Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/103

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 69 Graham was a prominent candidate for the nomination to Congress, but gave way to another prominent candidate. In 1854 he was appointed to the land office as receiver at Red Wing, and at once removed to that place, his family following a year later, the register being W. W. Phelps, also a prominent old- timer. In 1858 the land office, having been removed to Hender- son, Minn., Mr. Graham went to that place, and remained three years, afterward returning to Red Wing, where he remained until his death, in the middle of May, 1891. A newspaper obitu- ary of his life said: "In politics, Mr. Graham was an unswerv- ing Democrat, and yet he was liberal in his political views, as in everything else. He served as mayor of Red Wing for one year, and was elected justice of the peace in 1869, since which he was almost unanimously re-elected every two years. In 1872 he was a candidate for Congress on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by a small majority. He was a member of the Episco- pal church of Red Wing, and for a number of years was one of the vestrymen. He • was also a member of Red Wing Lodge, No. 8, A. F. and A. M. Mr. Graham was a man of the strictest integrity, a Christian in the highest sense of the term, of superior talent, and one of the best public speakers in the state. He was very domestic in all Ids tastes, and no father was ever happier than he when surrounded by his children. He was phenomenally quick at repartee, and no one ever enjoyed a joke better than he or could see the ridiculous side of a proposition quicker than he, and his sayings became common property throughout this com- munity. He did not have an enemy in the world, and though a man of strong convictions, yet he never interfered in the belief of any one." Mr. Graham was married July 7, 1837, to Louise H. Hargrave; born February 14. 1814, and died in January, 1895. Florence, the oldest child of Christopher C. Graham, now lives at Red Wing. In her honor the township of Florence, this county, was named. She was married January 8, 1872, to David M. Taber; born June 26, 1840, in Massachusetts. Mr. Taber was a lawyer, served as city and county attorney, and had a promis- ing career ahead of him when cut off by death in the prime of life, April 1, 1880, pneumonia being the cause of his decease. To this union was born one child, Christopher G. Mrs. Florence Taber has taken up the work left by her father, and is known for her interest in all matters which tend toward the betterment of the city and county. Ralph G., son of Mr. Taber by a former marriage, married Henrietta S. Pratt. He has been manager of the T. B. Sheldon Auditorium, and has met with much success as a magazine writer. Isabella, the second child died at the age of three years. John A. Graham, deceased, the third child of the Graham