History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

CORTEZ O. GRAHAM, now living retired in the village of Unity, after a long and successful career as an agriculturist, was born in Albion Township, Calhoun County, Mich., July 29, 1848, son of George W. and Lucinda (Wood) Graham. Both parents were born in New York State of Scotch ancestry, but from an early age resided in Michigan, where they spent the rest of their lives. They had nine children, of whom Cortez 0. Was the second in order of birth. He acquired his education in the common school of his districts log structure 12 by 16 feet in size. At the age of 17 years, in September, 1865, he went to Minnesota, where he spent four years engaged in farm work. In 1870 he came to Clark County to procure a homestead and located on a tract of eighty acres, the south half of the northwest quarter of section 14, Unity Township. This land formed part of the wilderness, being covered with timber, and there was no road in the immediate vicinity. In the following year, 1871, he built a log house and began clearing his land with an axe as his sole implement. It was several years before he got an ox team, which he raised from calves.

Before becoming their happy possessor he had provided himself with a wife, being married, Mar. 30, 1872, to Aselia Clarisy Brown, who was born in Freeport, Ill., May 4, 1857, daughter of Obadiah and Ellen (Cuber) Brown, who came to Clark County, in the same year as Mr. Graham, settling in the same township.

On their farm in Unity Mr. and Mrs. Graham lived for forty-two years, during which time he worked hard erecting good buildings and improving the property, and becoming widely known as a successful farmer and stock raiser. For thirteen years he held office as town treasurer, after which he was assessor for a number of years, besides being a member of the school board of his district. At the end of the long period mentioned he and his wife retired and took up their residence in the village of Unity, where they have a comfortable home and enjoying the fruits of their former industry and thrift.

They have been the parents of ten children: Aurilla E., who died at the age of 15 years George A., Charles O. and Jess R., who are living in Canada Jennie, a twin sister of Jess, who is now Mrs. Joseph Christman, of Tony, Wis. Elnora D., wife of Harly Thayer an infant who died unnamed Bessie B., now Mrs. Mak Danberger, of Danalda, Can. Lucy C., who died at the age of 12 years, and Cortez E., who died an infant of three and a half months. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have also twelve grandchildren.