Tait/Tate article by Karen
Mary J. Tait/Tate- Mrs. James Edward Graham
By Karen Cuccinello
Mary’s last name was written the two different ways “Tait or Tate” pretty much equally in the newspaper and census reports but her obituary uses “Tate”. She lived in Stamford or Harpersfield most of her life.
She was born May 30, 1868, in Harpersfield to Samuel who was born in Ireland and Permelia (VanBuren) Tate and had four brothers Joseph Arthur, Henry, Samuel Jr. and Charles that I know of.
Mary, who lived with her parents until she was almost 50, listed her occupation as a dress maker in 1905, was a postmistress in Harpersfield for a number of years and listed as a nurse on her marriage certificate in 1919.
She married James Edward “J.E.” Graham of South Kortright on September 12, 1919 in Stamford or Newburgh. James was born to John F. and Sophia (Luddington) Graham August 10, 1849 in Bovina. This was a first marriage for Mary and a second marriage for James. Interestingly his first wife, Margaret/Maggie Tate (1848-1916) was Mary’s aunt. Their marriage did not last very long as James died December 16, 1927. His first wife is on his gravestone in the North Kortright Cemetery as per findagrave.com.
December 27, 1950 (Binghamton Press) – Funeral services were held for Mrs. Harry Graham at the Hall Funeral Home, Stamford. The Rev. Henry More of Schenectady officiated. Burial was in the North Kortright Cemetery. Mrs. Graham, age 82, died December 21 at the home of her brother, Samuel Tate, in South Edmeston after a short illness.
Surviving are two brothers, Samuel Tate of South Edmeston and Charles Tate of Delanson. She lived with her brother Samuel, who often listed as S.J., most of the time following her husband’s death.