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William Abner Graham and Pearl Shive
The Grahams came originally from Scotland, settling
first in North Carolina and Alabama. Captain Gideon Graham
(1818-1902) came to Texas from Jackson County, Ala in 1851. His son, Jesse Abner
(1841-1901) was my great-grandfather. After Jesse served in the Confederate Army in Co. G,
Allen's regiment, he returned to Coryell County and married Nancy Allen in 1865. My
grandfather was born on July 12, 1876, the second of 6 children.
I have always thought of my paternal grandparents, William Abner and Idella Pearl Shive,
as true pioneers. My grandmother's parents. Clinton Pheonodus Shive (1842-1886) and Jane
Almira Furr Shive (1844-1880) were also early settlers of Coryell County. They were
married on Dec. 18, 1862. My grandmother was born July 12, 1877. Nothing delighted me more
as a young child than to hear my granddad tell me stories about his years growing up in
the Osage community and his and my grandmother's years together. (They lived past their
75th anniversary) I was fortunate in being the 9th of eleven grandchildren and living near
my grandparents in their retirement years when life for them was somewhat slower paced
than the years they spent rearing their 4 children.
Their life together began on October 1, 1893. Granddad farmed in the Osage Community and
it was here that all their children were born except the youngest, Gordon, my father. He
was born April 21, 1909 in Gatesville. Two sons John Wesley (1899-1900) and Ernest Abner
(1887-1900) died within 15 days of each other. The illness and death of these babies was a
tragedy my grandparents never forgot and the stories my granddad told me about them made
them very real to me.
My grandparents moved from Osage to Gatesville in 1906, where my grandfather ran a horse
and mule barn. In 1912 he bought the farm where my father now lives. From 1928 to 1941
both my grandmother and grandfather worked at the State School for Boys. They operated a
dairy farm for several years before their retirement in 1946. In 1968, within 5 months of
each other, my grandparents died at the age of 91 . Their long and happy years of
faithfulness to each other and to their high ideals left a lasting impression on me and on
all their family.
The descendants of W.A. and Pearl Graham are:
1. Ollie (8-13-1894 -- 5-29-73) who married Claude E.Gilmer on October 12, 1916 Their
children are:
a. Elliott (6-18-21) who married Donna Roush. They live in Covina, CA. and have 2
daughters, Cherry Jean and Judy.
b. Daughter Joyce (3-27-18) who married Ralph Hunn. They live in Menlo Park, Ca and have 8
children;
1). Mona Jean,
2). Robert Allen,
3). Francine Faye,
4). Saundra Lea,
5). Myralene,
6). Rhia Del and
7). Toni.
The Gilmer's third child,
c. Elizabeth Ann 6-14-29 married Byrne Wilson They live in Houston and have 3 children:
Bruce, Janice Ann and Gilmer (Gill).
2. The second Graham daughter, Claudine (7-29-01) was married to Jasper Lee Fegette on
Sept 28, 1919 He died in 1930. They have 2 children:
a. Son, J. Lee, Jr. (1-10-23) who is married to Helen Hewitt. They live in Henderson and
their children are:
1). Claudia,
2). Randall Lee (deceased),
3). Marcia Louise,
4). Steven Allen and
5). Denise Renae.
b. Daughter: Mattie Pearl (9-29-20) was married to E. (Pete) Gummelt (deceased). Their
children are:
1). Jim Elwin,
2). Barbara Sue,
3). Mary Beth and
4). Willaim Lee.
Pearl lives in Victoria.
Claudine was married to R.L. Boyd in 1942, and he died in 1968.
3. Allen Gideon Graham (4-3-04) deceased, April 7, 1981 was married to Bernice Murray on
Aug. 12, 1923. They have 2 daughters:
a. Louise (11-18-29) who was married to Billie McKenzie. Their children are:
1). Virginia,
2). Jana,
3). Ricky and
4). Mickey,
b. Their second daughter, Betty Jean (10-8-33) is married to Clovis Luellen and their
children are:
1). Allen Dean,
2). Rebecca and
3). Kevin. They live in Carrollton.
4. The youngest Graham son, Gordon, my father, family story is related under
Graham-Etchison.
-- Linda Graham Williams
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