The Robesonian., 1917-07-26
GRAHAM McKINNON
sketch of His Life and Tribute to
HIs Noble Character

i
On July 5th, 1917, at his home,
near Rowland, in the Sind year Of
his age, the regal spirit Of Graham
McKinnon passed to the Immortal
realm beyond the river.
He was a native of Robson coun-
ty, the son of Daniel P. McKinnon
and Sarah Graham McKinnon, the
latter the sister of our much-esteem-
ed friend VIM. H. Graham, esquire,
of Rowland.
The subject of this sketch came
of long line of Scotch forbears on
both the paternal and maternal side,
all of whom were noted for their in
tegrity Of character, unusual intel
ligence and Christian piety.
schools Of the neighborhood, includ-
ing Plainview academy. He later at
tended Laurinburg high school, then
under the management of that able
teacher, the late Professor W. G..
Quackenbush. After finishing there
he attended the university Of North
Carolina, where he finished his aca-
denic course.
For a time after leaving college
he engaged in the naval stores bus
mess at Statesboro, Ga. At the lat
ter place he married Miss Allie Bird,
who, with four children-D. Prath-
er, Stanton B., Graham, Jr., and Al
lie Bird-survives him.
For the past 20 years he had lived
on his .arge farm near Rowland, in
Robson county, and had been engag-
ell continuously since that tire, until
death, IN fa, ming. He a:wayT took
an active interest in all the affairs
of his community, his church, his
county and his State.
AS a citizen he possessed broad
altruistic views, always advocating
those measures which tended to pro-
mote the progress and welfare Of his
people. He was especially active in
his advocacy of education and the
splendid school which has been es-
tablished in the town Of Rowland is
an eloquent witness of his labors
along educational lines.
He knew the people of Robson
county well and he trusted and low
ed them unreservedly. l remember
on one occasion when l was discuss
ing with him my disinclination to ac-
cept an offer which would take me
out of the State permanently, he ut
tered this sentiment, which was SO
typical of his nature: Nothing could
ever induce me to leave my friends
and relatives again. l am going to
eleave unto them like Ruth did to
Naomi"
For the people of his county, the
living and the dead, he always mani
tested a personal affection. It was
his ardent desire to live and die
among them, to realize the sentiment
which the daughter of Moab sc
! strongly felt and SO beautifully ex.
| pressed when she said: "Thy people
shall be my people, and thy God my
| God; where thou diest I will die, anC
there will I be buried"
He was devoted to his family ano
his real worth was never more strik.
! ingly exemplified than when he was
surrounded by the members of his
family and with them engaged il
+! 'dispenking beautiful hospitality t
! the friends who so often gathered
at his fireside.
/ AS man he was Of the strictes
integrity, gentle in his manners, evel
considerate Of others, sympathetic
and true to his neighbors, whether
, in times of joy and sadness. With i
g, all, he led clean life and possess
ed the highest sense of honor.
i One of his cardinal virtues wa
loyalty and devotion to his friends
;, No undertaking was too great TO-
him to attempt for his friend, an,
his loyalty did not cease with tn
setting of the sun, but continued sted
fast in times of adversely as we'll a
in times Of success. He never con
sidered self when the interests O
his friends were at stake, and con
;. sequently his friends were bound t
him by "hooks of steel'', which no
:; even death can loosen.
! He was loved and appreciated b
the old as we'll as the young. TIL
)! writer remembers hearing his fathe
| (now dead) once remark: "Graha1
McKinnon is Of the salt of the earth.
No truer estimate was ever mad
= of a mans character.
= Perhaps the most admirable ira
:, of character which our decease
{ friend possessed was his unstinte
? one ever heard him utter an unkin
! wond about any one, however muc
it may have been deserved.
!. At peace with man, with trust
I God, he has Coined the inumerab
:, caravan, and we have said farewe
n to his brave spirit forever: ,
e e The words Of the great apost
K may well pronounce their immort
n benediction: whether there
J prophecies, they shall fail; wheth
L there be, tongues, they shall ceas
/ whether there be knowledge, it shs
II vanish away. And now abideth fait
.. hope, charity, these three; but t
:, greatest Of these is charity.
,,e Lumberton. .a
T. July %, 1917.