Part 3...The Graham Family & House
The Robert W. Graham home at 325 West Main Street was completed in 1873. The Graham family moved into the west side and his wife’s parents, Joseph and Julia Post moved into the east side. Herbert was eight years old, Ernest five years old, and Myrtis was just under three years old.
Unfortunately, three weeks later, on September 18, 1873, Emma Graham died of ‘lung fever’, or pneumonia. Her funeral was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church, and she is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery.
A little over a year later, on September 21, 1874, Robert married Elizabeth Shaw. Elizabeth was the widow of Edwin P. Shaw. Elizabeth and her sons Clair and Earle along with daughter Edwina moved into the Graham home. Elizabeth was very active in Lowell’s social life. She belonged to the Congregational Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and was a charter member of the Lowell literary clubs. She was well known as a gracious hostess. She was called a woman of bright intellect with a keen sense of humor.
In 1879 Robert owned a wood building at 213 E. Main, next to his three-story building at 219/229 E. Main. He moved the wood building to a vacant lot so that he could build a brick building on the site. The newspaper said, “now if those other wooden buildings could be removed and brick erected in their stead, making a solid brick row from Scott’s to Blain’s, that would be O.K.” Today this building is the home of the Showboat Spirits and Fine Wine, formerly the Lowell Beer Store on the street level.
In 1880, Frank was born to Robert and Elizabeth. As recorded in the census, the other children’s ages were recorded as; Clair Shaw 16, Herbert 15, Earle Shaw 14, Ernest 12, Myrtis 9, and Edwina also 9. In the home also is 22-year-old Bertha Wood, working as a servant.
Robert was very active in civic service. In 1876 he was first elected to the School Board where he served for 23 years, and he also served as Director of that Board. He served as Justice of the Peace for two terms. He served on the Library Board and was the first librarian in Lowell. He served in the Lowell Congregational Church, and in 1888 he is listed as a trustee.
Robert served on the Village Council for two terms. During his time in office, he worked with the mill owners and together they repaired Main Street and the dam by driving new pilings. Along with J.C. Train he negotiated purchasing Island No.6 and all other islands in the Flat River south, for village purposes. He was also part of the decision to build the lower bridge over the Grand River in 1883. While he was on the council, he served on the fire committee, street committee, and finance committee.
In 1884 Robert served as the census enumerator for Lowell. It was noted in the newspaper that he did his work faithfully and without assistance. His bill was much lower than that of any other township in the county according to the amount of labor that he performed.
Following school both Herbert and Ernest went into construction. In 1892 they both lived in Chicago and worked on the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair Columbian Exposition. Ernest was the Assistant Chief of Construction! In October of 1892 Robert and Elizabeth attended the opening exercises of the World’s Fair as guests of their sons. They were able to witness the awards ceremony where 70 “men who had given their best work to building and beautifying the fair were awarded medals in commemoration of the completion of their work.” Ernest was one of the recipients. The awards ceremony was all about the artists and designers. “It was their day pure and simple. For the first time since the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers art was duly given a place and recognized by the government as an American institution. The men to whom the exposition owes so much for its graceful decorations were a proud and happy lot. They saw yesterday their hopes fulfilled, their profession noticed, their endeavors officially appreciated and their conscientious labors not in vain.” Imagine the excitement and pride as Robert watched his 24-year-old son who had attended a one-room school in Lowell and worked by his father’s side, receive this kind of recognition!
The next year Robert, Elizabeth, Frank, Myrtis, Jennie (the granddaughter of William Kidd Graham) and Edwina were all able to go to World’s fair. They were joined by over 27 million people, which was about a quarter of the population of the United States at that time.
In 1898 Frank A. Graham, son of Robert and Elizabeth, graduated from Lowell High School. About him it was said, “in argument he often waxed warm on most any question for, indeed, he was thoroughly informed on all topics of interest.” Frank was known for reading a book a day.
The next year, in 1899, the community lost a good man, called one of the substantial men of Lowell. It was said of Robert W. Graham at his death that, “By reason of his well spent life he furnished many examples of industry, fidelity and integrity that could with profit be imitated by the coming generation.” Robert was laid to rest next to his first wife Emma, in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lowell.
The Graham house was divided into apartments and Elizabeth continued to live on west side in the upstairs apartment, with her son Frank. The ground floor was rented to John Taylor, who worked in the cutter factory, and his wife Cora.
Frank later moved to Harbor Springs where he practiced dentistry. On February 1, 1912, Elizabeth Shaw Graham died while visiting Frank. At the end of her life, after losing her husbands, it was said she treasured four things, her children, her friends, her beloved books, and her church.
Sneak peek - Next week we will look at the life of the Graham house at 325 West Main Street, Lowell. Also to come, a detailed look into the lives of the Graham descendants, including Ernest Graham, said to be “Lowell’s most distinguished native son!”
