THOMAS B. GRAHAM. - Thomas B. Graham has had an eventful history, for he was connected with the experiences which form an important chapter in the annals of this country - those of the border warfare of Kansas. He was also a soldier of the Civil war and now is a loyal citizen of Sangamon county, where for many years he was identified with agricultural pursuits. He is, however, at the present time living retired life in Illiopolis. His residence in Illinois dates from 1838. He was born in Todd county, Kentucky, November 21, 1835, a son of John M. Graham, whose birth occurred in South Carolina, where the grandfather of our subject settled at an early day. John M. Graham was reared to manhood in Kentucky and was married in Todd county to Miss Martha Bean. After his marriage Mr. Graham engaged in farming in Todd county for several years and five of his children were born there. In 1838 he came with his family to Illinois, locating first in Macoupin county, where he lived for two or three years, when he went to Morgan county. In 1855 he removed to Kansas and was residing there at the time of the border war. He made his home in Douglas county near Lawrence and after spending a number of years there he sold his property and removed to Lyon county, where he purchased a farm, upon which he spent his remaining days, his death occurring 1874. His wife had passed away in Lawrence in 1858.

Thomas B. Graham was reared to manhood upon the home farm in Morgan county, Illinois, and in the fall of 1855 he went to Kansas, joining his parents in that state. There he began working on a farm and at breaking prairie. The events which formed so exciting a chapter in the history of that state, however, claimed much of his time. There was a bitter contest between the northern and southern element for the admission of Kansas into the Union as a free or a slave state. Mr. Graham joined Charles Robinson, the leader of the free state party and James Lane, the organizer of the movement. He became a member of a small command, known as Company I of the Free State Commission, and was in various engagements of the border warfare. He frequently saw John Brown and he continued to render active duty to the free party until its work was accomplished.

Mr. Graham remained in Kansas until 1860, when he returned to Illinois and joined an uncle in Illiopolis, Sangamon county. here he was employed until August, 1862, when he enlisted as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Infantry. He went south with the Fifteenth Army Corps of the Army of the Tennessee and the first important engagement in which he participated was at Yazoo river. He also took part in the battles of Haines Bluff and Arkansas Post and then returned to Young Point, where the winter was spent, the members of his command working on the canal during that period. In the spring they preceded up Black Bayou to obtain possession of the gunboats held there by the confederates. Mr. graham was afterward in the Vicksburg campaign, his regiment being stationed in the rear of the army. He also participated in the battles of Champion Hills and Black river and the capture of Vicksburg. After the second battle of Jackson his regiment followed the rebel troops to Brandon and he also participated in the campaign of Chattanooga. At Corinth Mr. Graham was taken ill and remained in the hospital there for six weeks. After recovering he spent the winter in Alabama, where he was put on detail duty, serving as sergeant of detail at division commissary headquarters. There he remained during the greater part of the year and later rejoined his regiment and participated in the attack of Fort McAllister. He was afterward active in the capture of Columbia, South Carolina, and he continued with the army until the close of the war, when he was mustered out and honorably discharged at Camp Butler, Illinois, in June, 1865.

Mr. graham at once took up the duties of civil life and in the fall of 1865 purchased a tract of land and began its improvement, continuing the cultivation of that farm for ten years. He then sold his property and bought eighty-nine acres of land west of Illiopolis. This he also improved, his labors being very effective in transforming his land into a highly cultivated tract. He tilled the fields, planted his crops and in course of time reaped abundant harvests. There he resided continuously until 1892, when he rented his farm and purchased a lot in Illiopolis, upon which he erected the residence that he now occupies. He is living a retired life and his rest is well merited, for his career has been active and honorable and as the reward of his labors he has acquired a competence which supplies him with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life.

Mr. Graham was married first in Macon county, Illinois, in February, 1866, to Miss Lydia Pritchett, who died in March, 1876. There were two children by that marriage: William S., who is a resident of Henry county, Missouri, and Minnie C., the wife of Clay Burns, of Illiopolis, by whom she has four children: Paul, Percy, Byron and Wilma. In 1887 Mr. Graham was again married, his second union being with Mary E. Martin, who died December 30, 1897. On the 15th of February, 1899, in Illiopolis, he married Martha Palmer, a native of Hardin county, Kentucky, who was reared in Clark county, Missouri, and later came to Illinois.

Politically, Mr. Graham is a Prohibitionist, but formerly gave his support to the Republican party, remaining one of its stalwart advocates during the time that it stood as the defender of the Union cause and the promoter of many of the strongest movements which have resulted for the benefit of the country. He now regards the temperance question as one of the leading issues before the people and therefore affiliates with the Prohibition party. he has served as township school trustee and a school director, also as commissioner of highways for six years and in these positions has been most faithful to his duties. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and has been senior past commander anc chaplain of his post. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are living in harmony with its teachings and principles. Mr. Graham's life has been active and embraces experiences which are unknown to many, but which have had important bearing upon the welfare of his county. At all times he has been actuated by honorable methods, by upright principles and no man enjoys in higher measure or deserves in greater degree the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated.