BIO: Lewis GRAHAM, Beaver County, PA
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches
of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.,
Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 134-136.
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LEWIS GRAHAM, the efficient sheriff of Beaver county, Pa., who was elected
to that office in 1897 by over 1,200 majority (the largest majority ever
received by any candidate in the history of Beaver county), is a large,
splendidly built and well-proportioned man, and an ideal sheriff. He was born
in Freedom, Beaver county, June 26, 1850, is a son of John and Sarah (Feazell)
Graham, and grandson of Adam and Nancy (Bell) Graham.
After attending public school at Freedom, Lewis was a pupil in the New
Brighton school. While still a lad, he became messenger boy for the Western
Union Telegraph Co., at New Brighton. Being an ambitious boy, he sought a
position where he could do manual labor and earn money. Next he accepted a
job as water boy on the railroad a short time, after which he enlisted as an
orderly during the Civil War, serving in the construction corps and being
engaged in rebuilding railroads. He thus spent seven months in the states of
Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. He next obtained a position as cabin boy on
a steamer plying on the Ohio River from Pittsburg to Omaha, Nebraska. He
proved to be so capable and worthy a lad that he was offered a better
position with Kensley & Whisler of New Brighton, as clerk, and worked later
in the same capacity for William Kennedy. He then accepted the appointment of
first baggage master for the Fort Wayne R. R., and occupied that position for
two years, serving as a clerk in Pittsburg the following eight years. But,
longing for his home surround-
BEAVER COUNTY 135
ings and friends, he returned and engaged in the cutlery business for two
years. He then became connected with the Singer Sewing Machine Co., remaining
in their employ for ten years. Accepting a more lucrative position as clerk in
the Lake Erie depot at Beaver Falls, he worked there for some time, and then
took charge of the Bridge Station for a period of six years. He served three
years and then became a candidate for the office of sheriff. He resigned to
become deputy sheriff and the result was most gratifying to him, as he simply
exchanged places with his former employer by becoming sheriff, while
ex-Sheriff Molter now occupies the position of deputy.
Mr. Graham built a handsome residence on Patterson Heights, which he still
owns. He moved his family to Beaver when elected, however, and resides in the
residence portion of the Beaver county jail. This is a model structure,
beautifully located on the south side of the public park on the corner of
Market street, and nearly facing the court house. The county jail is built of
sandstone from Beaver county, and was constructed in 1856. It contains
thirty-six cells, fourteen of which were added in 1898. It is of modern
construction throughout, being heated by a hot air furnace, and is kept in
the best of order by Sheriff Graham and his able wife and assistants. The
sheriff also has an office in the court house.
Adam Graham, grandfather of our subject, followed the occupation of boat
building nearly all his life, constructing many steamboats for the Ohio River
and also for the canal. His life was practically spent in Freedom, where both
he and his wife died. He married Nancy Bell, an attractive lady, and they
reared the following children: John, now deceased, who was the father of
Lewis; Addison, who settled in Kentucky, and is also deceased; Theodora, who
resides in Freedom; Minerva (Cooper); May (Marcus); and Emily (Hooper).
John Graham, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Freedom,
Beaver county, Pa., and spent his early life in assisting his father in
boat-building. He was cut off by death just in the prime of life, dying in
1855 at the age of about forty years. His widow, who was Miss Sarah Feazell
before her marriage, still survives him and resides at Beaver Falls. Their
children are: John B., a carpenter of New Brighton; Lewis, the subject of
this sketch; William, also a carpenter by trade, and residing in New
Brighton; Helen, wife of T. M. Elliott of Beaver Falls; Zetta, wife of John
Webster of New Brighton; and one daughter who died in early childhood. Our
subject wooed and won for his life companion Elizabeth Carter, an
accomplished daughter of William Carter. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have been
blessed with a family of seven children, namely: Adelaide Victoria Carter;
Orin Palmer, who died young; Margaret Carter; Lewis Edward; Sarah Elizabeth;
Oscar Lawrence Jackson; and John Reeves.
William Carter, father-in-law of our subject, was born at Morristown,
Westmoreland county, Pa., is a son of Charles and Jane
136 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
(Anderson) Carter, grandson of London Carter, and great-grandson of King
Carter, who was given a large grant of land in Virginia. London Carter
rendered valuable services to our country during the Revolutionary War.
Charles Carter was born in the eastern part of Virginia, and was engaged in
the manufacture of iron, locating in Westmoreland county, where he conducted
a furnace. Later, he removed to Butler county, and later still, to old
Brighton, now Beaver Falls, where he also owned a furnace. He was united in
marriage with Jane Anderson, who bore him the following children: Charles;
William; James; George; Charlotte; Jane; and Elizabeth. William Carter in
early life followed the profession of teaching. Subsequently he was an
engineer, after which he worked in the cutlery business at Beaver Falls, and
owned an interest in the paper mills there. His death occurred in his
seventy-fifth year. At the time of his death, he owned valuable property. Mr.
Carter was joined in matrimony with Valeria Reeves, a daughter of Daniel
Reeves. Mrs. Carter died at the age of fifty-two years, leaving the following
six children as a legacy to her husband: Charles, who resides in the West;
Celesta, now deceased; Adelaide, widow of John Scott; Margaret, wife of T. R.
Galton; John, also deceased; and Elizabeth, wife of the subject of this review.
Sheriff Graham has always taken a deep interest in educational affairs, and
has served as a member of the school board for three years. Socially, he is a
member of the K. of P., and is a charter member of Social Lodge of New
Brighton. Mr. Graham has truly been the architect of his own fortune.
Starting out with an humble beginning, by steady perseverance and strict
adherence to his purpose, he has risen step by step, to a position where he
is conspicuous in the public gaze. Sheriff Graham is a general favorite and
performs the duties of his office in a highly capable manner. He is a member
of the Elks. In religious feeling the family favors the Methodist church.