Images:
Elizabeth Shaw Graham, Robert Graham's second wife and her daughter Edwina Shaw.
Robert W. Graham.
Ernest Graham, second son of Robert and Emma Graham.
Unfortunately, three weeks later, on September 18, 1873, Emma Graham died of ‘lung fever’, or pneumonia. Her funeral was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church, and she is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery.
A little over a year later, on September 21, 1874, Robert married Elizabeth Shaw. Elizabeth was the widow of Edwin P. Shaw. Elizabeth and her sons Clair and Earle along with daughter Edwina moved into the Graham home. Elizabeth was very active in Lowell’s social life. She belonged to the Congregational Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and was a charter member of the Lowell literary clubs. She was well known as a gracious hostess. She was called a woman of bright intellect with a keen sense of humor.
In 1879 Robert owned a wood building at 213 E. Main, next to his three-story building at 219/229 E. Main. He moved the wood building to a vacant lot so that he could build a brick building on the site. The newspaper said, “now if those other wooden buildings could be removed and brick erected in their stead, making a solid brick row from Scott’s to Blain’s, that would be O.K.” Today this building is the home of the Showboat Spirits and Fine Wine, formerly the Lowell Beer Store on the street level.
In 1880, Frank was born to Robert and Elizabeth. As recorded in the census, the other children’s ages were recorded as; Clair Shaw 16, Herbert 15, Earle Shaw 14, Ernest 12, Myrtis 9, and Edwina also 9. In the home also is 22-year-old Bertha Wood, working as a servant.
Robert was very active in civic service. In 1876 he was first elected to the School Board where he served for 23 years, and he also served as Director of that Board. He served as Justice of the Peace for two terms. He served on the Library Board and was the first librarian in Lowell. He served in the Lowell Congregational Church, and in 1888 he is listed as a trustee.
Robert served on the Village Council for two terms. During his time in office, he worked with the mill owners and together they repaired Main Street and the dam by driving new pilings. Along with J.C. Train he negotiated purchasing Island No.6 and all other islands in the Flat River south, for village purposes. He was also part of the decision to build the lower bridge over the Grand River in 1883. While he was on the council, he served on the fire committee, street committee, and finance committee.
In 1884 Robert served as the census enumerator for Lowell. It was noted in the newspaper that he did his work faithfully and without assistance. His bill was much lower than that of any other township in the county according to the amount of labor that he performed.
Following school both Herbert and Ernest went into construction. In 1892 they both lived in Chicago and worked on the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair Columbian Exposition. Ernest was the Assistant Chief of Construction! In October of 1892 Robert and Elizabeth attended the opening exercises of the World’s Fair as guests of their sons. They were able to witness the awards ceremony where 70 “men who had given their best work to building and beautifying the fair were awarded medals in commemoration of the completion of their work.” Ernest was one of the recipients. The awards ceremony was all about the artists and designers. “It was their day pure and simple. For the first time since the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers art was duly given a place and recognized by the government as an American institution. The men to whom the exposition owes so much for its graceful decorations were a proud and happy lot. They saw yesterday their hopes fulfilled, their profession noticed, their endeavors officially appreciated and their conscientious labors not in vain.” Imagine the excitement and pride as Robert watched his 24-year-old son who had attended a one-room school in Lowell and worked by his father’s side, receive this kind of recognition!
The next year Robert, Elizabeth, Frank, Myrtis, Jennie (the granddaughter of William Kidd Graham) and Edwina were all able to go to World’s fair. They were joined by over 27 million people, which was about a quarter of the population of the United States at that time.
In 1898 Frank A. Graham, son of Robert and Elizabeth, graduated from Lowell High School. About him it was said, “in argument he often waxed warm on most any question for, indeed, he was thoroughly informed on all topics of interest.” Frank was known for reading a book a day.
The next year, in 1899, the community lost a good man, called one of the substantial men of Lowell. It was said of Robert W. Graham at his death that, “By reason of his well spent life he furnished many examples of industry, fidelity and integrity that could with profit be imitated by the coming generation.” Robert was laid to rest next to his first wife Emma, in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lowell.
The Graham house was divided into apartments and Elizabeth continued to live on west side in the upstairs apartment, with her son Frank. The ground floor was rented to John Taylor, who worked in the cutter factory, and his wife Cora.
Frank later moved to Harbor Springs where he practiced dentistry. On February 1, 1912, Elizabeth Shaw Graham died while visiting Frank. At the end of her life, after losing her husbands, it was said she treasured four things, her children, her friends, her beloved books, and her church.
Sneak peek - Next week we will look at the life of the Graham house at 325 West Main Street, Lowell. Also to come, a detailed look into the lives of the Graham descendants, including Ernest Graham, said to be “Lowell’s most distinguished native son!”
Images:
Elizabeth Shaw Graham, Robert Graham's second wife and her daughter Edwina Shaw.
Robert W. Graham.
Ernest Graham, second son of Robert and Emma Graham.
