Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-04-30
COL, JOHN 7. M'CRAW
DIES SUDDENLY ON
B. & 0. TRAIN NO. 3
Statesman Succumbed Last
Niqht To Heart Failure.

Stricken with heart disease on
train No. 5 between Washington
and Baltimore, Col. John Thomas
| McGraw, of Grafton, died last night
about 1890 o'clock. The body was
taken to Washington. where it was
kprepared for burial and today was
kent to Grafton, where the funeral
services will be held and burial
yonade. He was en- route home from
New York, where he was taken Ill
ION Wednesday.
Gel. McGrav was one OF the best
known men il the state. He was
about 65 years ed and was born and
. reared in Graf II. His parents,
Thomas and Mary McGraw, were
among the early settlers of Grafton,
! the former be'rg identified with the
building of t Baltimore and Ohio
railroad to TIT place from Cum
tberland.
Y After receiving his education in
the parcchial schools of Grafton,
Col. McGraw entered st. Vincent's
College at Wheeling, from which he
was graduated few years later.
He then marticulated at Yale and
ton his collegiate and law degrees.
Locating in his home city for the
practice of his profession he soon
became leader at the bar and was
elected prosecuting attorney, serv-
ing one term, and being the only
N Democrat to hold that office in Tay-
Tor county for more than fifty years.
| Evincing a taste for politics he en-
tered the arena shortly after reach
ing mature estate. When the Demo-
h cratic party in the Second district
was rent asunder by strife and two
candidates were named, he succeed
led in bringing peace out of chaos
vi and presented the name of Hon.
u then president of the West Vir-
ginia University The campaign.
J which followed, was one of the most
memorable in the history of the dis
! trict and resulted in Mr.. Wilson's
\ election over Judge John w. Mason,
hen of Grafton, by the narrow mar
Gin of ten votes.
Mr.. Wilson was elected to con-
gress for five successive terms, and
Col. McGraw was always given Gre
dit for discovering him. When
the convention met in 1894 the Col
onel was accorded the honor of
banning him. This was Mr.. Wilson's
last race as he was defeated by
Nudge Dayton that fall by majority
|bf more than 1900.
Having been a leader for years III
his party, in 1896 he was elected
national committeeman from this
Estate, a position he held until 1914
ClMence w. Watson, of Fairmont.
aiken he was succeeded by Col.
10 was reelected two years ago
ND held the position at the time of
Us death. He had attended every
National Democratic convention
since 1892 and was responsible for
The nomination of Senator Henry
6. Davis, of Elkins, for vice-presi-
dent at the st. Louis convention In
1904. He was a candidate this year
for delegate-at-large to the conven-
/ lion at San Francisco.
Z In 1898 he aspired to succeed
fudge Dayton, but suffered defeat at
The hands of the Judge. He was
he judges opponent again in 1902
and again met with defeat.
" When the State legislature met In
4049 he was candidate for the
United States Senate. There was
sGome dispute about the election of
aBenator Robert F. Kidd. Democrat.
of Chenille, and he was unseateG
Ind the place given to a Republican.
Nathan Bay Scott, Republican, OF
lNhoolinO nIaafnH Senator
Kidd was then re-seated and Col.
rMcGraw carried the fight to the Unit
led States Senate, but lost. He was
" candidate again for the same Of
ice when the legislature convened
b 1911, but the honor went to VIII
"a lam e. Chiffon, of Charleston.
nj Col. McGraw was regarded as the
most polished and forceful public
( ypeaker in the state. During cam
iaigns his services were constantly
i ~ demand, and he has been heard
4 by some of the largest audiences In
the country. In 1895 he stumped
the Middle West for William j.
Bryan. He frequently appeared be-
tre Tammany Hall and large influ-
ntial educational societies of the
FASH ne udu NioiLeQ lAc GfhoLSlh
&Anhandle many times and spoke in
shlf of his friends. His last ap-
aRrance here was in the fall of
1872 when he spoke at Feller's Hall
Tor the late Junior" Brown. On
Mir trip he visited Hedgesville,
I 81 herdstown and Charles Town.
few years ago. accompanied by
hiS mother and sister, Rose, he Wis
itd Ireland, the home of his par
euts. On that trip he travelled over
much of Europe, and while in Lon
ION was presented at the Court of
/. James by the American ambas-.
&dor.
Colonel McGraw acquired consid-
Nrable wealth, but during recent
bars financial reverses overlook
MIN. He was indicted on charge
bf conspiracy in the failure of the
5rafton Bank. of which his brother
nslaw, Charles r. Durbin, was presi-
n lent, but never was tried and the
n ldictments were quashed.
III In and about Grafton he owned
j much property, He was the prin-
il 4 ipal owner of the Grafton Street