War of 1812 Veterans who lived in Cass County

Charles Graham, born 29 January 1792 in NC (possibly Anson County), moved with his family to Perryville, Perry County, TN in the early 1800s, living on the banks of the Tennessee River. His father. Captain John Graham, is reported to have fought on the wrong side of a skirmish in Scotland and fled to North Carolina. Other than Charles, children of Captain and Mrs. Graham were Robert Crawford and Mary, and possibly others.

Charles served in the War of 1812 in the Tennessee Militia. His application for pension and bounty land shows that he was a first lieutenant in the company of William Douglass in Stephen Copeland’s regiment of the Tennessee State Volunteers, and was a part of the brigade of Johnson in the army commanded by General Andrew Jackson. He fought in the battle of Horseshoe Bend between the United States and Indians about the 27th day of March 1814. He was drafted at McMinnville for a term of three months and was in actual service for the full period, being honorably discharged at Fayetteville, Tennessee. For this service he was granted a land warrant of 80 acres in Cass County, Texas and later was given 80 additional acres.

After his return from the militia, Charles was thought to have married twice. By his first wife, he is believed to have had one son. He married the second time to Jane (Janett) Rayburn in September 1823. She was the daughter of Henry Rayburn and Sarah “Sally” Shanklin of Wayne County, Tennessee. Jane was born 14 April 1801.

Charles owned land in Perry County and took an active part in the affairs of the town and state. He served in the state legislature as representative, was county commissioner, and served on numerous juries. In 1821, he helped to locate the county seat of Perry County.

In the 1820’s and 1830’s, rumors began to grow about land being given away in a place called Texas, much of which was in dispute between Mexico, Spain, France, and England. A qualifying man could get 640 acres. Although virtually unexplored and barely settled, this land attracted many U.S. citizens. Charles Graham, together to settle in Cass County, Texas. Some of these families were Jeremiah M. Wood, West Wood, Edward W. Story, J.W. Story, Gideon Story, Samuel Story, Jr. and Sr., Henry J. Story, Jesse W. C. Story, Daniel Story, Bennett B. Story, William Ledbetter, Wylie Graves and Mary Story Sutherland. This part of Texas was very much like the area from which they had migrated in Tennessee.

So in 1843, Charles Graham and his family made their home in what became Cass County, Texas. They resided in the area near what later became known as Linden, Texas. Because the county seat of their former home was Linden, Mary Graham Wood and her husband Major Jeremiah M. Wood chose the same name for their new home. It seems that other relatives came to Cass County as word reached them of the advantages of this part of the country.

Charles, his brother R.C. and some of his older sons set to work surveying and patenting land. Records in Cass County and Marion County indicate many transactions including surveys, deeds, patents by the Graham family. Charles became active in civic affairs as he had been in Tennessee. The first drawing for jurors held on 12 August 1846 listed Charles. Brother R.C. was elected the first county clerk. Charles’ son-in-law, A. Ferdinand Hoicomb assisted in laying out the lots for the town-site of Linden in 1849. Charles Graham was one of the purchasers of these lots.

Charles and Jane had thirteen children. All of the children were born in Tennessee except for son Robert D.M. Graham, born 25 May 1846 in Cass County, Texas. Although several of the boys served in the Civil War, only one Samuel R. Graham, was killed. This son Samuel was four years old when the family moved to Texas. He was unmarried. For a short time he was a Mason in the Andrew Jackson Lodge in Linden, initiated 2 June 1860. After being wounded and captured, Samuel R. Graham died in Ohio on 29 September 1863. He is buried at Johnson’s Island, Ohio.

Other children of Charles and Jane Graham include

(a) Tillman Williamson, born 15 May 1817, Hickman Co. TH, died 9 Sept 1893 Marlow OK;

(b) Perry M., born 7 Hov 1823 Tn, died Jefferson Tx 3 Nov,1881;

(c) John H., born 1827 TN, died 1 Oct 1895 Cass Co., TX;

(d) Elizabeth Caroline, born 2 Mar 1830 TO, died 12 March 1851 Cass Co., TX. (never married);

(e) Charlotte Jane, born 26 March 1831 TH, died 1 June 1853 Cass Co./ TX (never married)

(f) Charles Gibbs, born 30 April 1833 Perryville, Perry Co. Tennessee, died 3 June 1896 Jefferson, Texas;

(g) Samuel E., born 1836 TN, died 29 Sept 1863 Johnson’s Island, Ohio. (never married); (h) Mary P., born 4 Dec 1837 TN, married Dr. J.P. Mills, died

18 Sept 1898 Cass Co., Texas; (i) Annie Eliza, born 4 Nov 1839 TN, married Dr. Robert Frank

Sloan, died June 1930 Cass County, Texas; (j) Emily P., born 5 Feb 1842 TN, died 1 Mar 1900 Cass County, Texas, (never married); (k) R.D.M., born 25 May 1846 Cass County, Texas, married Mattie

(Mallie) Lee, died 12 April 1887; (1) Sara Ann, born H>1830 TN, married A. Ferdinand Hoicomb, died 14 Sept 1888, Cass Co., Texas.

Charles Graham died 8 September 1875 in Cass County, Texas. Jane died 26 January 1861 in Cass County, Texas. Both are buried in the Center Grove Cemetery (sometimes called the Graham Cemetery) about 7 miles north of Linden, Texas.

A SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL OF OUR READERS

If you are having trouble with your Genealogy or just want to know who your Great Grandfather was and what he did The Cass County Genealogical Society might be able to answer your questions.

Or if you have an interesting or humors tale about your family, or a little-known tidbit about our local history that you would like to see recorded for posterity, please contact its at:

C. C. G. S.

P. O. Box 880

Atlanta, Texas 75551,

E-mail us at evanjevans@yahoo.com ,

Call us at (903) 796-3081,

Or just visit us in the Genealogy and History Section on the Second Floor of the Atlanta Public Library.