Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-09-02
Prof. Graham
Memorial Is
Dedicated

A memorial to the late Prof. John
Graham, of Warrenton, for many
years a prominent teacher in his own
private ;hool in RidgeWay and War;
rcnton, was unveiled in the ceme-
terry at RidgeWay Sunday afternoon
at o'clock. A number of distinguish
ed citizens participated in the exer-
cses, which were arranged by R. E.
CroWdcr, formerly Of this city, but
now of Raleigh, who presided.
Mr. CroWder, native Of Ridge
way and former student Of Prof.
Graham'S, conceived the idea Of haV-
ing former students furnish the iron
gates and rock gate posts at the
cemetery as a memorial to Prof. Ora
ham.
During the past few months the
Ridgeway Cemetery Association has
built rock wall along the front of
the cemetery, and at the side next
to the church. The RidgeWay Gene
terry adjoins the Episcopal church,
and is the Graham family burying
ground. 1t happened to be there be-
cause John Graham, Jr., Is, died in
1892, and was buried at the spot
Some 300 persons were present for
the exercises Sunday afternoon,
about a score Of them being from
Henderson and Vance county.
As presiding officer, Mr.. Crowder
presented j. c. Moore, Of Warrenton,
who read parts Of Hebrews Hip and
led in prayer. He presented Miss
Mamie Jenkins, dean of Woman'S
College, who was the principal speak
er.
Short talks followed by J. Edward
Alien, Warren county school superin-
tendent; DR.. Bert, Dean r. B. House,
of the University of North Carolina,
substituting for President Frank
Graham: John 3. Watkins, of Hen
dcrson, and John L. Skinner, of Lit
Teton, all former students of Prof.
Graham, except Dr.. House.
The tablet was unveiled by John
Hazelhurst, great, great nephew Of
Prof. Graham.
The spCaCh presenting the marker
was by Mr. CroWder, who read list
of the contributors to the memorial.
Julius BanZet, secretary of the Ridge
way Cemetery Association, accepted
the memorial.
Mr.. Moore gave the bencdction
after the gathering sang "Blcst Be
the Tic That Binds"
Mr.. Watkins furnished some his
torical data about the Grahams,
showing how Henderson missed being
the location of his school.
The Graham family, he said. arc
Scotch, and settled in Cumberland
county many years ago. Prof. Gra-
ham was born there in 1847. He had
three brothers, all of whom, as well
as their descendants, have been not
cd educators.
Prof. Graham fought in the last
two years of the Civil War. In 1865
he bought a farm in the southern
part of Warren county, near Inez,
where he farmed as we'll as operat-
cd the school, which was for boys
only. In 1890, his school burned, SO
he moved to RidgeWay, using a three
story hotel building, and accepted
both boys and girls as students. This
building was burned in 1898 by a,
student who gave as his excuse that
he didn't want to 60 to school"
At that time meeting was held
in Henderson to discuss inviting Prof
Graham to move here, but so many
were pledged to support another
school teacher who had moved here
that nothing was done. Prof. Ora
ham then moved to Warrenton with
three of his four daughters, and his
son, Prof. Will Graham. who also
taught for many years.
Prof. Graham retired in 1918, and
died in 1921, after teaching for SO
years. The noted Charles A. Cook
was his first student, in 1865.
Among those present al the Ridge
way services Sunday was Robert Ed
gar Williams, of Inez, Warren county,
who said he started to school to Prof !.
Graham in 1869