Window to a Changed World

At the age of eight William Graham experienced a religious conversion that led him to become a Methodist minister. Graham's ministry involved a long journey as a circuit rider, traveling from Pennsylvania across Indian territory to northwest Indiana. In 1849, he was appointed as a station preacher in La Porte, where his subsequent achievements led to rapid advancements in his career. During his ministry, Methodism was a highly dynamic and rapidly growing denomination. Graham's active role in building new churches in northern and western Indiana -- using his carpentry skills, organizational expertise, and fund-raising talents -- contributed to the formalization and professionalization of Methodism in the state. Graham's memoirs relate what he did and saw more than give witness to his religious faith, and they provide a fascinating glimpse into life and religion in 19th-century Indiana.