David Graham, born in Huntington County, Indiana came to Dakota in 1887 with his wife Mary, daughter Martha and son, Benjamin, Levi and William. Mary died in 1911 and is buried in the Brethren Cemetery in Haven Township. In 1920 David Graham married as his second wife Dora Wilcox. David farmed in Haven Township until the early 1930's when they moved into Carrington where he became well known for his large garden and the sale of fresh vegetables.
The creative David Graham among other things invented a harvester, the Graham Roach Slacker. Instead of tying the cut grain it is transported directly from the aprons of the binder to a box on wheels pulled by a team of horses. When the box was filled the contents are deposited at the side of the field in a stack which shed water. For threshing the grain the thresher was pulled alongside the stacks at the farmer's convenience. Several of the large implement manufacturers were interested in the slacker which was used successfully for several seasons just before the start of World War I. Plans for commercialization of the slacker had to be postponed on account of the war. In the early 1920's efforts made to sell the patent came to naught. The invention is disclosed in United States Patent 1,104, 885 dated July 28, 1914 to David M. Graham of which one-half was assigned to E.A. Roach of Bordulac.
David Graham died January 30, 1950 at the age of 93. After his death his widow returned to Virgins to be with her sister and brother.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 55B