Graham, James F. - 1866-1941

GRAHAM, JOHNSON, TANN, WERESH

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 3/5/2024 at 09:21:48

J. F. Graham, Hotel Man, Dies at 74
Colfax, Ia. (Special to The Daily News) – James F. Graham, a Colfax business man for 30 years and former proprietor of the Mason House, a historic Colfax hotel which was razed last year, died Sunday night about 11 o’clock.
Mr. Graham, 74, suffered a stroke eight years ago and later suffered from a throat cancer. He had been critically ill for the last eight months.
Prominent Lodge man
Until his retirement from active business because of poor health, Mr. Graham, widely known as a pioneer hotel and cafe proprietor, was active in community affairs. He was a former member of the B. P. O. Elks lodge, the Knights of Columbus lodge, Redman lodge, the Colfax Lion’s Club and the Colfax Commercial club.
Born at Monongahela, Pa., Aug. 4, 1866, he came to Iowa with his parents as a child and the family settled at Ottumwa, Ia. He was married to Frances Tann of Oskaloosa Feb. 22, 1896.
Funeral Wednesday
Surviving relatives include his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Joe Weresh of Colfax and Mrs. C. H. Johnson of West Des Moines; a son, John Graham of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister, Elizabeth Graham of Ottumwa, Ia., and five grandchildren.
Funeral rites will be held at the Colfax Catholic church Wednesday morning at 9:30 o’clock, with burial in the family lot in the Colfax cemetery.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Monday, February 17, 1941

Graham Rites To Be Wednesday
Colfax, IA – Funeral rites for James F. Graham, former hotel man and long-time resident of Colfax, will be held at the Colfax Catholic church Wednesday morning at 9:30 o’clock. Burial will be in the Colfax cemetery.
Mr. Graham died Sunday night following a prolonged illness. For years he was proprietor of the Mason House, large hotel here which was razed last year.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Tuesday, February 18, 1941

Colfax, Ia. (Special to The Daily News) – Funeral services were conducted Wednesday morning, Feb. 19, for James F. Graham, who for the past thirty years had served Colfax as manager of restaurants and hotels. His last business activity was managing and operating the Mason House.
Out of respect to Mr. Graham all business houses were closed during his funeral services.
Mr. Graham was born Aug. 4, 1866, at Monongahela, Pa., and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joe Weresh in Colfax at the age of 74 years, 6 months and 12 days.
When a child he came to Iowa with his parents and located at Ottumwa.
On Feb. 22, 1896, he was united in marriage to Frances Tann of Oskaloosa. To this union were born three children, Mrs. C. H. Johnson of West Des Moines, Mrs. Joe Weresh of Colfax and John Graham of Kansas City, Mo. Besides his wife and three children he is survived by five grandchildren and one sister, Elizabeth Graham of Ottumwa.
He was a member of the Catholic church, Colfax Commercial club, Lions club, Elks, Redmen and Knights of Columbus lodges.
Requiem High Mass was held at 9:30 Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Immaculate Conception church with Rev. Calahan officiating.
Music was furnished by Mary Louise Menke and Mrs. Richard Irwin.
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold May had charge of the flowers.
Pallbearers were H. A. Gunn, John Cairns, John Doyle, Carl Janney, John Luther and Walter Ryan.
Interment was in the family lot of the Colfax cemetery.
Relatives and friends who came from a distance for the services were: Elizabeth Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Vaughn, Mr. and Mrs. John Vaughn and Ray Tullis of Ottumwa; Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Aday, Mrs. Susie Lichtenheld, Annie Suggett, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Fullenwider and Mrs. John Adey of Oskaloosa; Helen Clarkson, Susie Clarkson and Mr. Crow of Waukee; Beatrice Poorbaugh of Nevada; Mrs. John Graham and children, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kennedy, Mrs. Sam Gould Bernice Rankin, Mabel Patterson, Orville Bland, Gladys Swanson, Lellia Wright and Mrs. Ferguson of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Johnson, Mrs. Agnes
Verba, Mr. and Mrs. De Wayne Johnson, Mrs Louise Rowland, Mrs. Arthur Sturges, Mrs. M. M. Haywood, Mrs. George Thompson, and Mrs. Myron Faidley of West Des Moines, Alice Graf of Stuart; Mae Haney of Creston; Hollis Hite of Cedar Rapids; Inga Jepson of Clinton; Lt. J. H. Vaughn of Fort Des Moines; John Graham of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. George Maggar and Mike Ferrick of Newton.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Friday, February 28, 1941, page 6