GRAHAM, Thomas J. (1843-1923)

GRAHAM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/15/2020 at 22:58:00

Thomas Jefferson Graham
(February 8, 1843 – April 2, 1923)

Thomas Jefferson Graham of Indianola, Iowa, was born February 8th, 1843, in Monroe County, Indiana, and came to his death April 1st, 1923, at the age of eighty years, one month and twenty-four days. He settled at Hammonsburg, Iowa, in 1856. He was married to Miss Margaret Walton, March 4, 1869. To this union was born one daughter, Mrs. Mae Shaver. His wife passed away September 16, 1919. He was again married on June 8th, 1920 to Mrs. Elizabeth Shrewsberry. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, his daughter, one grandson, Orlin Shaver, and one granddaughter, Veda Shaver; also one brother, R. W. Graham of Des Moines and two sisters, Mrs. Maggie Fry of Florida and Mrs. Victoria Chrisman of California, besides a number of relatives and friends. He was an honorable and upright citizen and a good neighbor. He will be missed in the home and in the neighborhood.
Card of Thanks – We wish to thank our neighbors and friends for their kind assistance and sympathy in our late bereavement. – Mrs. T. J. Graham, R. W. Graham
T. J. Graham Found Dead
The body of T. J. Graham, eighty years old, was discovered in the attic of his home on south Second street, Sunday evening at five-thirty o’clock by his neighbor Adam Hoxel, who had been called by Mrs. Graham. Mrs. Graham, who was on the lower floor, heard the sound of a falling body, as she believed in a bed room on the second floor where she supposed Mr. Graham was in bed. Thinking Mr. Graham had fallen out of bed, she went up stairs to find that the sound had come from the attic. Becoming alarmed she called Mr. Hoxel, who lives next door. He went up in the attic where he found the body of Mr. Graham slumped down on the floor beside a chair on which he had evidently stood while attaching a rope to one of the rafters, the other end of which was around his neck. The rope had broken and allowed the boy to fall to the floor, with enough noise to alarm Mrs. Graham. The face of the dead man had turned black and it is believed he had been dead two or three hours when discovered. No reason for the deed is given. [copied from a scrapbook at the Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, Iowa]