|
Graham-Thornton
William Graham was the original progenitor of the Graham Family in
America, having brought his family from Scotland through Nova Scotia They migrated through
New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and into North Carolina. William became very powerful
and is a signer of the Mecklinberg Declaration of Independence. His son, John, later moved
to Jackson County, Alabama, and reared a large family. One was Jessie Graham. In 1849
Jessie moved to Rusk County, Texas and then to Coryell County. He homesteaded some land on
Cowhouse Creek, about twenty miles from Fort Gates. Elder Jessie was a minister and traveled on horseback
preaching the gospel. He married Martha Fannin from Tennessee. It was said that the Fannin
in the Goliad Massacre in the Texas War was of the family.
Curtis Beason Graham (No. 1) was a son of Jessie and was born in Alabama. He moved with
his family in 1849 to Rusk County, Texas and lived there six years. He met and married
Elizabeth Thornton and moved to Coryell County in 1855. He preempted a claim on Brown's
Creek and lived there six years. He then moved to Stringtown and built a log cabin by the
creek. The creek got on a big rise and came in the house. Curtis B. put their supplies and
bedding on the ceiling joist. The water was still there two days later and a neighbor
rowed in a boat and took the family and supplies to dry land. After the water went down,
he moved his family to the foothills of the Harmony Mountains, later known as Graham
Mountain, and homesteaded 180 acres of open range.
There was no barbwire at this time so people built their fences out of rails and rocks.
There was a fine spring of water on this land and plenty of game.
Curtis Beason was a great horse lover. It was said he was riding his fine black stallion
and outran a group of Indians as they came down the mountainside, and saved his life.
Later he started freighting and hauled lumber and supplies from Calvert and Bryan to
Gatesville and Brownwood. He first used oxen and then horses.
The Graham family gave land for a church house, school house, and a cemetery. The cemetery
was too hard to dig so he gave land for another cemetery which was known as the
"Graham Cemetery." When Fort Hood was built, the graves were moved to
Gatesville.
From Coryell County, the Grahams have scattered to the four-winds, but we all trace our
roots back to Scotland and the Graham clan who has contributed social, military,
professional, and political leaders over a wide area.
-- Hazel Graham Wilkinson
|