by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

S.J. GRAHAM

   Mr. Graham has resided in Bent County for many years, and has passed through experiences common to early settlers in a territory occupied by Indians. Mr. G. was born in Adair County, Ky., October, 1834. He attended school but very little. In 1854, he went to Carroll County, Mo., as an overseer for a large farmer, where he remained four years. In 1858, he went to Salt Lake as wagonmaster for the gentleman he had been employed by in Missouri. He was seven months on the journey. After a short stay in Missouri he returned to Denver, arriving there in March, 1860. During the following summer and fall he prospected in South Park. He went to Central City for the winter. In the spring of 1861, he went to the Tarryall Mines in the edge of the Park. They were rich gulch mines; here he remained until fall and then went to Canon City. In the spring of 1862, he removed to Booneville, Pueblo Co., Colo., and put in a crop of corn and potatoes, but in July the river suddenly rose and washed away everything he had planted. In the following September, Mr. Graham went to Spring Bottom, on the Arkansas River, and built a mail station for Sanderson & Co., and kept the same for ten years. August 13, 1864, the station was attacked by Indians. The inmates of the station consisted of Mr. Graham, a hired man, a female cook and two children. The cook's husband was away at the Indian Agency, which was in the process of construction at Point of Rocks, but it was never completed, as the Indians ran off the stock and stole everything they could find. At the time of the attack, the savages appeared on the night of the 12th. A few hours previous, Mr. Graham had returned from Fort Lyon, being obliged to travel mostly by night in order to escape danger from the Indians. The attack was made early in the morning. Late in the evening before, Mr. Graham discovered one Indian in the stock corral attempting to run off the horses. Mr. G. drove him out and as he (Mr. Graham) jumped over the fence, he landed in the midst of a dozen Indians who were waiting an opportunity to attack the station. As the Indian leaped the fence, Mr. G. fired at him with his pistol, but he escaped unharmed. The whole band then fled, Mr. Graham discharging his pistol at them. During the remainder of the night, he stood guard in company with Mr. Monkers, his hired man. In the morning, Mr. G. went out to see if the Indians had departed. He had proceeded only 250 yards, when suddenly twenty mounted Indians appeared and gave him chase. He ran and succeeded in reaching the station in safety, but when within fifteen steps of the house he turned and fired his pistol at them, wounding one, which had the effect of stopping the whole band. One time Mr. G. was telling this experience to a Government officer. The officer inquired how he escaped, when he was on foot and they mounted. Mr. G. replied that he had on a pair of "Government shoes." Soon after this, the savages again appeared, attempting to surround the station, but were prevented. He kept them at bay for several hours. During the fight, the Indians killed four horses belonging to the stage company, and four mules belonging to Mr. G. Mr. Monkers killed one Indian. The savages then departed and did not appear again. The same day, the Indians went up the river, and, meeting a train of Government wagons, killed three men, took one woman prisoner, and ran off the stock. That night the woman committed suicide by hanging. This occurred at Antelope Springs, about fifteen miles from the river. The Indians left Mr. G. one young horse, this he took into the house, and after saddling him he sent his hired man to the fort to inform the commander what had taken place, while he (Mr. G.), took his cook and her two children in a boat down the river. Ten miles below the station, they met the husband and a few soldiers. Mr. G. returned with them to the station. During the fight the Indians had killed sixteen head of cattle on their retreat. He took the remainder of his stock to Booneville, where he remained a short period. At this time, the Indians were causing a good deal of trouble in Southern Colorado, and there was a call for 100 day men. Mr. G enlisted and was elected First Lieutenant of Company G of his regiment, and served his time. He had charge of a squad of men at the Mail Station. The main portion of the company was encamped east of Pueblo. At the time of the Sand Creek fight, the command was ordered there, and Mr. G. joined them on their way. He did not participate in the engagement, as he was placed in charge of twenty men to watch prisoners at the mouth of Purgatoire Creek. When the regiment returned, he joined them and proceeded to Denver, where he was mustered out of service. Most of the time from 1865 to 1868, Mr. Graham was at the Mail Station. In 1860, he removed to his present location on the south side of the Arkansas River, near Catlin, where he is engaged in ranching and stock-raising. He has a small bunch of good graded animals, and a few head of pure blooded cattle. He is improving his stock by introducing pure blood. Mr. Graham is a firm believer in alfalfa, and will engage in the future in raising it, as well as all kinds of fruit, having taken out a ditch for that purpose. In 1869, he was married to Mrs. Hattie Tedling, and they have one child. He has 700 acres of land, 300 of which is bottom and timbered land. Mr. Graham has the first wagon ever built in Pueblo, which, in 1881, was in good repair.