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Gideon Graham - Elizabeth Minnix
Gideon Graham, his wife, Elizabeth Minnix Graham, and their children
John, Abner, Tip, Sam, Fannie, and Pink traveled to Texas from Alabama in a covered wagon
in the late 1850's. They made their home on Cowhouse Creek in the area now occupied by Ft.
Hood. Gideon and sons John and Abner volunteered for service in the Civil War and fought
in Texas. Elizabeth and the young children were left at home to care for the land and
cattle. While the men were away, the youngest son, Sam, was captured and murdered by
Indians.
After the father and sons returned from the war, Abner moved to the northeastern part of
the county and bought 100 acres of farm land, located one and a half miles west of Osage,
from J. Flannery, a surveyor. He built a small house and began farming. He married Nancy
Allen, daughter of William and Mellie Allen. They had three sons, Will, Sam and Gid, and a
daughter, Melvinia. The land was fertile and the Grahams prospered. They added 200 acres
of farm land and 200 acres of wooded land. Will Graham became a farmer and rancher; Sam
and Gid were doctors and Melvinia married George Painter.
After the death of Nancy, Abner married Flora Bland, daughter of M.L. and Elizabeth
Porterfield Bland who had traveled by train from Watertown, Tennessee to Coryell County
after the Civil War. To this couple were born two daughters, Jessie and Jennie. Abner died
while the girls were very young and Flora used the proceeds from the original 100 acres to
take care of her daughters. Jessie became a first grade school teacher and taught in the
area for many years. Jennie married Raiford Brown, son of Bob and Mattie Jones Brown who
had migrated from Georgia and settled east of Crawford, Texas. Raiford, better known as
"Cot," was a carpenter and came to Osage to work on the red brick school
building. From the union of Jennie and "Cot" was born Margie Beth. After
Jennie's death, "Cot" married Jessie and they lived on the farm and she taught
first grade at Osage until the school closed.
Margie Beth married Bill Bucy, a self-employed businessman from Brownwood, Texas They had
two daughters, Jan and Mary Beth. Jan married Dan Wikinson and has two sons, Paul and
Bill. Mary Beth married Kirk Wall and has two daughters, Jenni and Marcia.
At the present time, Jessie Graham Brown lives in Brownwood, Texas near Margie Beth, Jan
and Mary Beth, and still owns the original 100 acres in Coryell County, Texas.
-- Margie Beth Bucy
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