James Ship Graham (1818 - 1894)

"Blue Grass State," was born in 1820, and while an infant was brought by his parents, William and Lear (Boyd) Graham, to Arkansas. William Graham was born in the "Old North State" in 1777, and in 1782 was taken by his parents to Kentucky, where he resided until 1820, and then came to Arkansas and spent the remainder of his days. He was married in Kentucky, and became the father of eleven children, four of whom are living. His principal occupation throughout life was farming. His wife died in 1836. Their son, James S. Graham, was reared in North western Arkansas, and is one of the thrifty farmers of that locality. Rebecca Jane Patton, who was born in Tennessee in 1826, became his wife and the mother of nine children: Vachiel C., Peter, Rachel, Dorothea T., Amanda A. (widow of Robert Graham), Benjamin P., Orlena J., J. Willy and Cynthia. After suffering many of the privations and hardships of pioneer life Mr. Graham, by hard work and good management, is now the owner of 327 acres of land. He is one of the oldest residents of the county, and is highly respected and esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. He and his two eldest sons served in the Confederate army from 1863 until the close of the war, his eldest son volunteering in the first company ever organized in Arkansas. Peter, the other son, was a member of the third company that was organized. Mr. Graham is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, the A. F. & A. M., and in his political views is a stanch Democrat.