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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Emery G. Graham

Emery G. Graham, practicing at the bar of Jefferson, was born in a little log cabin - one of the typical frontier homes - in Jasper county, Iowa, September 30, 1872. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. The paternal grandfather, William Graham, enlisted as a soldier in an Illinois regiment at the time of the Civil war and served for four and a half years. His son, Walter H. Graham, father of Emery G. Graham, was a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation and in 1869 removed to Iowa, settling in Jasper county upon a tract of land which be cultivated until his removal to Polk county in 1873. There he bought a farm upon which he remained until 1881. He next located in Audubon county, where he followed farming for a time and subsequently spent four years in the city of Audubon, where he was engaged in the coal business. On the expiration of that period he returned to his farm, where his last days were spent. He lived a life of frugality and industry, was an energetic agriculturist, and, though he started out in life with practically nothing, he made for his family a good living and had two hundred acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred September 2, 1889. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and his life was in harmony with its principles. His political allegiance was given to the democracy. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Osborne, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, and is now living at Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of fifty-seven years. She is of English lineage and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family numbered four children: Emery G.; Ross H., who is a jeweler living in Birmingham, Alabama; Lorenzo Glenn, of Sioux City, Iowa, who is district manager for the Singer Sewing Machine Company; and Dora L., the wife of B. L. Root, a railroad man of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Emery G. Graham was reared on a farm and attended the country schools. His ambition, however, was along professional lines and he entered the law department of Drake University in September, 1893, there completing a two years’ course by graduation on the 22d of May, 1895. He began the practice of law at Stuart, Iowa, where he continued until September, 1901, when he came to Jefferson. Here, on the 6th of January, 1902, he formed a partnership with J. A. Gallaher under the firm name of Gallaher & Graham, which has had a continuous existence to the present time, covering a period of about six years. They have a good clientage and are conducting a successful business. Mr. Graham is a member of the Greene County Bar Association and in his preparation of his cases he is thorough and painstaking, so that he enters the courtroom well prepared to meet all attacks of opponents.

On the 28th of November, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Graham and Miss Anna C. Dickson, who was born in Illinois, June 21, 1869. Her father, H. A. Dickson, was one of the pioneer farmers of that state and in 1875 removed to Guthrie county, Iowa, where his last days were spent. His wife, Margaret E. Dickson, was born in the state of New York and is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Graham, at the age of seventy-five years. She is of English lineage and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have two children: Grace M., born October 22, 1900; and Roscoe G., born August 30, 1903.

Mr. Graham belongs to the Christian church and his wife to the Presbyterian church. They are well known socially and have many warm friends in the community, while their own home is noted for its hospitality. Mr. Graham is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. His political views are in accord with republican principles and that he is recognized as one of the strong and able members of the party is indicated by the fact that he was elected to the offices of mayor and solicitor while in Stuart. He prefers now, however, to give his undivided attention to his practice and is making a creditable record at the Greene county bar.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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