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History of the Great Lakes
Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II
Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899

           [251-252]

               EDMON A. GRAHAM, St. Joseph, Mich. The name of GRAHAM is
            inseparably woven with the history of St. Joseph and Benton
	    Harbor, and has been for the past quarter of a century, and
	    especially with the marine interests of the twin cities, whose
	    ports have grown to be of so great importance in the commerce
	    and passenger traffic of the Great Lakes.
               For twenty years our subject has been known to the thousands
            of pleasure-seekers from all over the country, who annually
            visit St. Joseph and the resorts of the beautiful river of that
            name. His first experience in steamboating began in the middle
            'seventies, when he, with CAPT. JAMES BROOKS, bought the stern-
            wheel steamboat Union, and ran her in the excursion and freight
            service up to the St. Joseph river. Toward the latter part of
            that decade MR. GRAHAM had built at the lumber yard of Preston
            & Shaw, of St. Joseph, the first May Graham, a side-wheel
            steamer for the same service. To suit the time and conditions
            of a later period the May Graham has been practically three
            times rebuilt, until she is now a model boat for the excursion
            service and fruit trade of the St. Joseph river, on which
            thousands of people each summer visit the points of interest
            along that historic and picturesque stream. The May Graham has
            a carrying capacity of 400 passengers, is well equipped and
            ably officered with the most efficient and accommodating of
            men, the versatile captain, JAMES S. FIKES, having been the
            master throughout her history. Some twelve or fifteen years ago
            MR. GRAHAM came into possession of the Morrison docks at St.
            Joe, and later he made additions thereto, and in a manner re-
            constructed the same, until they are most complete, substantial
            and roomy, having a length of 750 feet, with a wall five inches
            thick all over, on thirty foot piling set five feet from center
            to center, and all built of new timber, costing not less than
            $16,000, and now called the GRAHAM Docks.
               MR. GRAHAM is a native of Indiana, born at La Porte,
            November 14, 1841, and descended from English stock on his
            father's side. His parents were JOHN and LUCINDA (NICHOLS)
            GRAHAM, natives of New York State, and the former in early
            manhood came and settled on a farm near La Porte,Ind. His death
            occurred in Boone county, Ill., in 1875. He had made several
            moves from the time of his settling in Indiana until that of
            his death, coming in 1864 to Berrien county.
               Our subject remained with his father until he became of age,
            when he went to Elkhart, Ind., and in 1864 came with him to the
            county named. Then for a period of twenty years he was inter-
            ested in and operated a sawmill, which was built four or
            five miles south of St. Joseph, and in connection therewith was
            engaged in the lumber business. MR. GRAHAM, as above intimated,
            has been closely identified with the growth and progress of the
            twin cities, and he is to-day interested in a number of the
            enterprises of St. Joe, and is one of her leading and sub-
            stantial citizens. He is a broadminded and public-spirited man,
            and has made his influence felt as a successful business man,
            and has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. In
            politics he is identified with the Republican party, and
            socially is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is the agent at St.
            Joe for the GRAHAM & MORTOn Transportation Company.
               On June 28, 1869, MR. GRAHAM was married to MISS EDWINA A.
            BUNKER, a daughter of NATHANIEL BUNKER, of Berrien county, and
            they have one daughter. MAY BELLE.

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