Graham, Sarah A. 1853-1927

GRAHAM, FRANKS, DEE, STIMSON, SCHULTZ, TRYON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/8/2012 at 12:33:14

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Dec. 23, 1927

PASSING OF MRS. EMANUEL GRAHAM
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Former Sheridan Lady Passes Away At Her Home in Tama Monday, Dec. 15.
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(From the Tama Herald)

Mrs. E.C. Graham died at 4:55 o'clock Monday morning at her home in Tama after an illness of a month's duration and following three years of impaired health, the result of heart disease. While it was known that her condition had become serious and that the probabilities were that she could not survive, still the news of her death came as a shock to the community where she had lived so long and where she had such a large circle of devoted friends.

The funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon by Dr. DeWitt Clinton, pastor of the Methodist church of which denomination Mrs. Graham was a faithful member for many years. Services were held at the home at 1:00 o'clock and the funeral cortege then proceeded to the Sheridan Methodist church where more formal services were conducted at 3:00 o'clock in the presence of a concourse of the former neighbors of the deceased. Interment was in the Sheridan cemetery.

Music was furnished by a trio composed of Mrs. Carl B. Harrison, Mrs. Harry Platt and Leonard Allen, with Mrs. Earl Spooner at the piano. The pall bearers for the Tama service were John Jackson, L.G. Jackson, Jas. G. Ennis, Fred McCall, Milton B. Wilkinson and N. Schafer. The pall bearers who served at Sheridan were George Graff, Fred Graff, A.L. Stimson, Ed Bolen, J.F. Shope and Otto Schultz.

Mrs. Graham, whose maiden name was Sarah A. Franks, was born January 18, 1853, near Zanesville, Ohio, and she died at the age of 71 years, 10 months and 27 days. She moved with her parents from Ohio to Illinois in 1865 and from there to Iowa in 1869, the family locating in Madison township, Poweshiek county. She was married to Emanuel C. Graham on November 29, 1871, and she and her husband moved to their prairie farm in Sheridan township in the spring of 1872. There they lived for thirty years.

On June 9, 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Graham left the farm and came to Tama to spend their declining days and here they enjoyed their retired life until the death of Mr. Graham on June 6, 1917. Following Mr. Graham's death Mrs. Graham continued to maintain her home and, tho bereft of her life companion, found comfort in service to others until her health failed three years ago.

In her youth in Madison township she was converted and joined the Christian church and remained a consistent member of that body until after her marriage and removal to Sheridan. There was no Christian church there and she joined the Methodist church and remained a member of that denomination until her death, transferring her membership to the Tama church when she and Mr. Graham located here in 1902. She was also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah and of T.F. Bradford Relief Corps and was active in the altruistic work and social life of both organizations, being the soul of many social gatherings.

She was a kind and loving wife and mother, finding her chief joy in life in adding to the comfort and happiness of the members of her family circle. She was of an uncomplaining nature, keeping her sickness and complaints to herself and minimizing her ailments, even when they became serious. Her sunny disposition and her willingness to ever be of service won for her a large circle of friends and during her last illness they rallied to her side and did everything in their power to ease her pain and add to her comfort.

She leaves to mourn four children: Mrs. Ida Dee, of Grinnell; Freeman R. Graham, of Sheridan; Frank F. Graham, of Seattle, Washington; and Mrs. Iva Stimson, of Sheridan. She is also survived by three grandchildren; Mrs. Elba Schultz of Sheridan, Mrs. Bernice Tryon, of Seattle, Washington; and Master Darrell Stimson, of Sheridan.