Robert Graham (Wisconsin politician)

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
Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin
In office
January 2, 1882  January 3, 1887
GovernorJeremiah McLain Rusk
Preceded byWilliam Clarke Whitford
Succeeded byJesse B. Thayer
Personal details
Born(1827-07-24)July 24, 1827
Putnam, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 14, 1892(1892-12-14) (aged 65)
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeWoodlands Cemetery, Cambridge, New York
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Mary M. Maxwell
(m. 1847; died 1901)
ChildrenWilliam Graham
Alma materAlbany Normal School
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Union Army
Years of service1864
Rank Captain, USV
Unit39th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Early career

Graham 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

In 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

Graham 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

Graham 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

Wisconsin Superintendent (1873, 1875)

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 1873[6]
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
Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 1875[7]
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)

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 1881[1]
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
Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 1884[1]
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

  1. 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.
  2. "Graham, Robert 1826 - 1892". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  3. "Prof. Graham Gone". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. December 15, 1892. p. 1. Retrieved September 2, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  4. 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.
  5. "Oshkosh Normal School". The Appleton Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. July 29, 1871. p. 3. Retrieved September 2, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
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