Matthew W. Graham, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and in early life devoted his attention to farming. In 1856 he came to Freeport and for a few years was upon the road as a commercial traveler. About 1880 he was appointed deputy sheriff and during the last few years of his life he lived retired. In all relations he was loyal to the interests which were his and the duties that devolved upon him and never was his record characterized by greater faithfulness than when he served as a soldier in the Civil war. He married Miss Ellen R. Sabin, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Ralph Sabin, who was likewise born in that state, where he followed the occupation of farming until 1842, when he removed westward to Stephenson county, Illinois, and engaged in farming in Loran township. There he took up government land and transformed the wild tract into productive fields. He married Amanda Dye and both lived to an old age, Mr. Sabin passing away in 1884 at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife died in 1896 at the age of eighty-one. He had been a resident of the county for forty-two years and his wife for fifty-four years. He was filling the office of supervisor when the present courthouse was built and at all times he was active in support of progressive public measures. In his family were six children: Mary Ann, Ellen R., Frances, Flora A., Harris and Ida. Of this family Ellen R. Sabin became the wife of Matthew W. Graham and unto them were born two children, Ralph S. and George W. An uncle of George W. Graham, David Graham, was killed at the battle of Fort Donelson, and a great-uncle, Daniel Shannon, was killed in the Mexican war.
