Gem City , Cabin #16

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When G.A. and E.S. Graham traveled to Texas soon after the Civil War, they found a vast stretch of farming, grazing and mineral country, with convenient access to water in beautiful surroundings. They were in the Peter’s Colony of North Central Texas. Ultimately they bought 95,000 acres of land for 70 cents an acre with the purpose of establishing a town and luring buyers looking for an adventure and fresh start in life.

The brothers, G.A. and E.S., started a Salt Works plant on the banks of the Brazos River. However, they found it too costly to obtain the salt and closed down the plant to focus on building their town. They ran advertisements in newspapers soliciting buyers for their land and for business men to come to settle the town. It was E.S. Graham’s dearest wish to attract to “Graham, the Gem City” good people and prosperous businesses.

G.A. served as Graham’s first surveyor and postmaster. His brother E.S., my great-grandfather, worked to bring buyers to Texas. He knew that for Graham to grow it needed to be connected to other towns by rail. He dreamed of having at least one railroad operating in Graham. His dream became a reality when the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railroad rolled into town in 1902. The whole town and most of the county turned out to celebrate the event. The Wichita Falls and Southern line connecting Graham to Breckenridge and Cisco and thus to transcontinental lines began operating in Graham in 1921. The train to Fort Worth left early in the morning and it wasn’t uncommon to attend a wedding before the train departed so the newlyweds could leave on their wedding trip onboard the train.

The third white woman to come to Graham was Wilhelmina Manlove. She arrived in 1874. She had been educated in Germany in voice, literature and music qualifying her as an outstanding teacher. She opened her home to six students, thus starting the first school in Graham.

There had been a school before the town was formed on the Brazos River Indian Reservation. Ellis Z. Combs was the teacher of 50 Indian pupils in the small log house on the reservation. When the reservation ended in 1859, the school ceased to exist.

The first plat of Graham showed a block marked College Hill. The founders of Graham were interested in educational advancement, donating all the lots for the schools of Graham. Roxana College was built on the east side of Twin Mountain. It opened in the fall of 1879 to 100 pupils. At times Graham had as many as three schools. No western county had greater educational advantages than Young County, which even had a select boarding school for girls featuring language and fine arts. Graham incorporated for a free school in 1883. The Graham brothers set aside a 12 acre block east of Roxana College for the public schools and a 6 room red brick school house was completed in 1893. Graham continues to this day with a strong focus on education. A new elementary school was completed in 2004 and a Center for Higher Education opened its doors in 2005.

Aware of the need for refinement, the women of early Graham were pleased when Robert McLaren opened a music store. He sold pianos and other musical instruments and allowed several ladies from the area to offer music lessons to budding musicians.

Methodists in Graham point with pride to the fact that the first church organized in Graham was Methodist. In the summer of 1874, on the banks of Salt Creek near the new saw mill, Rev. Graham (not related to the town’s founders) issued the call for organization and “those responding numbered nine.” The first services were held in homes; and later on the second floor of the mill, then in the first courthouse. In 1877 the Methodists began raising funds for a building. E.S. and G.A. Graham donated the lot at Cherry and Third Streets where the present church is located. Quoting from a history of the First Methodist Church, “Before this church was erected, the Presbyterians completed their church in the summer of 1877, and invited other denominations to worship with them. The Methodists were with the Presbyterians more than a year. When the parting came, a ceremony was held, and the Methodists marched out to their own church, with the blessings of the Presbyterians upon them.”

The Methodists were not alone, Episcopal clergy visited Graham, later on Christmas Eve, 1876, Presbyterian Rev. Charles Holt Dobbs, arrived in Graham and found five persons who were willing to organize the first Presbyterian Church. The little congregation built a small church on South Oak Street, but a tornado destroyed it just before completion. Undaunted, the congregation secured another lot at the corner of First and Elm Streets and completed a building there in 1877 at a cost of $1000. The generous Presbyterians offered use of their new building to other denominations, and Methodists, Christians, Episcopalians, and Baptists met there prior to completing their own churches.

As a girl growing up in Graham, I recall spending the summers going from one church’s Vacation Bible School to another. The spirit of openness between the Churches continues to be a special part in the religious life of the community.

A frontier community was made less dangerous when a doctor came to town. These Pioneer doctors often made their own pills and medications. Early doctors in Graham included C.B. Gant, R.H. Burns, R.A. Duncan, R.N. Price, J.W. Gallaher, W.M. Terrell, G.F. LeGrand, and Dr. James. Early day dentists included Dr. M.H. Chism and Dr. W.A. Morris. Dr. Morris traveled by train and back between Graham, Wichita Falls, Aspermont, and sometimes even to Amarillo bringing relief to people suffering from toothaches and resulting mouth diseases.

There have been several hospitals located in Graham to care for the sick, dying and hurt. The early wooden structures served their purpose for a number of years, but were sold as residences when the Graham General Hospital on Cherry and Calaveras Streets was completed.

Of course, no town is complete without a member of the legal profession. C.W. Johnson was the first lawyer admitted to the bar to locate in Graham. The Graham Leader reported in August of 1876: “his practice proves him to be a popular and energetic attorney and land agent.”

The banking business has always played an important role in the development of a town. The Beckham National Bank was the first private banking establishment in Graham, organizing in 1890.

Visitors to Graham could find lodging easily. Several wagon yards served as hotel for both man and beast and there were four hotels and a boarding house available to welcome weary travelers. Of course, travelers and residents alike enjoyed the hospitality of Jeffery Saloon. Jeffery came to the United States from England becoming a US citizen in 1876. As a young boy, he worked for the Graham brothers at the Salt Works earning enough money to invest in several pieces of property. Jeffery opened his saloon with profits from his investments.

Graham’s City Council was ever vigilant in encouraging safe and proper behavior in town. One ordinance prohibited the discharging of firearms and any other practice that would frighten horses. Another ordinance required Jeffery to post a notice that customers were not to hitch horses to his saloon.