Benjamin C Graham
Kentucky Post, Saturday, 22 February 1919, page 1
CAPT. GRAHAM IS DEAD-The "out tap" was sounded for Benjamin Graham, captain of Hose Company No 4, Newport, late Friday night at his home, 81 E Fourth st. Captain Graham died of plural pneumonia, an aliment from which he had been a suffered for only three days. His death came as a shock to his friends whom he numbered by the hundreds. To the staid banker, the serious business man and most retiring citizen he was known as "Smiling Benny."
It had been said of Captain Graham that he never lost his temper or made an enemy. Captain Graham had been a member of the local fire department nearly 20 years. His career has been filled with accidents. He was a member of the Ladder Company Nov 1 when the apparatus was struck by a Ft Thomas car at Fourth street and Washington avenue in January 1904. At this time Fireman Lee Howe met death and Graham sustained injuries that keep him in Speers Hospital for many weeks.
Last May Captain Graham fell from a ladder and broke his left leg. He has not been well physically since that time. The dead firefighter was known to all river men. Before joining the fire department he was employed as an engineer on the river and was known from Pittsburg to the Gulf of Mexico. In his early life Captain Graham was a deep water diver and assisted the police in all sections of the county in searching the bottom of various streams for weapons discarded by criminals.
It was Captain Graham who recovered the pistol with which Bessie Little was murdered at Dayton O. in the late 90s. The girl had been shot and the murderer discarded the pistol by hurling it into the Miami River at that point. Captain Graham was 47 and a son of Captain Joseph Graham prominent river man. He was a member of Eureka Lodge No 9 Knights of Pythias, and Noah's Dove Lodge, Odd Fellows.
His father, three sisters, Anna Margaret and Mary Graham, two brothers, John and Joseph Graham Jr. survive. The funeral arrangements have not been completed.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 24 February 1919, page 3
FIRE BELLS TO TOLL-The funeral of Benjamin C Graham, captain in Hose Company No 4, Newport Fire Department, who died Friday night following an illness of three days, will be held Tuesday at 2 pm with services at the family home, 31 E Fourth st. Newport. Case Thomasson, fire chief has ordered all fire apparatus to escort the cortege to the city limits.
Bells in fire towers will be tolled white the funeral is passing thru the streets. Members of the Newport City Commission and other officials will attend the funeral. City offices will be closed and business will be suspended in honor of Captain Graham. Members of Eureka Lodge K of P and Noah's Dove Lodge Odd Fellows will attend the funeral. The funeral oration will be delivered by Rev Thomas Wallis Rainey, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Newport.
Burial will be in the family lot in Evergreen Cemetery.