Individual Notes
Note for: Florence L. Graham, 23 JAN 1881 - 15 JUL 1950
Index
Occupation: Compositor/Printer/Linotype operator
Event: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Type: Census/1900
Date: 14 JUN 1900
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida
Type: Census/1910
Date: 23 APR 1910
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida
Type: Census/1920
Date: 2 JAN 1920
Event: Warranty Deed
Type: Court Record
Date: 25 APR 1924
Event: Violin
Type: Orchestra
Individual Note: THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Florence L. Graham; Born: 23 Jan 1881; Storm Lake, Iowa; Died: 15 Jul 1950.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Florence Graham: Alfred did not stay long, but Ella and the children remained. Florence and Robert never married but the latter had a home in Miami in the later years and Ella and Florence lived with him. Bertha married a man by the name of Phillips and had two daughters. She died not long ago in Washington state. Lloyd married a Miami Beach beauty operator and they had an attractive little home in Miami. Robert and I were the two violas in the orchestra."
Court Record--Warranty Deed: 25 Apr 1924; Florence Graham; No.26759; Deed Book 70, Page 209, Entry Number 1.
1900 U. S. Federal Census/Lake township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film Roll No. 284; Page No. 14; SD No. 1; ED No. 970; Sheet No. 14; Ward of City, 31; Enumeration date: 14 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Martha H. Philpot; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999: F. L. Graham; Residence: 6310 Harvard Avenue; Relation to head of family: Boarder; Color, white; Sex, Female; Month of birth: January; Year of birth: 1881; Age at last birthday, 19; Single; Place of birth: Iowa; Place of birth of father: Iowa; Place of birth of mother: Iowa; Occupation: Nothing listed; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes.
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida/1910; Microfilm Roll number: Fl 1910-H T624; Koreshan Unity; Enumeration Date: 25 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, Jan 1995: Florence L. Graham; Sex: Female Race: white; Age 28; Marital status: Single; Place of birth: Iowa; Place of birth of mother and father: Iowa; Language spoken: English; Occupation: Compositor; Employer or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes.
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida/1920; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; December 1994: Florence Graham; Relation to head of family: daughter; Place of residence: Estero River Front; Age 38; Marital status: Single; Place of birth: Iowa; Place of birth of mother and father: Iowa; Occupation: Printer/Publishing House.
U.S. Federal 1930 Census; Estero, Lee County; Florida; Precinct 12; Koreshan Unity Home; Enumeration Date: May 5, 1930; ED: 36-17; SD: 6; Page: 199; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; January 2003: Florence L. Graham; Sex: Female; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 49; Marital condition: Single; Attended school since Sep 1, 1929; no; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: Iowa; Place of birth of father: Iowa; Place of birth of mother: Iowa; Whether able to speak English: yes; Occupation: Type setter; Industry: Printing Plant; Whether actually at work yesterday or the last regular working day: yes.
Notes from Evelyn Horn: Florence Graham:
Florence's parents Alfred and Ella Graham joined the Koreshan Unity home in Chicago in 1888 with their four children: Florence, Bertha, Lloyd and Robert. They came with the Koreshan group to Estero in 1894, a pioneer family. The children were educated at the Unity, studying music and the printing trade.
Florence was a Linotype operator for "The Flaming Sword" and "The American Eagle" at The Guiding Star Publishing House. She set all the type for the book published at the publishing house "My Garden in Florida" by Henry Nehrling. Brother Robert and Lloyd Graham were in the printing business in Miami, also an orchestra there. Their homes were always open to Koreshan members who often visited and vacationed at the Graham homes in Miami. Sister Bertha Phillips married and made her home in Stuart, Florida.
Florence's mother, Ella, died in Miami May 17, 1945, at her son's home. She was buried in the Koreshan cemetery. Florence died in 1950, also was interred in the Koreshan cemetery. She was a very dedicated person to her life-long work at The Guiding Star Printing office. Her closest and dearest friends were Vesta Newcomb and Jesse Putnam. She loved to take long walks with Vesta around the community. She was a short person, very dainty in her dress, reddish brown hair and brown eyes. Florence loved cats and always had one at her home. Her father, Alfred, died in 1931 at the Koreshan Unity, Estero.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE; Vol. 79; April 1993; Page 3: ELLA GRAHAM. Ella joined the Unity in Chicago in 1888, and with her two sons and two daughters came to Estero early on. She and her daughter, Florence, were both Linotype operators and worked in the Guiding Star Publishing House for many years. Florence was there until the print shop burned down in 1949. All four of the children were educated in the Koreshan school, and all learned the printing trade as well as becoming accomplished musicians and members of the Koreshan band and orchestra. The two boys, Robert and Lloyd, married and moved to Miami where they established a printing business. Ella died in Miami in 1942 and daughter Florence in 1950. Both are buried in the Koreshan Cemetery.