University of Virginia Library

JOSEPH J. GRAHAM.

The subject of this sketch was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather,
Robert Graham, emigrated to this country from the north of Ireland prior
to the American Revolution and settled in North Carolina, near Guilford
Courthouse. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and was so harassed by

Joseph J. Graham.

the Tories that he refugeed to what is now the eastern
portion of Wythe county, about twelve miles
east of Wytheville, where he accumulated a considerable
fortune. Jos. J. Graham was born on one of
the farms owned by his grandfather, near Max Meadows,
on the 16th of July, 1811. In his early life
he taught a country school. Afterwards he had employment
with his uncle (David Graham), who was
the pioneer in the iron industry in Southwest Virginia.
After remaining with him some years, he
went to Tennessee, where he was engaged in business
at the outbreak of the Mexican war. He went
with a body of troops to join Scott's column in
Mexico, and took part in the bombardment of the fortress of Vera Cruz.
After the Mexican war he returned to Wythe county, and for several years
was engaged with the late Colonel James Piper, of Wythe county, in locating
turnpike roads in Southwest Virginia. He was three times elected a
member of the Legislature from Wythe county, and once to the State Senate
from this district. He died April 9th, 1877, without issue.