Thomas B. Graham ~ Index
Thomas Bradford Graham, son of Duren Graham and Jane Bradford, was born 12 August 1807 in Kershaw District, South Carolina, and married 25 June 1825 in Green, Alabama, Sarah Ann McCrory, daughter of James McCrory and Jean Gilmore, who was born 1 May 1810 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee. Thomas Bradford died 24 November 1864 in Mendon, Cache, Utah, and was buried 3 December 1864 in the City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Sarah Ann died 3 November 1847 near Winterset, Madison, Iowa, and was buried 3 November 1847 on the Mormon Trail, near Winterset, Madison, Iowa. He also married 23 November 1848 in Kanesville, Pottawattamie, Iowa, Sarah Ann Ward.
The Grahams embraced the Gospel in 1842, and were baptized in the Mississippi River. They moved across the river from Alabama to Mississippi in 1843. They had a cotton plantation, as they had in Alabama, and were quite comfortably fixed. When their son, George Samuel, was one day old, the Grahams left Mississippi with a group of Saints on their way to Zion. They had been told that if they did not leave at once, their way would be blocked and they may never reach Zion. Thomas Bradford sold most of their belongings and bought provisions, a wagon, and ox team for his family and slaves. After everything was packed into the wagon, there was little room left for anyone to ride. The older children and slaves walked and herded the extra animals. They had to leave behind two of their children. Mary Jane was married and did not join the Church. Elizabeth Ellen had gone across the Mississippi River to visit her sister and was unable to cross back because the river was so high and rough. The family waited as long as possible for her to return, but the company was moving on and her family was forced to leave without her.
They arrived in Nauvoo in the spring of 1846. There was so much hatred and persecution toward the Saints that the Grahams stayed only one week. They camped just north of Nauvoo for several days until the swollen Mississippi River went down enough so they could cross into Iowa. They joined the Henry Riston Camp at Farmington, Iowa, and stayed until the fall of 1847. As they travelled on to Kanesville, a blizzard struck near Winterset, Iowa. They had to make camp until the storm was over. While they were camped, Sarah Ann gave birth to a daughter. Conditions were so bad that that she died of childbirth and exposure. The baby girl lived just long enough for Thomas Bradford to give her a name and a blessing. He placed the baby in his wife's arms and buried them in a shallow grave beside the trail. After the storm broke, they continued their journey west. The wagons were driven over the grave to protect it from wild animals. It was late winter when they finally arrived at Kanesville. They had traveled a hundred miles or more through drifted snow. The weather was cold and the travel was very difficult. Many hours were spent digging a trail through the drifted snow. In 1848 Thomas Bradford married a widow who had a young son. Another son was born to them in 1850. In June 1852 Thomas Bradford and his family joined with the Seventh Company led by Captain Henry Bryant Jolley. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 15 September 1852.
Thomas Bradford was sealed to both of his wives 1 January 1853 by Orson Hyde in the Endowment House. He freed his slaves and bought them a piece of ground where they could build themselves a house. One of their former slaves became a coachman for President Brigham Young.
Thomas Bradford and his family lived in the Salt Lake Valley for several years before being sent to Cache Valley to help clear the land. Thomas Bradford was a farmer, carpenter and butcher by trade. He made ox bows and handles for pitchforks, rakes and hoes for the early settlers. During the winter of 1864-1865, Thomas Bradford and his son-in-law (Mendon Bishop) Andrew Purley Shumway, traveled 1 ½ miles southeast of Mendon with a span of mules and a sleigh to gather river willows for firewood. When they reached a suitable place near the Muddy River (Little Bear River), Thomas Bradford walked back into the willows. He called to Andrew Purley telling him there was a bear and for him to watch the team. Immediately the bear charged Thomas Bradford Graham and killed him instantly. It was a grizzly bear with her two bear cubs. Andrew Purley Shumway didn't have a gun, so he hurried back to town for help. Armed men came from Wellsville and Mendon to kill the bear.1
Notes…
- History of Thomas Bradford Graham, Edna Frances Hobbs, March 23rd, 1961. and from Pionners and Prominent Men of Utah.
Also see: The Big Slough Grizzly, Killed by A Grizzly Bear and The Grizzly of Logan River.