The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-21
to by onerton & Young. Philadelphia.


sword, the body of the cane being a hol-
low tube in which a sword was inserted,
and in case of attack could be speedily
drawn and used in defense by the wearer.
They were much in use by the gentle
men of that day. Another cane which he
priced very highly was given him by
President Jackson, lifelong friend. 1t
was made from a hickory tree on the
Hermitage grouns, near Nashville, the
knobs were covered with silver and had
the names of Jackson's battles engraved
on them.
General Sam" Houston was another
friend of Mr.. Graham, who spent many
pleasant hours with him In Washington.
An Old Library.
Hugh Graham found his greatest de-
light in his books. Reading with him
was not pastime, but a passion. From
his earliest childhood he collected books,
and as he added to them I'll his life, at
his death his library was the largest in
the south Books were sent him regularly
from Europe as well as from the Amer
lean publishers, and many of his rare
first editions are now worth their weight
in gold Very few of them remain In the
family as like so many other southern
homes his house was plundered of many
the awful Reconstruction period. Books
with his name are yet found all over
East Tennessee. and some were found by
a son-in-law in -.earys olS book store
in Philadelphia.
AS a subscriber to magazines and pa
pers he was equally remarkable. 1t Is
said twice a day a bushel basket of mail
matter was sent to his library. From 5
D. m. until u, night after night, he read
regularly. No one was allowed to dis
turb him.
This is a partial list, as far as can be
obtained from the family after the lapse
of fifty years: Blackwoods, North Birth
Review Edinburgh Review, Littells Liv-
Ing Age, Bentley's Miscellany, London
Art Journal, Goodey's Lady's Book, Sar-
tains Magazine. Grahams Magazine, De-
morests Monthly, Gleason's Pictorial,
Harper's Magazine, Missionary Magazine,
Calvinistic Magazine, Peter Farley 5
Magazine Lady's Magazine, The Rosebud,
Merrys Museum. These of course were
magazines. Among the papers were:
Boston Recorder, youths Companion,
Youths Medallion. youths Cabinet, The
Albion, New York Tribune, New York
Observer, Philadelphia Times, Baltimore
Sun, Washington Intelligence. Richmond
Dispatch, Nashville American, Charles
loH 1buTltT. AuEuSid tiiiblittirs Ndfdhiidi
News, Mobile Register, Memphis Appeal,
Louisville Courier, Washington Post. 1t
was said that before the war he sub
scribed to more magazines and papers
than any man in the United States.
In one corner of the sitting room was
a large rosewood bookcase kept filled with
Bibles. and these were given away to
poor people who had none. He knew
the location of every book in his lib
rary. Being a Presbyterian he contri-
buted largely to the erection and main
tenance of the Presbyterian church.
His wife. Katherine Nenny. daughter
of Patrick Nenny and Lucy BramletD.
being a Baptist. he also aided in the
erection and maintenance of a church of
that faith. One room in his home was
called "the preachers ROOM as minis
tiers of all denominations found here a
prophets chamber.
A Secessionist.
Hugh Graham was secessionist, and
once when the Federal soldiers took all
of his hay and grain he said: you have
taken all my provender, why don't you
take all my stock" which they imme-
diately proceeded to do. driving off forty
mules and other stock in proportion. His
wife and daughter, when visiting Phil
adelphia relatives at the beginning of
the war were taken down TO the wharf