Sons of Leitrim
Graham
Michael
Soldier Profile: Michael Graham
Co. B, 2nd California Volunteer Infantry
While his Leitrim kinsmen were fighting in the high-casualty battles of the East, Michael Graham served in the "Western Theater" of the war. His service was vital to maintaining Union control over California and the Oregon Territory—regions essential for funding the Northern war effort through their mineral wealth.
Early Life and The Great Migration
Born: Circa December 26, 1826, in Mayo, County Leitrim, near Ballinamore.
Emigration: Michael arrived in New York on July 2, 1846, just as the Great Famine began to take its full, devastating hold on Ireland.
Marriage: He married Helena (Lena) Hannan on July 15, 1854, in Providence, Rhode Island.
Heading West: After starting a family and becoming a naturalized citizen in Rhode Island, Michael followed the dream of the Gold Rush. By November 1859, he had moved his wife and three young children to Carson Hill, Calaveras County, California, to work as a miner.
Military Service: Guarding the Frontier
Michael enlisted on November 21, 1861, becoming one of the original recruits of the 2nd California Infantry. While these men didn't face the Confederate Army on traditional battlefields, their service was arduous and essential.
Patrol and Protection: Much of Michael’s service involved long marches through the Washington and Oregon Territories.
Strategic Defense: The regiment's presence prevented Confederate sympathizers from seizing California's gold and secured the territory against hostile incursions.
Honorable Discharge: Having completed his three-year term of service, Michael was mustered out on November 21, 1864.
Post-War Life and the Move to Kern County
Following his discharge, Michael returned to his family and his work. The Grahams eventually moved to Walker’s Basin and then Havilah in Kern County. Over time, Michael transitioned from the grueling life of a miner to the more stable life of a farmer.
Together, Michael and Helena raised seven children across two coasts:
James E. (b. 1855, RI)
Mary A. (b. 1857, RI)
William John (b. 1859, RI)
Frank (b. 1862, CA)
Margaret "Maggie" (b. 1865, CA)
Elizabeth "Lizzie" (b. 1868, CA)
Robert Emmett (b. 1870, CA)
Final Resting Place
Michael passed away on January 2, 1887, at the age of 60. He is buried in Bakersfield, California, a world away from the green fields of Ballinamore where his journey began. His wife Helena remained a widow for many years, applying for her soldier's widow pension in 1890.
Service Timeline
Date Event Location
July 2, 1846 Arrived in the United States New York, NY
Mar 18, 1856 Became a Naturalized Citizen Providence, RI
Nov 21, 1861 Enlisted for 3 Years Calaveras Co., CA
1862–1864 Frontier Patrol Duty WA, OR, and CA
Nov 21, 1864 Honorably Mustered Out California
Jan 2, 1887 Deceased Bakersfield, CA
