Warner A. Graham
{{Short description|American judge (1884–1934)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Warner A. Graham
|image = Warner A. Graham Vermont Supreme Court justice.jpg
|alt =
|caption = Vermont Journal (Windsor, Vermont), September 14, 1923
|office = Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
|term_start = 1931
|term_end = 1934
|predecessor = Julius A. Willcox
|successor = John C. Sherburne
|office2 = Chief Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
|term_start2 = 1929
|term_end2 = 1931
|predecessor2 = Frank D. Thompson
|successor2 = John C. Sherburne
|office3 = Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
|term_start3 = 1923
|term_end3 = 1931
|predecessor3 = Stanley C. Wilson
|successor3 = Deane C. Davis
|office4 = Judge of Probate for the Westminster District
|term_start4 = 1916
|term_end4 = 1923
|predecessor4 = Zina H. Allbee
|successor4 = George H. Thompson
|office5 = Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
|term_start5 = 1915
|term_end5 = 1917
|predecessor5 = Herbert D. Ryder
|successor5 = Frederick L. Osgood
|constituency5 = Westminster
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1884|1|9}}
|birth_place = Greensboro, Vermont, U.S.
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1934|1|28|1884|1|9}}
|death_place = Bellows Falls, Vermont, U.S.
|resting_place = Oak Hill Cemetery, Bellows Falls, Vermont, U.S.
|party = Republican
|spouse = Blanche S. Woodfall (m. 1915)
|children = 1
|education = Albany Law School
|profession = Attorney
}}
Warner A. Graham (January 9, 1884 – January 28, 1934) was a Vermont attorney and judge. He was notable for his service as a judge of the Vermont Superior Court and an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
Early life
Warner Aiken Graham was born in Greensboro, Vermont, on January 9, 1884, the son of William and Inez Lorinda (Fayer) Graham.{{sfn|New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial|page=1468}} He attended the schools of Greensboro, and graduated from Hardwick Academy in 1903.{{sfn|New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial|page=1468}} In 1907, Graham received his LL.B. degree from Albany Law School and attained admission to the bar.{{sfn|New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial|page=1468}}
Start of career
Graham settled in Rockingham, where he began to practice law in partnership with Herbert D. Ryder.{{sfn|New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial|page=1468}} A Republican, Graham served in local offices, including auditor for the village of Bellows Falls, and grand juror (municipal court prosecutor) for the town of Rockingham.{{sfn|New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial|page=1468}} During the governorship of Allen M. Fletcher, Graham served as his Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs (chief assistant).{{sfn|New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial|page=1468}} In 1914, Graham was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, and he served one term.{{sfn|"Unanimously Nominated"|page=1}}{{sfn|"W. A. Graham Thanked"|page=5}}
Judicial career
From 1916 to 1923, Graham was probate judge for the district that included Rockingham.{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham is Probate Judge"|page=1}}{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"|page=2}} While serving on the probate court, his most notable matter was adjudicating the estate of Hetty Green.{{sfn|"Hetty Green's Wealth Goes to Two Children"|page=9}}
In 1923, Graham was appointed a judge of the Vermont Superior Court.{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"|page=2}} He advanced through seniority to become the court's chief judge in 1929, and he served until 1931.{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"|page=2}} He was succeeded on the superior court by Deane C. Davis.{{sfn|"Deane C. Davis Named by Wilson Superior Judge"|page=2}}
In 1931, Graham was appointed as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Julius A. Willcox,{{sfn|"W. A. Graham is Named to the Supreme Bench"|page=2}} and he served until his death.{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"|page=2}}
Death and burial
Graham died at the Rockingham Hospital in Bellows Falls on January 28, 1934.{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"|page=2}} He had been ill with appendicitis, and died as the result of post-surgical complications including gangrene and peritonitis.{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"|page=2}}{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Warner Aiken Graham"}} He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Bellows Falls.{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Warner Aiken Graham"}}{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Blanche Graham"}}
Family
In 1915, Graham married Blanche S. Woodfall (1885–1969) of Bellows Falls.{{sfn|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"|page=2}} They were the parents of a son, Gordon (1921–1943).{{sfn|"Gordon Graham, 21, 'Lost in Action'"|page=2}} Gordon Graham died while serving in the United States Army during World War II, perishing as a result of the sinking of the SS Dorchester.{{sfn|"Gordon Graham, 21, 'Lost in Action'"|page=2}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
=Newspapers=
- {{cite news |date=October 5, 1914 |title=Unanimously Nominated: Warner A. Graham of Bellows Falls for Republican Representative |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/355625930/ |work=Brattleboro Daily Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Unanimously Nominated"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=April 17, 1915 |title=W. A. Graham Thanked: Chamber of Commerce Appreciates His legislative Work |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/355617440/ |work=Brattleboro Daily Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"W. A. Graham Thanked"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=March 16, 1916 |title=Warner A. Graham is Probate Judge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/355616658/ |work=Brattleboro Daily Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Warner A. Graham is Probate Judge"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=July 6, 1916 |title=Hetty Green's Wealth Goes to Two Children |url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INN19160706-01.1.9 |work=Indianapolis News |location=Indianapolis, IN |ref={{sfnRef|"Hetty Green's Wealth Goes to Two Children"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=October 7, 1931 |title=W. A. Graham is Named to the Supreme Bench |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197369987/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"W. A. Graham is Named to the Supreme Bench"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=October 9, 1931 |title=Deane C. Davis Named by Wilson Superior Judge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197373426/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Deane C. Davis Named by Wilson Superior Judge"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=January 29, 1934 |title=Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197547606/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Warner A. Graham, Justice of the Supreme Court, Dies"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=February 19, 1943 |title=Gordon Graham, 21, 'Lost in Action' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/205873407/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Gordon Graham, 21, 'Lost in Action'"}}}}
=Books=
- {{cite book |last=Cutler |first=William Richard |date=1914 |title=New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial |volume=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NdAUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1468 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |ref={{sfnRef|New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial}}}}
=Internet=
- {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Warner Aiken Graham |last=Parker |first=M. J. (Assistant Rockingham, VT Town Clerk) |date=March 1, 1934 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Warner Aiken Graham"}}}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Blanche Graham |last=Foster |first=Eleanor B. (Rockingham, VT Town Clerk) |date=February 1, 1969 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Blanche Graham"}}}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box
|title=Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
|before=Julius A. Willcox
|after=John C. Sherburne
|years=1931–1934}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Warner A.}}
Category:People from Orleans County, Vermont
Category:People from Bellows Falls, Vermont
Category:Albany Law School alumni
Category:Republican Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives
Category:Justices of the Vermont Supreme Court
Category:20th-century Vermont state court judges
Category:20th-century American lawyers
Category:20th-century members of the Vermont General Assembly