ROBERT F. GRAHAM, who has been a resident of Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, since his early boyhood, with the exception of three years spent in the Union Army, is a farmer by occupation and has been active in the affairs of the community. He has been especially prominent in advancing the cause of education, and has been on the School Board for more than thirty years.

Mr. Graham was born about seven miles north of Enniskillen, in the north of Ireland, on the Sabbath Day, January 20, 1833, and although of Irish birth is of Scotch and English parentage. He is a son of William and Jane (Johnston) Graham, and was about six years of age which his parents, in 1839, emigrated to the United States. They first located at Pittsburg, Penna., for the winter and in the spring of 1840 moved west to Shelby County, Ohio. Two years later they settled in Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, where William Graham became the owner of a farm of eighty-five acres on that Covington Pike.

Robert F. Graham was reared on the home farm and early turned his hand to farming pursuits. He remained at home until he answered his adopted country's call to arms, enlisting September 8, 1861, for three years service as a member of Company K, First Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in all of the engagements of his company, and although he saw much hard fighting, was never wounded or captured. He was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., September 8, 1864. He then returned home and resumed farming operations, at which he has since continued. He has been located on his present farm since 1876 and has a well improved property. He is a man of sterling ability, and has a host of friends and acquaintances throughout this section of the country.

October 13, 1864, Mr. Graham was united in marriage with Miss Martha Jane West, a daughter of James and Jane (McCorkel) West, and they became parents of eight children, as follows: William J., who died in 1888, leaving a wife and one daughter, Ruth; John J., who lives with his father; Robert A., who is married and has two children; Nellie Jane, who died at the of three years; Lulu B., who is the wife of Isaac Stanley and has a son, John R.; Jennie, who is the wife of Henry Scheafer of Bradford and has four children, Alice, wife of Arthur Toon, by whom she has two children, Helen and Ralph; and Martha E. Mrs. Graham was called to her final rest, April 4, 1887. Religiously, Mr. Graham is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Covington. He is a member of Alexander Mitchell Post, G.A.R.