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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James P. H. Graham is a native of North Carolina, but was reared in Mississippi, and received his education in the common schools of that State. At the age of twenty-two he commenced farming for himself, and in December, 1860, was married to Miss Sarah Cathey, whose birth occurred in Mississippi, on October 10, 1842. She died in January, 1872, being the mother of four children, one of whom, Elizabeth A. D., is still living. In November, 1872, Mr. Graham married Sarah E. Jarrett, born in Alabama, in August, 1851, a daughter of Freeman and Mary (McMillen) Jarrett, and a sister of Joseph F. Jarrett, whose biography appears in this work. They are parents of seven children, five living: Mary M., Josie E., Joseph W., Mittie P. and Edner L. Our subject was born in Cleveland County, N. C, on January 27, 1838. Arthur H. Graham, his father, was born in North Carolina, on September 17, 1809, and removed to Mississippi in 1839, coming from that State to this county in 1869. He was married on January 23, 1834, to Miss Elizabeth D. S. Wray, also of North Carolina, born in 1815, and a daughter of James Wray, of English descent. She died in 1844, leaving five children, two of whom survive: James P. H. and William Walter. The senior Mr. Graham was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in November, 1887. He was the son of John Graham, of Irish descent, though a native of Cleveland County, N. C. James Graham came to this county with his father in 1869, and has since resided here. He was a resident of Mississippi at the time of the breaking out of the war, and enlisted in March, 1862, in Company A of the Ninth Mississippi Infantry, serving until December, 1863, when he was taken prisoner at the battle of Missionary Ridge, and carried to Rock Island, where he was confined until May 3, 1865. He was then exchanged and received his discharge at Natchez, Miss. Although captured early in the war, he participated in four great battles of the war, Shiloh, Murfreesboro Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. Mr. Graham now owns a fine farm of 160 acres, with 112 acres under cultivation, upon which are improvements, buildings, orchards, etc. He is stanch Democrat, and although not an office seeker, was elected justice of the peace in 1884, which position he held for a year. He then resigned on account of other business matters requiring his attention. He is a member of the K. of H. and of the Christian Church, his wife belonging to the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Phillips County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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