The family story which should be taken with a good dose of salt says that Greeley's birth father may have been named Reuben Graham. The reasoning is that Greeley's middle initial is R. which could have stood for Reuben. (Sarcasm: The reasoning is so solid and scientific)
Greeley put Texas as his father's place of birth a few times in census records as did his brother William. Edmun Nance, their stepfather, was born in Missouri so it is possible that Greeley' and William's birth father whoever he was may have been was born in Texas.
I checked the records and see how often Texas pops up in the father's birthplace for the Graham brothers.
In the 1880 Census with the Graham brothers living with Edmun Nance (their stepfather) the columns for parents' birthplaces are blank. Both Greeley and William are marked as being born in Arkansas as is Edmun's wife (their supposed mother) Mary J. Nance and their step-siblings. Edmun Nance was recorded as being born in Missouri in 1880 which is correct for him.
In 1900 Greeley was living with his stepfather and his step/half siblings. Greely has Texas as his father's birthplace and Arkansas as his mother's birthplace. Greeley has himself as being born in Arkansas as well. Edmun S. Nance's birthplace is listed as Missouri for himself in 1900 as it should be.
Next door Greeley's brother William Graham has Arkansas for his birthplace and for both his parents.
In 1910 Greeley Graham has Texas as his father's birthplace and Virginia as his mother's birthplace.
William Graham has Virginia for both his parents and Texas as his own birthplace (he could have been born there, but seems very unlikely).
In 1920 Horace G. Graham (same person as Greeley R Graham) has Texas for his father's birthplace and Tennessee for his mother's birthplace.
Again Greeley's birthplace given as Arkansas.
William Graham again has Texas as his own birthplace and United States for both his parents.
All of William's children have Texas as their father's place of birth as well.
In 1930 Greeley Graham has Texas as his father's birthplace and Kentucky as his mother's birthplace and Arkansas as his own birthplace.
In 1930 William Graham has Texas as his birthplace and for both of his parents.
It
is not clear if Greeley and William Graham gave the information for their and their
parent's birthplaces themselves every time or if another family member
or neighbor answered the questions once in a while.
It does appear
that Greeley Graham believed he was born in Arkansas and that his birth father
was born in Texas also he was not sure where his mother was born, though when she was living (assuming she is Mary J.) it was recorded as Arkansas.
William Graham believed he was born in Texas from 1910 (abt. age 35) onwards and seems unclear on where either of his parents were born.
As
Greeley was the older brother, as best I can tell, it is a bit more
likely that he would know where their parents were from more than
William would have, though I could be wrong on this point Greeley is more consistent on the places than William is.
It is known that the brother's step-father Edmun S. Nance was born in Missouri so it seems doubtful that either Graham brother would be referring to him in these census records.
It seems odd that neither seemed to know where their mother was born once they were grown.
I
do not know when Mary J. Nance died but it had to have been between
1880 and 1900 as she is not with the family in 1900 and Edmun S. Nance was marked a widower in both 1900 and 1910.
If Mary J. died closer to 1900 Greeley would have been in his late 20s.
If she died earlier he may have been as young as 10 or 11, which could explain why Greeley and William seemed to have no idea where she was born.
If Mary was also the mother of Edmun Nance's youngest child Edmun Jr. she would have died in 1889 or later though it is not clear if she was Edmun Jr.'s mother or not as Edmun Jr. could have been the son of Mary Ridgley's mother or John Christ's mother (instead of assuming each step child of Edmun Nance had a different mother than his bio-kids).
