Copyright © 1999-2009, Scott McKay
"In 1854 to 1855, the Barnard settlement now having been by the removal of the Indians to their reservation, opened to the whites, received several additions, of a most substantial character. Among them were Matt and Sam Graham, brothers, who settled on George's creek and engaged in stock raising; and though within Johnson county, yet their identity with this locality, makes them of the community which we ware now treating. Matt Graham has continued to live here to the present day, but his brother has engaged in public life, having served several terms in the legislature from this county, and of late years has made his home about Cleburne. The first named has always been closely identified with the influential in the community affairs of the George's creek country; and his counsels have been for the best interest, in opposition to lawless tendencies, in those early times, when in remote settlements like this, the people were often, of apparent necessity, in self-protection, tempted to administer justice and penalties, in accordance with the first principles of society. At the commencement of the civil war, Matt Graham enlisted in Capt. Shannon's company, with Col. Nelson's regiment, afterwards under the command of Col. Roger Q. Mills, and served during the war with that distinguished regiment in the many battles in which it was engaged, receiving severe wounds at Jonesboro and Ringgold. Mr. Graham is a man of good education for his time, and of such general information and intelligence as to be an interesting companion; and yet withal, strange to say he was never married, possibly because he was so generally admired by the ladies, that he had no heart to grieve the many by the appropriation of only one."
Notes
2Lt. Matthew A. Graham - Age 33 upon election of 2Lt. of Co. C, 10th Texas Infantry, at Houston on October 25, 1861; he was recruited at Buchannan, Johnson County, Texas, on October 16th. He signed the July-August 1862 Muster Rolls as "Commanding Company."
2Lt. Graham was captured with the rest of the command, at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, on January 11, 1863; arriving at Camp Chase Prison, Columbus, Ohio, on January 27th. 2Lt. Graham was paroled from prison, for exchange on April 10, 1863 to Ft. Delaware; then was exchanged at City Point, Virginia, on April 29, 1863. According to his parole certificate, he stood 5'10" tall with blue eyes, light hair and a fair complexion.
At Tullahoma, Tennessee, on May 23, 1863, the 10th Texas Infantry was united into one regiment, with the 6th Texas Infantry and the 15th Texas Dismounted Cavalry; 2Lt. Graham was placed in Command of Co. C of the 6th, 10th & 15th Texas Consolidated Regiment.
Col. Roger Q. Mills, Commanding the 6th, 10th & 15th Texas, wrote in his action report concerning the battle of Chickamauga, that "Lieutenant Graham several times volunteered and insisted on being permitted to carry orders and messages up and down the line, where he was constantly exposed to the thickest fire. His services were highly beneficial to Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, who speaks of him in terms of highest praise." 2Lr. Graham was granted a 30 Day Leave at "Camp Near Tunnel Hill" on January 28, 1864.
Lt. Graham was severely wounded in the foot at Jonesboro, Georgia, on September 1, 1864, according to the September 17, 1864 issue of the "Daily Intelligencer" (operating out of Macon, Georgia).
2Lt. Graham surrendered, Commanding Co. D, Granbury's Consolidated Texas Brigade, near Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 28, 1864.
In the 1973 biography, Pat Cleburne, Confederate General, authors Howell & Betty Purdue wrote: "In 1867, the pioneers of Johnson County, Texas, named their county seat Cleburne. Many of the settlers were Confederate soldiers who had served under the General. Second Lieut. Matthew Graham, veteran of the 10th Texas Infantry Regiment, Granbury's brigade, was a member of the commission appointed to select a name for the town."
At age 64, Matthew A. Graham died in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, in 1897; he was buried in the Cleburne Cemetery of the City of Cleburn, Block 57, Lot 21.
Copyright © 1999-2009, Scott McKay