Horace F. Graham
Encyclopedia
Horace French Graham was an American politician who served as the 56th Governor
of the U.S. state of Vermont
from 1917 to 1919.
. He graduated from the College of the City of New York
(now New York University
) in 1882. He then received his law degree from Columbia University
and became an attorney in Craftsbury.
Graham was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity.
, he served as Craftsbury's Town Meeting Moderator from 1902 to 1932, and in the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1892 and 1900. He was Orleans County
State's Attorney
from 1898 to 1902, and a Republican Presidential elector in 1900. Graham was Vermont's Auditor from 1902 to 1916, and a member of the state Education Commission in 1913.
(Under the provisions of the Mountain Rule, one U.S. Senator was a resident of the east side of the Green Mountains and one resided on the west side, and the governorship and lieutenant governorship alternated between residents of the east and west side. For nearly 100 years likely candidates for office in Vermont agreed to abide by the Mountain Rule in the interests of party unity.)
Graham's governorship was notable for his advocacy of women's suffrage in local elections, and for his efforts to mobilize the Vermont National Guard and other state resources for World War I
.
. Graham always maintained his innocence, but stated that since the loss took place while he was Auditor, he felt personally obligated to reimburse the state for the missing money.
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
of the U.S. state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
from 1917 to 1919.
Early life
Graham received his early education in VermontCraftsbury, Vermont
Craftsbury is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. The town includes the four unincorporated villages of Craftsbury Common, Mill Village, North Craftsbury and East Craftsbury.-Town:...
. He graduated from the College of the City of New York
College of the City of New York
The College of the City of New York is the former name of New York University's undergraduate college when the university was named "University of the City of New York"....
(now New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
) in 1882. He then received his law degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and became an attorney in Craftsbury.
Graham was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
fraternity.
Early political career
A RepublicanVermont Republican Party
The Vermont Republican Party is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Vermont. Patricia McDonald serves as Chairwoman of the Vermont Republican State Committee.-Current elected officials:...
, he served as Craftsbury's Town Meeting Moderator from 1902 to 1932, and in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1892 and 1900. He was Orleans County
Orleans County, Vermont
Orleans County is one of the four northernmost counties in the U.S. state of Vermont. It borders Canada. In 2010, the population was 27,231. Its county seat is Newport. As in the rest of New England, few governmental powers have been granted to the county...
State's Attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
from 1898 to 1902, and a Republican Presidential elector in 1900. Graham was Vermont's Auditor from 1902 to 1916, and a member of the state Education Commission in 1913.
Election as Governor
In 1916 Graham was the successful Republican nominee for Governor. In a state where only Republicans won statewide office from the 1850s to the 1960s, Graham easily won the general election and served from 1917 to 1919, the one term then available to Vermont Republicans under the "Mountain Rule."(Under the provisions of the Mountain Rule, one U.S. Senator was a resident of the east side of the Green Mountains and one resided on the west side, and the governorship and lieutenant governorship alternated between residents of the east and west side. For nearly 100 years likely candidates for office in Vermont agreed to abide by the Mountain Rule in the interests of party unity.)
Graham's governorship was notable for his advocacy of women's suffrage in local elections, and for his efforts to mobilize the Vermont National Guard and other state resources for World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Charges of embezzlement
While Governor, an investigation revealed that a large sum of state money (nearly $25 thousand, or $270 thousand in 2010 dollars) was unaccounted for during his term as Auditor. Graham repaid the missing funds, but was charged with embezzlement and convicted at trial. He was then pardoned by the new Governor, Percival Clement, who lauded Graham's honesty (his nickname was "Honest Horace") and efforts as Governor during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Graham always maintained his innocence, but stated that since the loss took place while he was Auditor, he felt personally obligated to reimburse the state for the missing money.
Post gubernatorial career
His reputation for integrity was largely undamaged, and he served in the Vermont House again from 1924 to 1925, also taking part in revising Vermont's Statutes in 1933.Death and burial
Graham died in Craftsbury on November 23, 1941. He was buried at Craftsbury Common Cemetery.External resources
- Horace French Graham entry, Find A Grave web site, accessed November 19, 2011
- Horace French Graham biography, Governors Association, accessed November 19, 2011