Robert Graham (July 24, 1827 – December 14, 1892) was an American educator who served as the 12th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin.
Robert Graham | |
|---|---|
| 12th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 2, 1882 – January 3, 1887 | |
| Governor | Jeremiah McLain Rusk |
| Preceded by | William Clarke Whitford |
| Succeeded by | Jesse B. Thayer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 24, 1827 Putnam, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 1892 (aged 65) Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Woodlands Cemetery, Cambridge, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary M. Maxwell
(m. 1847; died 1901) |
| Children | William Graham |
| Alma mater | Albany Normal School |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Volunteers Union Army |
| Years of service | 1864 |
| Rank | Captain, USV |
| Unit | 39th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Early career
editGraham was born in Putnam, New York, on July 24, 1827.[1] He left office in 1887 and returned to teaching.[2] His father died when he was a child and he was raised by his childless uncle and aunt. He received an academy education and began teaching school to pay for the cost of attending the State Normal School in Albany, New York (now the University at Albany, SUNY.[3] He studied under David Perkins Page until his death in 1848. Graham continued teaching in New York and became Superintendent of Schools in Washington County, New York. In 1861, however, he was convinced by his wife, Mary's, family to move west and take up a homestead. They settled at Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Graham quickly became a respected teacher in the area, rising to Superintendent of Schools in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.[3]
Civil War
editIn 1864, near the climax of the American Civil War, Graham responded to President Lincoln's call for Hundred Days Men to surge personnel into the Union Army ranks in an effort to end the war in 100 days. He enlisted and became Captain of Company C of the 39th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. His regiment was assigned to the defense of Memphis, Tennessee, allowing veteran regiments already stationed there to join the Atlanta campaign. They lost over 30 men to disease, but only saw combat on August 21, 1864, when a detachment of cavalry under Nathan Bedford Forrest attempted a raid into Memphis in an unsuccessful attempt to capture the Union commanders stationed there. He mustered out a month later at the end of his hundred days service.[4]
Wisconsin schools
editGraham returned to teaching in Kenosha, but soon was called to higher office. He was appointed to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents in 1868, where he played a consequential role in shaping state schools. Graham's next project came in 1871, when a new Normal School was established at Oshkosh (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh).[2][5] The school's president, George S. Albee, called on Graham and Graham would go on to serve as Professor at the Normal School for the next ten years.[3] He was a candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1873 and 1875, but was not elected. In 1881, however, he was nominated by consensus of the Republican, Democratic, and Prohibition parties, winning an overwhelming majority. He was re-elected in 1884, running on the Republican ticket.[1] He left office in 1887 and returned to teaching.[2]
He died on December 14, 1892, at Oshkosh. After a funeral, his body was sent to New York to be interred at his family's burial plot.[3]
Personal life and family
editGraham married Mary M. Maxwell of New York around 1847. They had only one son, William, living at the time of Graham's death.
Electoral history
editWisconsin Superintendent (1873, 1875)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 1873 | |||||
| Liberal Republican | Edward Searing | 80,147 | 54.42% | ||
| Republican | Robert Graham | 67,137 | 45.58% | −7.78% | |
| Plurality | 13,010 | 8.83% | +2.11% | ||
| Total votes | 147,284 | 100.0% | +0.11% | ||
| Liberal Republican gain from Republican | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 2, 1875 | |||||
| Liberal Republican | Edward Searing (incumbent) | 85,392 | 50.35% | ||
| Republican | Robert Graham | 84,217 | 49.65% | +4.07% | |
| Plurality | 1,175 | 0.69% | -8.14% | ||
| Total votes | 169,609 | 100.0% | +15.16% | ||
| Liberal Republican hold | |||||
Wisconsin Superintendent (1881, 1884)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 8, 1881 | |||||
| Republican | Robert Graham | 164,115 | 95.81% | +44.46% | |
| Greenback | John A. Gaynor | 7,175 | 4.19% | −2.35% | |
| Plurality | 156,940 | 91.62% | +82.39% | ||
| Total votes | 171,290 | 100.0% | -6.19% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 1884 | |||||
| Republican | Robert Graham (incumbent) | 170,406 | 53.52% | −42.29% | |
| Democratic | Isaac N. Stewart | 122,675 | 38.53% | ||
| Democratic | Warren G. Parker | 20,985 | 6.59% | ||
| Greenback | H. S. Brown | 4,322 | 1.36% | −2.83% | |
| Plurality | 47,731 | 14.99% | -76.63% | ||
| Total votes | 318,388 | 100.0% | +85.88% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d Heg, James E. (1885). "Biographical: State Officers". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 417. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Graham, Robert 1826 - 1892". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Prof. Graham Gone". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. December 15, 1892. p. 1. Retrieved September 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Quiner, Edwin B. (1866). "Regimental History – One Hundred Day Troops". The Military History of Wisconsin. Chicago: Clark & Co. pp. 854–857. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ "Oshkosh Normal School". The Appleton Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. July 29, 1871. p. 3. Retrieved September 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Turner, A. J., ed. (1874). "Official Directory: The State Officers". The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 447.
- ^ Bashford, R. M., ed. (1876). "Official Directory: The State Officers". The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 450.
