MSLAMAR-L Archives

From: "Michele Lewis" <>
Subject: [MSLAMAR] Ella Ford Collins Graham
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:26:28 -0400

I have been trying to find info on this lady for quite some time. She filed
for a Widow's Pension using my great grandfather's civil war service. She
wrote her name on the application as Ella Ford Collins Graham (Graham being
my great grandfather's name, Albert Gallatin Graham)

According to the info on the app, she was born abt 1873 in some state ther
than MS. She filed this in Forrest Co. My great grandfather had lived his
entire life in Lamar except when he was taken to Beauvoir Confederate
Soldier's Home in Biloxi to die and that is where he is buried.

Here is the problem...

Albert was listed as a widow on his death certificate and as a widow in the
Beauvoir Confederate Soldier's Home Records (deceased wife's name is
recorded as Mary). Mary would be his first wife and my great grandmother,
Mary Grantham. Albert died 21 Apr 1926.

However, on 17 Jun 1940 a woman by the name of Ella Ford Collins Graham
applied for a Confederate Widow's Pension stating that she married Albert
Graham in 1916 in Purvis, Lamar Co, MS. (Albert's wife Mary was still alive
in 1916). I have been unable to locate this marriage record (I hand searched
the marriage books located in the Lamar Co, MS courthouse). Ella sites the
same Confederate unit information as is contained at Beauvoir. I have been
unable to find out any more information about Ella Ford Collins Graham.
However, a distant cousin said that her mother (Albert and Mary's daughter)
said numerous times that Albert had a child out of wedlock. Ella possibly
gave birth to an out of wedlock child with Albert Graham and then felt
entitled to his pension after his death.

I can not find this woman or anything about her! Can you help?

michele simmons lewis

This thread:

• [MSLAMAR] Ella Ford Collins Graham by "Michele Lewis" <>