Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
John S. McGraw
This gentleman may well be called a representative citizen of Richmond, Indiana, and also one of the most highly respected and esteemed. He is an ex-soldier of the war of the Rebellion and his bravery inspired his men to redoubled efforts and aided in no small way the cause for which he victoriously fought. He is a son of George and Rebecca (Bispham) McGraw, and was born in Philadelphia on Friday, July 13, 1827. His grandfather, Samel McGraw, was a sailor and died soon after the close of the Revolution, at Quarantine, Maryland.
George McGraw, the father, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1800, and died in Philadelphia in 1835. He was a carpenter by trade and pursued that occupation all his life. His marriage to Rebecca Bispham resulted in the birth of five children, two sons and three daughters, two of whom, one son and one daughter, died in infancy. In 1836, after the death of the father, Mrs. McGraw and her three children moved to Richmond, where the mother died, February 13, 1885. Of the sisters, Mary resides in Richmond, and Mrs. Rebecca Morrison died in 1857.
John S. McGraw received his education in the schools of Philadelphia and Richmond. He was but a little more than seven years of age at the time of his father's death, and was obliged to curtail his school days in order to earn a living, but he had a taste for reading which enabled him to lay up a store of information at once comprehensive and useful. As a boy he worked at carpentering, and in 1843 began general blacksmithing for George McCullough, of Richmond, and this occupation he followed for almost fifty years, until 1889, when he retired from active business. He was superintendent of the Richmond Plow Works, and carried on carriage-repairing for some time; also at one time had a shoe store, which was under the management of his wife for five or six years. His wife was Miss Mary A. Jukes, to whom he was married in Cincinnati, on October 25, 1848. Four children were born to them of whom but two are living, viz.: Rebecca A., wife of Benjamin Mann, a member of the firm of William Mann & Company, of Philadelphia; and Ida M., wife of Charles W. Morgan, assistant manager of L R. Howard & Company, wholesale grocers of Richmond. Colonel McGraw is a Republican, and was twice a candidate for sheriff and served as chief of police for a short time after the war, and resigned. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1859, and is past grand in White Water Lodge, No. 41, and Oriental Encampment, both of Richmond. He is also a member of the grand lodge of Indiana.
In 1861 Colonel McGraw was commissioned by Governor Morton as captain of the Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry, which enlisted in November of that year, and his gallant service won him steady promotion. On July 28, 1863, he received the rank of major; the 15th of the following May he was promoted lieutenant-colonel; and one year later to the rank of colonel. He participated in many severe battles, and was in every engagement fought by the Army of the Cumberland, always at the front, where he encouraged and cheered his men to greater endeavors by his own undaunted conduct. While leading his men in a bold charge on the breastworks at Mission Ridge, Georgia, he received an ugly gunshot wound, which came near ending his career. He wore a broad-brimmed hat, through which the ball passed, striking him in the center of the forehead and passing to the left temple, taking with it a portion of his skull, three-fourths of an inch in width and two and a half inches in length. This unfortunate occurrence disabled him for about fifty days, when he once more joined his command. He took part in the battle of Shiloh, the encounters at Stone River and Chickamauga, and then joined Sherman in his grand march to the sea. After the capture of Atlanta he was with those sent to watch General Hood. The two forces came together at Spring Hill and Franklin, which collision resulted in the entire routing of Hood's army at Nashville, in August, 1864. They then started for Richmond, Virginia, going through West Virginia, when Lee surrendered and put an end to the war. He was sent with his command to Texas, where he was mustered out December 14, 1865. He brought his command to Indianapolis and disbanded January 8 following.
The Colonel is an amiable, pleasant gentleman, with whom it is a privilege and an enjoyment to converse, as his life has been filled with rich experiences, which he relates in an unassuming and highly interesting manner. He is a well-known person in Richmond and vicinity, and enjoys a wide popularity.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899