was born in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1742, and came to North Carolina previous to the Revolution. He owned lands in Tryon County. His patriotic principles were well known, and when the Revolution commenced, as Commanding officer, he had the general superintendency of several Forts on the frontier of the State.
He was a member from Lincoln County, of the Provincial Congress which met at Halifax, on Nov. 12th 1776, which formed the State Constitution. He was in command, in 1776, of the Regiment from Lincoln and Rutherford Counties, which marched under General Rutherford, against the Cherokee Indians.
In the expedition of 1780, that marched from Charlotte for the relief of Charleston, he commanded a Regiment from Lincoln County. On their arrival at Charleston they found the city so completely invested, that they could afford no relief. The Regiment returned, and united with General Rutherford, in the attack upon the Tories, under the command of Col. Moore at Ramsour's Mill, but too late to render aid, as the Tories had two hours before been defeated.
In Sept. 1780, he marched with his Regiment to join Colonels Campbell, Sevier and Shelby, at King's Mountain, but on account of ill health did not participate in that glorious victory.
General Graham full of years and full of honors, died in April 1835. He married Mrs. Susan Twitty, widow of Capt. Twitty, who had been killed by the Indians, when with Daniel Boone in Kentucky, (see sketch of Felix Walker page 408.)
John Gray Bynum, represented this County in the Senate of the State Legislature in 1840, 1850 and 1862, but was a native of Stokes County. Graduated at the University in 1833, he studied law with Judge Gaston, and practiced with much success. He was bold, incisive and aggressive in his character as a politician and distinguished for his enterprise and ability. He removed from Rutherfordton to Wilmington where he died October 17th, 1857.
He left a son and a widow, nee McDowell, who afterwards married Hon. Richmond M. Pearson. His brother, William Preston Bynum, was one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and distinguished for his integrity, firmness, and ability. Judge Bynum resided at Charlotte, and married Eliza, the daughter of the late Bartlett Shipp, of Lincoln County.
John Baxter, born March 5, 1819, represented this County in the Legislature of North Carolina 1842, and of the County of Henderson in 1852 and 1856, he now resides in Knoxville, Tennessee. He read law with James E. Henry. of Spartinburg District, South Carolina, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. In 1852 he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. He removed to Tennessee and continued to practice his profession there. He is at present Judge of the U. S. District Court, and resided at Knoxville, Tennessee.
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