My Genealogy Hound

D. L. Graham, harness dealer, was born in Van Buren County, Ark., November 17, 1826, and is the son of Joel and Catherine (Winkler) Graham. The father was born in North Carolina in 1776, and died in Van Buren County, Ark., in 1852. The mother was born in Missouri in 1788, and died in Van Buren County, Ark., in 1848. The father was a harness maker by trade, and in connection was also engaged in farming. D. L. Graham is of Scotch-German descent, and is the third of eight children, only two now living, himself and a brother, Aquilla Graham, now a resident of Texas. Mr. Graham learned the harness maker’s trade from his father, and this he followed for some time. In 1855 he married Miss E. J. Roberts, who was born in Smith County, Tenn., May 3, 1836, and is the daughter of Z. B. Roberts, who died in California in September, 1888. In 1857 Mr. Graham moved to Marshfield, Mo., and here he has since resided. In 1866 he began the harness maker’s business on his own account in this town, and has since continued without interruption. He has been quite successful, and is the oldest business man in Marshfield, having been a resident of that city for thirty-one years. His first store stood where the county jail now is, and his first residence was a cabin, 16x16 feet. This was burned in December, 1860, and was the first house destroyed by fire in the city. Mr. Graham is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the Masonic lodge, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.