Riley Graham

Riley Graham, one of the leading farmers of Wedington Township, was

born in Casey County, Ky., September 23, 1827, and is the son of Littleton F.

and Catherine (Carson) Graham, both natives of Kentucky, the father born in

Casey County April 12, 1799, and is still living near Fayetteville. The mother

was born about 1800, and died near Fayetteville, Ark., in 1857. They were

married in Casey County, and there lived until 1836, when they moved to Lincoln

County, Tenn., and there lived until 1852. He is a member of the Cumberland

Presbyterian Church, as was also his wife, and has been a life-long Democrat.

He was a successful farmer, and since the death of his wife has lived with his

children, seven now living of a family of ten: Ewing, John C., Riley, Minerva,

Cyrena, Clarinda and Melvina Adaline. Those deceased were named Cyrus M.,

Catherine and America. Cyrus M. was in the Confederate service during the

late war, and was killed by the bursting of a shell at the battle of Prairie Grove.

Riley Graham remained at home until twenty years of age, and has always followed

the occupation of a farmer. In 1853 his father gave him a small tract of

land, and in 1857 he sold this and bought land near Fayetteville. He is now

the owner of a well-located and well-improved farm, the result of his own and

his wife's hard labor. October 13, 1853, he married Miss.Elizabeth Jane Wilson,

daughter of Hon. Thomas Wilson, who was born in Kentucky in 1812, and who

died at the age of seventy-three. He was one of the first settlers of Washington

County, and a prominent citizen, at different times county judge, and also represented

Washington County in the Arkansas Legislature several times; was

also a farmer. Mrs. Graham was born near Fayetteville, Ark., June 1, 1836,

and by her marriage became the mother of ten children, nine now living: James

C., died when an infant; Bell D., Thomas G., William R., Len F., Cora Alice,

Emma C., Virginia W., Cyrus E. and Kate May. July, 1862, Mr. Graham enlisteu

in Company A, of Bro0ks' infantry, Confederate army, and after serving

a short time was captured at Fayetteville, and paroled. He re-enlisted in the

fall of 1864, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Graham, his wife and

all the children but the youngest and fifth are members of the Methodist Episcopal

Church, South. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the 1. 0.

O.F.