Graham Resources
Vital Records of Massachusetts
Vital Records of Townsend, by Henry Hollowell
Vital Records of Leominster to 1849, by Franklin P. Rice, 1911
Leominster Historical Society, Leominster, MA, Graham folder
Comb Making in America by Bernard Doyle, 1925, privately printed
History of the Town of Townsend by Ithamar A. Sawtelle, 1878
Leominster, Mass, Historical and Picturesque, by William A. Emerson, 1888
Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, MA, by Ellery Bicknell Crane, 1907
Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., PA containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settlers, by John Franklin Meginness, 1903 through HeritageQuest Online.
Graham-Lewis Family by W. Everett Mason, 1997
Hillside Cemetery Records, (New Cemetery), Highland Street, Townsend, MA (no Grahams to be found in the old cemetery down the road)
Massachusetts Horn Smiths: A Century of Combmaking, 1775-1875 by Mary Musser (no genealogy info but interesting history of combmaking)
The Underwood Families of America, FTM on line
Phil Graham
Leominster, MA, Historical and Picturesque by William A. Emerson, 1888
Dana Graham was born in Leominster on May 9/1821. Eldest of 12 children and was apprenticed to the comb making trade when 16. After being associated with Mr. Charles L. Joslin for three years he removed in October, 1850, to Lancaster, PA where he associated himself with John Shaffner of that city, and the comb manufactory at the corner of Market and James streets was built. the firm of Shaffner & Graham was continued until 1870 when Mr. Shaffner died. Mr. Graham attended to all the details of the large industry until 1881 when he took his eldest son, John S. into partnership, the firm of D. Graham & Son, continuing until the death of Mr. Graham this present year.
Mr. Graham was a man of excellent business qualifications. His ability was recognized in his adopted city. He was elected a member of its council for several years ans was also chosen the first alderman of the ninth ward. In politics he was unwavering in his support of the Republican party. He was prominently identified with the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. He took an active interest in Fire and Building loan association matters. He was President of the Washington Fire Company and Treasurer of the Union Building and Loan Association from its organization. Mr. Graham was married Jan. 19, 1848 to Miss Lucy M. Grant of Northfield, VT who survives him. Ten children blessed this union, five of whom are living, three sons and two daughters; John S., Dana H. G. Atlee, Mrs. Lennie E. Herzog and Miss Emma C, who was educated as a nurse in Blockley Hospital, Philadelphia and who faithfully attended her father in his last illness. Mr. Graham died April 14, 1888 and was buried with Masonic honors.
Biographical Annals of Lancaster County
DANA GRAHAM. Prominent in the business circles of Lancaster for a period of years prior to 1888 was Dana Graham, whose widow, Mrs. Lucy M. Graham, together with her family, still survive him, highly esteemed members of the society of the city.
Dana Graham was born in Townsend, Mass, May 9, 1821, and died in Lancaster, Pa., April 14, 1888. He was the son of Samuel and Asenath (Adams) Graham of that place, and where the parents continued to reside until their death. The father, who was born in Townsend, Dec. 20, 1795, was a cooper by trade; his wife was born on July 19, 1802. They reared a large family to maturity, six of whom are now living. Dana, the gentleman whose honored name heads this paragraph, was the eldest of the family; then followed Asenth, widow of George Gibson, who lives in New York State; Eldridge, of Persia; Iowa; Elima, Cynthia, Eliakim, Warren and Samuel W., who are deceased; Samuel A. who lives in California; George, a Massachusetts farmer; Martha, the widow of George Merriam, Newton, Mass.; and Emily F., of Springfield, Ohio. The mother of this family was the daughter of John and Asenath Adams, the former born April 7, 1777, the latter Dec. 27, 1779.
Dana Graham was born as stated and reared in his native town, receiving a fairly good education in the public schools. In young manhood he was apprenticed to the comb-making trade in the town of Leominster, Mass., and where he remained until Oct. 25, 1850. He then in connection with a gentleman by the name of John Shaffner, engaged in business in Lancaster Pa., and which was continued until the firm was broken by the death of Mr. Shaffner. Mr. Graham then reorganized the firm with his oldest son as a partner, and continued the business. He was a gentleman who took a prominent position in the community, ad his fine ability was recognized by his fellow citizens, whom he served on the board of aldermen for five years, and in the common council two terms. He was active in the local political life of his city, having been a stanch supporter of Republican principles. In fraternal affiliation he was an active and worthy member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also a member of the Encampment, was a high degree Mason and belonged to the Junior O. U. A. M.
On Jan. 19, 1848 in Northfield, Vt. Dana Graham was happily joined in marriage to Miss Lucy M. Grant, who was born in Berlin, Vt. a daughter of Azariah and Phoebe (Vose) Grant, formerly of Charlestown, Mass., where Mr. Grant was a schoolteacher; both the parents passed away in Berlin, Vt. To the marriage of Dana Graham were born the following children: Ella V. died in infancy; Ella V. (2) died at age of twenty years; Lina L. married Joseph Herzog, a liveryman at Lancaster, Pa.; Emma C., a trained nurse, resides at home; John S. is a hotel proprietor, Lancaster, Pa.; Dana B. died at the age of three years; Dana H. is a comb manufacturer at Lancaster, Pa.; Harriet E. died in infancy; Grant A. lives in Lancaster, Pa.; and Charles died in infancy. Mrs. Graham is a lady of fine mold of character, hospitable and genial in her home life, and has been a splendid mother to her large family of children, who are much devoted to her. In maternal lines, Mrs. Graham is a direct descendant of Robert Vose, who with his wife, Anna settled in Malden, Mass., in 1750; his eldest son Samuel taught school in Charleston, S.C. and served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. Samuel's son, Rev. Robert Vose, Methodist minister, was Mrs. Graham's grandfather. Mrs. Graham is a leading member of the St. John's Episcopal Church of Lancaster, and is much interested in the charitable and religious work of the church. Both she and her family receive the good offices of a large circle of friends, whom they delight to entertain in their pleasant and commodious home.