Matthew W. Graham, became the grandfather of our subject. He was a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer by occupation. Removing westward, he became one of the early settlers of Stephenson county and engaged in farming in Loran township. The family met the usual experiences and hardships of pioneer life and he took active part in planting the seeds of civilization in this then far western district. He was born in February, 1797, and was killed in a runaway accident in 1872. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Shannon, died in 1875 when seventy-four years of age. She was the daughter of Daniel and Martha Shannon, her father also a soldier in the American Revolution. Matthew W. and Martha (Shannon) Graham were the parents of eleven children: Henry, John, Matthew, George, Martha, Jane, Elizabeth, Samuel, David, Ephraim and James.
