling in Canal Dover, where he was very successful as a grain buyer and merchant, and also as Collector of tolls on the canal. In his youth he was possessed of indomitable energy, and everything had to be reduced to a system, as he tolerated nothing but promptness itself. Mr. Graham purchased a farm between Dover and New Philadelphia, on which he resided for a number of years. Subsequently he came to New Philadelphia, where the mercantile firm of Dye & Graham will be recollected as occupying the Schoch grocery building. He afterwards lived on the Jacob Casbeer farm, off the Uhrichsville road, selling it later and coming again to New Philadelphia, where he has resided for the past 16 years. Mrs. Graham died June 3, 1849. Mr. Graham was again married to Malissa Miller, in Morgan county, Ohio, on the 30th of June, 1853. Mr. Graham identified himself with the Baptist congregation in 1840, and continued in that persuasion during his career on earth. He was baptized by Rev. Miles. He was devoted to any cause he espoused. His funeral services were conducted on the spacious lawn surrounding his residence, on Thursday, September 8th, by Rev. P. M. Weddell, of Piqua, Ohio. He talked from Rev. 22:14, "Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in, through the gates, into the city." He was assisted by Rev. Charles McNulty, (Presbyterian,) in scriptural readings of the 23rd psalm, and from Revelations 21:17, and Revelations 22:114, and by Rev. Dr. Steck, (Lutheran,) in devotions. His favorite hymns, "Sweet Bye and Bye," and "Home Over There," were sung, and his feeble voice seemed to be echoing the strains from Glory Land.
Father Graham had 12 children; eight by his first and four by his last marriage; seven are living as follows: Mrs. Judge Patrick, (Mary Helen,) in New Philadelphia; C.H. Graham, at Quasqueton, Iowa; F.A., at McConnellsville, Ohio; M.C., at Bayard, Ohio; J.E., at Uhrichsville, Ohio, and Miss Kate and Frank, with their mother in New Philadelphia. He has also 12 grandchildren living. The children vied with each other in tender nursing of their father, and especially is this the case with Charles and Frank, devoting as they did, every instant to the invalid. This aged patriarch and pioneer hesitated, not as he approached the dark streams of death, as to him it reflected but the diamonds of hope, and as he reached the brink of the other shore, he beckoned to his dear ones to follow him into the gates ajar. These tender benedictions are a source of consolation to the bereaved.C. in Tus. Chronicle.