A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Graham, Isabella
GRAHAM, ISABELLA,
Was born in the county of Lanark, Scotland, in 1742. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Marshall, educated her carefully and religiously. In 1765, she became acquainted with Dr. John Graham, a physician of Paisley, whom she afterwards married, and by whom she had four children. Soon after then: marriage, her husband was ordered to join his regiment, then in Canada. Four of the happiest years of her life were spent in that country, when Dr. Graham was ordered to Antigua, where he died in 1774. Mrs. Graham then returned to her father in Scotland, where, by taking charge of the education of some young ladies, she supported her aged father, herself, and her children.
In 1789, Mrs. Graham returned to America, and opened a seminar for young ladies in New York, in which she was very successful. ' She was also eminent as a public benefactor, being the projector, the founder, and one of the most efficient members, of the "Widow's Society," the 'Orphans' Asylum," and a "Society for the Promotion of Industry." She devoted her time, talents, influence, and earnings to the building up of these useful charities; even performing the office of teacher for some time in the Orphans' School, before the funds were sufficient to pay an instructor. Few women have accomplished such efficient services for public good as did this truly noble woman; she not only worked herself In the cause of her Heavenly Master, but she had that peculiar faculty, the gift of persuasion, which moved the hearts of many to work with her, who, without such an exemplar and monitor, would never have entered on these plans of doing good. Mrs. Graham was also gifted with genius; her talents, hallowed by piety, and devoted to duty, were of the high order which would have gained her a wide reputation for literature, had she lent herself to its pursuits. Her familiar letters are models of the best style; and the fragments of her poetry, found among her papers, entitled "Provision for my last Journey through the Wilderness," etc., shew the poetic feeling which slumbered in her heart, or rather was absorbed by her love of God and her ceaseless service in His cause. She had, in this life: the reward of seeing her exertions crowned with wonderful success; and the blessing of a peaceful and happy death seemed the fitting close of an earthly career which was to open for her an eternity of glory and blessedness. She died July 27th., 1814. Bat her spirit has not passed away; it animates her descendants; her daughter, Mrs. Bethune, and the only son of this daughter, the Rev. George W. Bethune, who carry on and out the holy principles of benevolence of Isabella Graham. Her "Life and Writings" is widely known, many editions having been published in Scotland and England; and probably more than fifty thousand copies have been printed in America.