Biography:

Dr. Archibald Duncan Graham was born in Lobo Twp (Middlesex County) on the 19th of May, 1860 in Middlesex County, Ontario.  Dr. Graham was the 8th of 10 children born to Duncan P. Graham and the former Christina Lamont.   His parents were farmers and his siblings were; twins Donald Lamont Graham and Jane Graham, Peter Lamont Graham, Catherine Graham, Duncan Graham, Annie Graham, Christine Graham, Mary Graham and Isabelle Graham.  Dr. Graham was known to have attended Strathroy Collegiate Institute and St Catharines Collegiate Institute prior to attending medical school.

Dr. Graham graduated M.D.,C.M. from Trinity Medical College in conjunction with The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1887.  According to the 1928 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Graham joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 11th of May, 1887.  Dr. Graham initially started practicing in Lobo, a community 10 miles west of London.  He is listed in the 1888, 1889 and 1890 London and Middlesex County Business Directory as being a physician in Lobo.

Dr. Graham was listed in the Kent County Business Directors from 1891 to 1900, advertising his medical practice in Bothwell.  He is listed on the 1891 census as a bachelor living as a boarder in the Town of Bothwell.  During this time, Dr. Graham lived at the Central Hotel and worked from an office on Oak Street.  Dr. Graham completed post-graduate work in hospitals in England and Scotland and while he was there studying he met his future wife.

Dr. Graham was married to Margaret “Minnie” Elizabeth Maddox on the 20th of July, 1897 in Lewisham, England.  Mrs. Graham was born on the 30th of October, 1862 in Carmarthenshire, Wales.  She was the 6th of 9 children born to Charles Bowen Maddox and the former Eliza Thomas.  Her father was a messenger with the National Debt Office and her siblings were; Louisa Margaretta Maddox, Eliza Rowland Bowen Maddox, Mary Anne A. Maddox, Isabel Frances Alberta Maddox (she died in 1878 at the age of 20), John Thomas Rowland Maddox, Edward Richard Bowen Maddox, Charles William Bowen Maddox and Edith Florence Maddox.  At a young age Mrs. Graham moved from Wales to London, England with her parents and siblings.  According to the 1881 census, the Maddox family resided at 29 Princess Street in London (Southwork Borough) and Mrs. Graham was a school teacher.

After their marriage, Dr. Graham returned to Canada with his wife and made their home in a house that was formerly owned by Dr. James Delmage Wilson at the corner of Main St and Chestnut Street in Bothwell.  (Today this home’s located is identified at 421 Main Street and it is included on the Chatham-Kent Municipal Heritage Register).  A biographical sketch of Dr. Graham in, “Life of a Boomtown” by Marion Matt records that when Mrs. Graham arrived in Bothwell, she asked Dr. Graham to take her down the principal streets to which he replied, “we’ve just come up the principle street”.

According to the 1911 census, Mrs. Graham immigrated to Canada the same year as they were married (1897).   The 1911 census records their address as 595 Main Street in Bothwell.

Dr. and Mrs. Graham had two daughters born to them in Bothwell.  Lillian Gwendolyn Maddox Graham was born on the 13th of August, 1901 and Edith Muriel Maddox Graham was born on the 18th of June, 1907.  Baby Edith died on the 22nd of August, 1907 of “convulsions”.

Dr. Graham served as Reeve for Bothwell from 1897 – 1898 and he was elected Mayor in 1900.  He was selected as the first Medical Officer of Health for the Bothwell area.  Dr. Graham made all of his own medications in the form of ointments and powders.

Dr. Graham was a member of the Masonic Order.

Dr. Graham died suddenly in Bothwell on the 9th of December, 1939 at the age of 79. According to the death record, he worked up to and including the day he died.  Mrs. Graham died at her residence in Bothwell on the 28th of August, 1953.  Dr. and Mrs. Graham were buried at the West Bothwell Cemetery, next to their daughter Edith.

*Dr. Graham’s brother Dr. Peter Lamont Graham and Dr. James Delmage Wilson are also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

**Dr. Graham’s daughter Gwendolyn Graham died in 2001 at the age of 100.