James J. Abraham

James J. Abraham, highway commissioner of Grattan township and a prosperous farmer, was born in Ada, Kent county, Mich., July 1, 1858, and is the second of seven children two sons and five daughters born to Patrick and Johanna (Doyle) Abraham, of which six children are living and residents of Kent county, and one daughter, Ann, formerly a teacher in the county, is now the wife of John Byrne, a member of the police force of Grand Rapids. These children have all been confirmed in the faith of the Catholic church, of which the parents are devout members. James J. Abraham was meagerly educated in the district schools of Ada township, later attended the Jesuit college at St. Mary’s, Kan., and was fifteen years of age when he was confirmed by Bishop Borgess, of Detroit. He was reared to farming and acquired a practical knowledge of that vocation.

September 26, 1893, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Winnie C. Troy, by her brother, Rev. Father John E. Troy, of St. Andrew’s cathedral, Grand Rapids, and four children have blessed this union, viz: Gertrude Lucille, Patrick Joseph, John Aloysious, and James. Mrs. Abraham was born in Caledonia township, Kent county, September 3, 1868, and is a daughter of John C. and Bridget (Malloy) Troy, parents of four sons and four daughters, of whom seven are still living, viz: Mary, now known as Mother Catherine, of the Sisters of Mercy, in Oklahoma; Dr. E. H., a graduate of Ann Arbor university, and now practicing medicine and surgery in Detroit; David W., formerly a teacher in Bowne township, and now farming in Caledonia township, Maggie, of Oklahoma, and known as Sister Mary Frances, of the Sisters of Mercy; John E., now a resident priest of Hemlock City, Mich., having graduated from St. Francis Xavier college at Milwaukee, Wis., and having been ordained by Bishop Richter at Grand Rapids, Mich.; Mrs. Abraham is next in order; Patrick J.; Joseph, who graduated from Sandwich Catholic college at Sandwich, Ontario, then studied theology at Innspruck, Germany, and is now in the community of the Jesuits at St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Abraham was graduated in the class of 1892 from the academy of the Sisters (Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) at Monroe, Mich. She was confirmed by Bishop Borgess, at Grand Rapids, at the age of twelve years, and is a model wife and mother. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham began their married life in section No. 29, Grattan township, on 120 acres, for which they went considerably in debt, but they have prospered, and have now a most excellently cultivated farm. Mr. Abraham is a free-silver man, a none expansionist, and an admirer of William Jennings Bryan. He was elected commissioner of highways of Grattan township in 1898, and in 1899 was reelected, an indication of his popularity with fellow citizens. Mr. Abraham is a member of the A. O. of H., of Grand Rapids, and he and wife are members of St. Patrick’s Congregation, of Parnell, and contribute freely to the support of the church and its sodalities. Mr. Abraham deserves much credit for the industry and frugality he has displayed and exercised through life, and the energy through which he has lifted himself from comparative poverty to a position of comfort and even competency, and recognition by the best classes of his township, with whom he now stands, and by whom he and his wife and children are respected for their many personal merits.