WILLIAM R. GRAHAM, Cedar Falls, Iowa, was born October 13, 1842, at the head of Seneca Lake, in what is now Schuyler County, New York, a son of Alexander and Abigail Graham, who were also natives of New York State, the latter being a daughter of General Martin Keep. When a boy he went with his parents to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he enlisted in May, 1861, in the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and in the following November he enlisted in Company E, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, comprising a part of the army of the frontier. He was principally engaged in scouting and reconnoitering in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas and Indian Territory. He participated in the battle of Prairie Grove and a number of other engagements. He enlisted as a private, but was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant, having command of Company G, and served in this position till he received his discharge in the spring of 1864, when he returned to his home in Janesville. In his youth he attended the Janesville High School, completing his education at the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and graduating from that institution in the class of 1867. In 1870 he was admitted to the Wisconsin State bar, but has never followed the legal profession for any length of time. For a time he was a member of the firm of S.I. Russell & Co., manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds at Chicago, Illinois. He has been a resident of Cedar Falls, Iowa, since 1876, and for several years after coming here was interested with his father in a merchant flouring mill. In 1882 a company was formed for the manufacture of paper at Cedar Falls, of which company Mr. Graham was chosen president and manager, continuing as such till January, 1886, when he disposed of his interests. Mr. Graham was married September 24, 1867, to Miss Martha Hawkins, daughter of Hon. Olney and Mary Hawkins, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have three children — Mary G., Alexander and Augustus. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, the Legion of Honor and Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he is at present grand master of the Loyal Grand Lodge. He also belongs to the Grand Army Post at Cedar Falls. Politically he is a Republican.
Source: History of Black Hawk County, Iowa and representative citizens; Isaiah Van Metre; published by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1886
Des Moines Telegram, November 26, 1915, Page 1, Col 2
Mrs. Martha H. Graham, 1806 Arlington Avenue, the widow of the late Major W. R. Graham, United States army, and who was for thirteen years grand master workman A.O.U.W. of Iowa, died at the Lutheran hospital Thursday morning about 5 o'clock, after an illness of one week following a severe fall at her home.
Her two sons, W. A. Graham and Augustus Graham of the law firm of Graham & Graham, were with her at the end.
Mrs. Graham was a communicant of the Episcopal church, and was prominent in the society of the Colonial Dames of America.
She was born Oct. 31, 1842, at Ann Arbor, Mich., the daughter of Olney Hawkins and Mary Welch, and had made her home in Des Moines since 1902.
The body will be taken by her two sons to her old home at Cedar Falls, Ia., where it will be laid by the side of her husband, who died in the service of the United States just twelve years ago.
No service will be held in Des Moines and the burial will take place Saturday from the little Episcopal church in Cedar Falls with which she was for nearly thirty years closely identified.
Washington Post, December 1, 1977, Page B14
Retired Col. Alexander Graham, 68, who began life on an Army post, commanded an artillery battalion in World War II, and married a general's daughter, died Sunday in Philadelphia, where he had gone to watch the Army-Navy football game. He had suffered from a heart condition for some years.
Col. Graham, whose father was a colonel before him, was born in an Army post in Iowa. He graduated from the Military Academy at West Point in 1932, and was commissioned in the field artillery. His first assignment was at Ft. Myer, and there he met and married Frances Lyon Devers, the daughter of Gen. Jacob L. Devers. In World War II, Col. Graham commanded a field artillery battalion in the 4th Armored Division. He participated in the campaigns across France and into Germany and Czechoslovakia.
His decorations included the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, the French Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Croix de Guerre, and the Order of Leopold from Luxembourg.
Col. Graham's postwar assignments included duty in Japan and in this country, including the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. He replaced on the temporary disability retired list in 1962 because of a heart condition, and was retired in 1967.
That year Col. Graham earned a master's degree in business administration from American University. But he devoted most of his time since leaving the Army to various veterans organizations, including the 4th Armored Division Association, of which he was past president, the Military Order of World Wars, the Military Order of the Caraboa and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
