Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Anna Anthony, dau. of Benjamin M. Anthony, 10/1/1884; children: Howard Anthony, William Harold, Thomas, Elizabeth (Convery) and Anna Marguerite
Number of Children: 5
Background
Education:
attended country and public schools; attended the union school at New
Plymouth, MI; and the Detroit Business University
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Richard and Orilla Jane (Chapman) McGraw. After his father's death, he struck out on his own, first as a clerk in a Plymouth general store [until 1878], then as a bank messenger. He then entered the wool house of Thomas McGraw, with whom he continued for 5 years. He next was a traveling salesman in Canada for the Globe Tobacco Company, for 3 years. At that point he joined his brother in the wholesale tobacco business under the name of the Detroit Tobacco Company. This partnership was maintained for 4 years, at the end of which time Homer McGraw returned to Thomas McGraw and took charge of his private business affairs, at the same time conducting a fire insurance business. He served as alderman for 4 years. He was 'estimator at large' for Detroit for many years and connected to the Board of Commerce. Member of the Masons and Knights Templar; the Detroit Country and Automobile Clubs
Notable Facts:
Died in office. Died of pneumonia shortly after assuming his office. DFP notice of death gives birth date as 1/22/1856