Bio: Graham, Frank M. (1884 - 1971)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Graham, Witt

----Source: Information/Pictures provided by Larry Witt - Grandson

My grandfather, Frank Mortimer Graham was in WWI. He was in the army from 07/15/1917 thru 09/25/1919. He was born in Egg Harbor, WI, the son of David Edgar Graham and Mildred Mae Alexander Graham but later moved to Thorp. David and Millie are buried in Thorp at the East Cemetery. There were 9 children in the Graham family that included Frank. They were Ora, Frank, Hallie, Ula, Addie, Hazel, Daisy, Oliver and Orma. Frank’s grandparents were also from Egg Harbor. Dr. David Graham was a well-known and respected physician and farmer in Egg Harbor. The barn is still standing and in good condition. I have a postcard that Frank wrote to a lady friend from 1916 and postmarked Thorp, WI, therefore he was living in the Thorp area at the time of going into the army.  I have a photo of him in a logging camp in 1908 but don’t know where it was taken. The attached document shows he was in Company E of the Twenty Eighth Infantry. I do not know where that was based out of but obviously it included the Thorp area.

The original photo of Company E was in the old farm house on the north edge of Thorp where my grandparents lived, the upstairs sort of sat vacant except for some old memories from WWI and other odds and ends. I just remember things like metal foil rolled up tight into ball, an old flag and this picture to name a few things us little kids checked out back in the 50’s. In the picture of Company E, my grandfather Frank Graham is in the front row, seated on the ground with a rifle across his lap. He is the last one on the far right that has a rifle on his lap. Anyway, I took the 8” high x 40” print to a photography shop in Eau Claire and had it scanned at a high resolution. The file is too large to email and therefore I temporarily put it on Google Drive so you or others could download it and view it. Since it is a very large file and it’s best to download it and then view it. Either way, it takes a little bit if you are going to zoom in.

To achieve taking a photo of this entire army unit, everyone in the picture formed a half-circle with a camera at the center point. Everyone in the front row is approximately the same distance from the camera. The camera used would likely have been a large “Circuit Camera” where the film moved one direction and the camera traveled in the opposite direction exposing the film.

I counted about 150 soldiers plus all the others. I’m assuming it is Company E of the Twenty Eighth Infantry. There is nothing written anywhere on the photo, front or back. It’s in the original wood frame.

If you have any knowledge of this photo, I would be interested. I’m attaching some of Frank Graham’s Army related documents. Does anyone reading this article have any information regarding the army photo and could shed some light on it? I would guess each member of the Company must have received one of these and so there are likely several remaining.

Key Dates

Sept 1, 1884 Born in Egg Harbor
1902 Moved to RFD 3, Thorp, WI
1908 See attached logging picture – Grandpa was short, a Graham trait for most of his kids and most grandchildren.
April 26, 1917 Enlisted in U.S. Army
Sept 25, 1919 Discharged from Army as a Private
Oct 24, 1922 Married Dorothea Graham He was 38, she was 32.

 

Army Document

WWI Military Photo

(Click on this photo to enlarge it)

Frank's Discharge Papers

Additional WWI Photos

Marriage Certification for Frank & Dorothea

Logging Photo

The following italicized information is written on the back of the logging photo.

Frank G. has a red check mark above his hat. Edmond and David a red check by their feet.

Logging Camp, Northern Wisconsin - Picture taken about 1905-1908

Top row is Frank Graham, 6th from left – shortest man

Bottom row is Edmond Cook, 4th from left including the 2 standing fighters.

Note: Edmond married Frank’s sister Ula in 1908

Bottom row, 6 th from left with the axe is David Graham

Note: I’m assuming this is Frank Graham’s father.

(Click on this photo to enlarge it)