Decatur County Journal
December l5, l906
GEORGE ERASTUS GRAHAM died at his home in Hamilton Township, Decatur
County, Iowa, December 8, l906, at the age of 60 years, 5 months and 3
days, having been born in Jo Davies County, Illinois, July 5, l846.
He lived on a farm in the county of his birth until his enlistment in
the Northern Army, Company B 45th, Illinois Infantry. He served in the
Atlanta Campaign and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea,
and took part in the grand review at Washington. He was honorably
discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and mustered out at Chicago.
With his father's family, he moved to Decatur County in l865 and soon
after located on the farm, on which, since that time he has made his
home. On November 29, l868, he married MISS MARGARET ELLEN NEWTON and
to them were born nine children, all of whom survive, and with their
mother were present at the bedside of the dying husband and father.
Of MR. GRAHAM's six sisters and three brothers, EPHRIAM, LUCINDA and
DORA preceded him to the great beyond.
MR. GRAHAM was a member of Grand Army Post No. 306, of Davis City and
Masonic Lodge No. l89, of Pleasanton. The ceremonial ritual of these
orders were observed at the burial. Members of the order from Leon and
Davis City being present with the Pleasanton Lodge. The funeral took
place from the Christian Union Church, Pleasanton, Iowa. The sermon was
by Elder Duncan Campbell, Rev. Henry Reed offering prayer. Interment in
the Hamilton Cemetery north of Pleasanton.
MR. GRAHAM was a man of the strictest business integrity, thoroughly
pure in life, and his character was beyond reproach, and as a
consequence he enjoyed the fullest respect and confidence of his large
circle of friends and acquaintances. The bereaved family have the
deepest sympathy of the community.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 26, 200l