Sarah Jane (Biddle) Grames (1824 - 1901)

Born Jan 1824 in , New Jersey

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Jan 1901 at about age 77 in Alexandria, Douglas, Minn.

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Biography

According to Census information, Sarah was born in January of 1824 in New Jersey. The first record of Sarah and Isaac is in the 1850 Census for Sandusky County, Ohio. They are listed as "Isaac Graham" and "Sarah Graham." There are no children listed for them. Isaac's occupation is listed as "farmer."

There was good reason for the family's move to this part of the country. According to "The Historical Collections of Ohio,"by Henry Howe, Sandusky County was a beautiful area, with rich soil and level ground, perfect for farming. The area was established from old Indian territory, April 1, 1820. Its first settlers were principally of New England origin, with a significant number of people coming from Pennsylvania and Germany.

It is likely that Isaac's middle name was Jacob--on two occasions, he is referred to as Jacob. The first two sons born to Sarah and Isaac died young: Joel T. died at ten days; William E. died at age five. Their next child, Nelson, was born in 1855. Catherine, from whom the Pierce's are descended, was born in 1857. The 1860 Census for Sandusky listed Isaac, Sarah, Nelson, and Catherine. At this time, Isaac's occupation was listed as "laborer."

Sometime between 1863 and 1867, the Grames Family moved to Alexandria, Douglas County, Minn. to homestead. The 1870 Census for Alexandria lists Isaac (age 48), Sarah (age 46), Nelson (15), Catherine (12), Sarah Ann (9), Mary (7), and Daniel (3). All of the children were born in Ohio, except for Daniel, the youngest, who was born in Minn. The Census lists Isaac's occupation as "farmer." According to the Census, Isaac could neither read nor write, while Sarah could do both. Nelson and Catherine could read, but not write.

In 1875, Isaac received a patent to approximately 160 acres of land from the United States government; the patent, dated 10 May 1875, was recorded September 27, 1875. A plot map for Alexandria Township shows the farm owned by Isaac, which adjoined Lake Grames, a small lake which fed into the larger Victoria Lake near the town of Alexandria.

The family is also listed in the 1880 U.S. Census for Alexandria. Isaac and Sarah have two children living with them--their son, Daniel, now about 12 years of age, and Nelson, who is now married, with a wife named Mary and a son named William. The family also had a farm laborer living with them. A photo of Isaac taken seven years later, in 1887, at Wadena shows a handsome man with a dimple in his chin, grey hair, and light-colored eyes. He is dressed smartly too.

In the same year that the photo was taken Isaac came down with consumption, or better known as tuberculosis. In his day, this terrible disease was the Number One Killer and it must have been a long and painful illness. Tragically, Isaac died on Christmas Eve. According to his death certificate, Isaac died at the age of 65 years, 6 months, and five days at Alexandria, Minn. The certificate does not identify the names of his parents, although it does state that his father was born in New Jersey and his mother in Pennsylvania.

The 1895 State Census lists Nelson Grames, along with his second wife, Christine, and her children from another marriage. It also lists Sarah Jane Grames, aged 72, living with the Henry Harris household.

After Nelson died in a tree-cutting accident, Sarah Jane lived with Nelson's widow, Christine. Sarah is listed as a member of Christine's household in the 1900 Federal Census for Alexandria Township.

Beginning in 1893, however, there are additional records for Sarah. From about 1893 through January 1901 and her death, there is a record of members of the community requesting reimbursement from the "Poor Fund" for provisions and medication purchased on behalf of Sarah Jane. There is a record of E. G. Corcoran, Mrs. Harris, Tenger Wagener & White, D. V. Fredenberg, Korteh & Hardy, and Mrs. Nelson Grames all requesting reimbursement for providing care for Sarah. As the years go on, there are more and more requests for Sarah's medicine. I can only imagine that she must have had a lingering illness over these years. The last entry is a request to help pay for her burial, dated January 30, 1901. She was 77 years old at the time of her death. Thankfully, Nelson's widow, Christine, was willing and able to take care of Sarah during these last years.

Sarah's obituary, which appeared in the January 31, 1901 issue of the Alexandria News, reads as follows: "Mrs. Jacob Graham died January 24, 1901 at the home of her daughter in law, in Alexandria town. Her death which came about as a natural result of old age, had been expected for some time as she was confined to her bed all winter."

"She with her family was among the first settlers of Douglas county and has since lived a few miles southeast of Alexandria. Her son, Nelson Graham, will be remembered as having been killed by the falling of a tree a few years ago."

"Her husband and children preceded her in death, with the exception of two daughters, one living in North Dakota and one near Wadena, neither of whom were present at her sickness and death. She was tenderly cared for by her daughter in law, Mrs. Christina Graham."

"The funeral was held from the house Saturday, January 26, at which a number of friends and neighbors were present. The services were conducted by the Rev. S Walte and the remains were laid to rest in the Union Lake Cemetery."

"A Card of Thanks--I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us in the sickness and death of my mother in law, Mrs. Christina Graham."

A Note On Sarah's Maiden Name: The name of Biddle (or Bettle) is an English name. A Bettle was here in this country as early as 1677, in Salem, New Jersey. This was John Bettle, who established a large clan of Bettle's in the New Jersey area. John's descendants intermarried with the other families there, many of whom were Quakers. Others belonged to the Swedish Lutheran Church. The names of Sarah and William are very prominent in certain branches of this family. Several of the branches spell their name "Biddle."

Burial

Burial:

Date: 26 JAN 1901

Place: Union Lake Cem, Alexandria, Douglas Co., Minn.

Sources

• U.S. Federal Census: 1850, 1860 Census, Sandusky County, Ohio.1870 and 1900 Census, Alexandria, Douglas, Minn. State Census: 1875, 1885 Census, Alexandria, Douglas, Minn.
• Plot map of Alexandria Township, dated1886.
• Record of "Poor Fund" for Alexandria, Minn., dated 1893 through1901.
• International Genealogical Index, 1992.
• Certified death certificate for "Isack Grames" B-5-18, Doulgas County Recorder's Office, Alexandria, MN. Obituary for Mrs. Jacob Graham.