Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-05-10
LIFE AND WORK OF
REV. WILLIAM GRAHAM
Founder and Rector of Washing
ton and Lee
EDUCATOR AND PHILOSOPHER
Hon. William A. Anderson Delivers
Eloquent Tribute

Graham is a name which has been
conspicuous. land sometimes illustri-
Gus, in the annals of the Scotch in
their o wn land, and of their descend
ants upon this continent.
We hear of it first in the indis-
tinct dawn of Scotch history, when
a Graeme, or Graham, as the pane
was afterwards INTERCHANGEABLE
spelt, who, leading some wild raid
from the Scotch Highlands, broke
through the great rampant which
the Romans had built from the Forth
OF Clyde as a barrier against such
incursions, before that time known
as Antoines Wall, and for centuries
afterwards called Graham S Dyke"
From the time when Scotland first
began to have a national character
and a distinct national history, the
Grahams have been distinguished
for their courage, their talents and
their ability.
In 1898 Sir John Graham CALAMITY
fell on the fated field ofFalkirk fight
ing for "Scotland's King and law"
by the side of bis great commander
and devoted friend, William Wal
lace.
But the name and race OF Graham
realized their highest develop nent
and most glorious flower OF heroic
manhood in the indomitable forti.
tude, unsurpassed prowess, lofty
genius and devoted piety OF James
Graham, Marquis OF Montrose, the
Robert f. Lee OF his age and coun-
try, the glamour of whose romantic
chivalry lights up the gloom of some
of the darkest pages OF Scotch his
tory and casts Respondent radi-
euce around his dutiful life and most
pathetic death.
The Graham about whom we are
concerned here today, whose mortal
remains, alter reposing for more
than a century in the hospite hl. soil
of that venerable churchyaid in
Richmond, a spot eternally hallowed
by the memories of the opening
drama of the Revolution and OIL
Pa6rick Henry's matchless elo
quence, we now bring home to rest
in the midst of these scenes OF trans.
cendent beauty, which witnessed
his unseifish, unrequited and heroic
efforts in laying the foundations o
the infant school, which, already, il
this prosperous and progressix,
University is, and in the genera
tons to come, will be, we trust
more and more, the splendid frui
ton of his sacrifices and his fondes
bones.
His father and mother, Micbae
and Susanna Miller Graham. both O
Scotch descent, came to Pennsylva
MIA from the province of Ulster.
There was large emigration iron
that whole region in the 18th and il
early part of the 18th century int
Ulster, and in the first half of t.
18th century from Ulster to Penn
sylvania and Virginia. 1t is YER
, probable that the grandfather O
great grandfathe of William Ora
. ham emigrated, with some of hi
, Scotch neighbors, from Ruthstire
Ulster, whence his father, Michat
Graham, following the stream {
. Scotch-Iri migration, came
Pennsylvania prior to 1740. n
The exigencies OF his fathers Iii
and family were such that the labc
Q of young Graham upon their far
y was necessary for their supper
S and so exacting was this require
+ ment that, until he reached his m,
, jority, he could spare but little
t his time for attending the neighbo
: hood school. He was youth
e such natural gifts, and so diligent
; awaited himself of such opportuu
: ties as were in his reach, that it
recorded that before he arrived
g the years Of maturity he had lear
It ed all that the common countl
b school-masters could teach him.
N About the time of reaching h
majority he became the subject