Joseph Douglas Graham was the eldest son of James Graham and Esther Spencer of Lee County, Virginia. He came to Kentucky in 1844 to teach school. He served as the first Commisioner of Common Schools for Wolfe Co. from 1860-1864. This position, difficult under normal circumstances, was made more so by the Civil War. Joseph D. Graham was pro-Union and belonged to the minority of people who supported the Republican party in Wolfe County. His younger brother William James Graham, who fought in Co. E of the 8th Kentucky Infantry USA, is buried at the Graham Cemetery on the Spring Branch of Holly.
He was twice married, first to Jane Little in 1849 and second to Mary Creech in 1881.

The Hazel Green Herald April 11, 1895

Died, on the 7th inst., Joseph D. Graham. He was one of the old
landmarks, having lived in this county many years, though he was born
and raised in Virginia. He leaves a wife, one little girl, several
grown up children and a host of friends to mourn his loss.



The Hazel Green Herald, April 18, 1895, pg. 6. col. 2

OBITUARY

Joseph D. Graham was born in Lee county, Va., Jan. 6, 1832, and died at his home in Wolfe county, Ky., April 7, 1895, in the 66th year of his age.
He was married first in 1849, and again in 1881. To his first marriage was given 11 children, 8 of whom survive him, and all have been converted and are trying to follow the good advice and examples given them by the dear father and mother.
He had lived for more than fifty years in either the Methodist or the Presbyterian church, and was an elder in the latter at the time of his death.
As a Christian he was ready to meet the demands of the church as a friend to the poor he never lost an opportunity to relieve the wants of those in distress, and no one can doubt that he could realize and answer to the calls of charity in the fullest sense of the word.
As a friend to education he stood foremost among those of his rank in all that pertained to the diffusion of knowledge among those around him. And his words of upward and onward will long be remembered by those who have been in the profession for many years, he was ever ready to lend a helping hand to anything that might lead to the greater enlightenment of the young and rising generation.
He had been afflicted and a constant sufferer for fifteen years and the wonderful fortitude with which he bore his suffering shows conclusively his will power and ambition. He leaves a large train of connection and friends to mourn his loss, but his dying testimony was such that his death, so heartrending and painful to us, was to him only the gateway to the full enjoyment of that Father's home, whom he loved and served so long. All that kind of friends and skillful physicians could do was cheerfully done, but God had called him away and on April 7 those eyes were closed, those hands which so willingly worked for God and humanity were folded, those lips which so willingly praised his Saviour's name were sealed in death, and his ransomed spirit, we trust, winged its flight to the glorious mansions above. His remains were laid to rest in the family church yard near by, to await the Master's call on the resurrection morn. L