My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT M. GRAHAM has, as a prosperous farmer and capable public officer, become well and favorably known in West Pennsboro township. He is a native of Cumberland county, born Nov. 12, 1837, in Frankford township, and comes of a family which has long been held in high esteem in this section, as is shown by the numerous official honors heaped upon them.

William Graham, father of Robert M., was born in 1811 in Frankford township, Cumberland county, son of Arthur and Nancy (McClure) Graham. In 1836 he married Nancy Davidson, and they had six sons: Robert M., John D., James M. (deceased), William F. (deceased), Arthur H., and Alfred M. (deceased), of whom all but the last named married and settled in Cumberland county.

Robert M. Graham began his studies in the schools of his native township, and later became a pupil at the Newville Normal School, the first Normal school in the State. From the age of eleven years he lived with his uncle, Robert M. Graham. At the age of twenty he commenced teaching school in Frankford township, and continued to follow that profession for seven years. His interest in educational matters has never waned, and he served twenty-two years as school director. He is now serving his second term as president of the School Directors Association of Cumberland County.

Mr. Graham was trained to agricultural work from early boyhood, and he finally took charge of the farm of his uncle, which has descended from father to son since the time of William Penn, from whom the original grant was obtained. He and his young wife commenced their married life on that place, and thence in 1882, removed to their present home, which was the homestead of Mrs. Graham’s father, from whom she inherited it. Mr. Graham has been a successful farmer, but he has probably become best known in his public career. In 1878 he was honored with election to the office of prothonotary of Cumberland county, which he held for three years, being subsequently retained as deputy by his successors for two terms. He was deputy sheriff from 1882 until 1885, and in 1884 became a justice of the peace in West Pennsboro township, serving as such for fifteen years. Mr. Graham won golden opinions on all sides for his faithful discharge of all the duties intrusted to him, and his high personal integrity has never been questioned. He has been an Odd Fellow for forty-five years, has passed through all the chairs in the local lodge, and is likewise prominent in local Masonic circles, being a past master of Big Spring Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M., of which he has been a member for twenty-three years.

In 1869 Mr. Graham married Miss Rebecca Jane McKeehan, who was born in West Pennsboro township, in the house built by her grandfather in 1793, daughter of Joseph and Jane M. (Skiles) McKeehan. Her ancestry can be traced back for over a century. As previously mentioned, Mr. and Mrs. Graham commenced their married life on his uncle’s farm, and there their three children were born, viz.: (1) Joseph M., who is now conducting his father’s farm, married Elizabeth J. Clay, daughter of Levi and Mary Ann (Snyder) Clay, of West Pennsboro township. (2) William F. is living at home, (3) Clemens McFarland is a graduate of the Shippensburg Normal School, attended college at Carlisle for one year, and is now engaged in teaching; he taught for three years in West Pennsboro township, and for the past three years has been located at Johnstown, Pennsylvania.