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Permanent LinkRepresentative John Anthony Graham View All Years
JOHN ANTHONY GRAHAM
MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable John Anthony Graham, begs leave to submit the following memorial:
John Anthony Graham was born at the farm home of his parents, Samuel A. and Ellen Graham, in Melville Township, Audubon County, Iowa, on June 14, 1874, and passed away at his home in Audubon, Iowa, on December 10, 1956.
Mr. Graham spent his boyhood on the farm and often walked the seven miles from the farm to attend grade school. He graduated from Audubon High School and Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, and received his law degree from Drake University, and passed his Bar Examinations in 1897. He was a member of the “50-Year Club” of Drake University at the time of his death. Returning to Audubon after his graduation Mr. Graham purchased a half interest in the Audubon Advocate, a weekly newspaper.
In 1899 he married Anne Kroeger of Exira, Iowa, and they moved to Primghar, Iowa, where he purchased the O’Brien County Democrat, which Mr. Graham published until he returned to Audubon in 1908. In Audubon he and his brother, J. M. Graham, opened their law office. J. M. Graham passed away in 1921. In 1930, Mr. Graham’s son, Mel. M. Graham, entered the practice of law with him, which partnership continued until Mr. Graham’s death in 1956.
Mr. Graham was a lifelong Democrat. He served three terms as County Attorney of Audubon County; was mayor of Audubon, Iowa; was a delegate to the National Convention in 1932, and was a candidate for Supreme Court Justice in 1944. He was a member of the First Methodist Church, Chamber of Commerce, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Board of Examiners from 1935 until his election to the House of Representatives in 1938, and a charter member of the Farm Bureau. He also was a member of the County and State Bar Associations.
Mr. Graham was an avid reader, and at the time of his death was preparing a book of anecdotes.
John Anthony Graham was a member of the Forty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, representing Audubon County.
He left surviving him two daughters, Zelwyn Graham of Audubon, Iowa, Elaine Krasne of Omaha, Nebraska, and his son, Mel M. Graham of Audubon, Iowa; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-seventh General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable John Anthony Graham, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.
Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
CARL HENSLEY,
JOHN A. BAUMHOVER,
PETER STEENHUSEN,
Committee.