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R. M. Graham left Ontario in 1882
for the West and made a tour of the
province visiting several points north of Brandon and transversing
southern Manitoba's entire length extending from the Red River to Range
28 and finally took up the farm where he is now residing. He removed
thither with his family from St. Thomas, Ontario in June 1883, and
started a small store
in connection with his farm. The store business gradually expanded
resulting in a branch store at Sourisford and later another at Lyleton.
The second year after settling here, he erected a blacksmith shop which
was occupied by different tenants until the advent of the railway. Mr.
Blackwell also opened a repair harness shop and soon after Mr. Dodds
removed his store from Wolseley resulting in quite a
country village corner. Mr. Graham's car, consisting of two span of
horses, household effects, store goods etc., arrived at Brandon June 1,
1883 at which point he had to team everything over roads that were
beset with boggy and alkali spots and necessitating frequent unloading
on the way out. Store goods were likewise freighted at Brandon until a
road was opened to Virden but the last few years prior to the building
of the Souris railway all merchandise was freighted at Deloraine the
terminus of that branch at the time. When the Souris railway was
completed to this point Mr. Graham moved his stock to what was then
popularly known as the new town. He purchased the “Pioneer Store” which
had been built in 1891 by Mr. Coughill.
In March 1884, Judge Walker made R. M. Graham of Manchester (the name
then given to the comers) a conveyancer for the Province of Manitoba.
In April the same year he was appointed a commissioner for taking
affidavits. In September following, on strength of a petition
circulated by James McConnell, Mr. Graham was appointed postmaster
beginning with the magnificent salary of $10 per annum and the name
Manchester was changed to Melita. The first school district in the
vicinity was formed in 1886 and Mr. Graham was trustee and
secretary-treasurer of the first school.
After removing the store goods to the new town Mr. Graham converted his
combined store and dwelling into a tasty rural residence. In 1891 the
Melita Enterprise reported that, “Mr. Graham is in receipt of a carload
of groceries – the first ever received in Melita.”
Mr. Graham has always taken an active part in educational, municipal
and other matters of public interest pertaining to the will of this
part of our province. In religion he is a member of the regular Baptist
denomination and took an active part in the erection of the new Baptist
edifice that now graces our town.
Since disposing of his store business Mr. Graham occupies his time
supervising the work on his farm and attending to his post office
duties together with odd jobs in conveyancing which he says is ample
employment for one of his time of life.
Adapted from Our First Century, page 368, 36, 54
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